This week, we saw a historic moment, not only in Ireland history, but for all of Europe as well. We saw that differences can truly be set aside in the name of peace.

On Monday, Ian Paisley of DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) and Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein agreed to a power sharing agreement (St. Andrews Agreement) to be implemented by May 8.

It has been a long arduous road towards peace, a path of violence, of extreme talk, and of hate. If you ask for parallels, you may look at the Palistinean and Israeli conflict. But, what is obvious, is that in the end, there has to be acceptance and acknowledgment on both sides, and an agreement to non-violence.

Despite the turbulent times that we are in, I am always as fervently hopeful that humanity as a whole can move towards unity instead of division.

The BBC News has in depth coverage on this moment in history,

Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was “a very important day for the people of Northern Ireland, but also for the people and the history of these islands”.

“Everything we have done over the last 10 years has been a preparation for this moment.”

Andrew of the Observer is surprised,

when I watched Ian Paisley announcing: ‘Today, we have agreed with Sinn Fein…’ No one ever expected to hear those seven words coming from the lips that have so often boomed sectarian hatred. There was another moment to pinch yourself that you were not dreaming when Gerry Adams responded by ‘welcoming the statement by Ian Paisley’.

The Christian Science Monitor writes in a first person look at fervent prayer for peace, and looks at the historic moment of the agreement,

Though I’ve lived in the US for the last few years, I lived in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for most of my life through all the euphemistically named “Troubles” of the past 30 years. I witnessed much bombing, shooting, and the death and maiming of friends in the battles between the Crown forces, the police, the IRA, and Protestant terrorists.