Editor:
In the past The United States has had a historic leadership role in brokering peace in other countries.
These efforts were seen as integral to stability in our world.
These efforts included the work by President Clinton and Senator George Mitchell to broker a ceasefire in the North of Ireland.
In April 1998 the historic Good Friday Agreement was signed by the UK and Irish governments.
It is now 27 years since this agreement was signed but it has not yet been fully implemented. The ceasefire and decommissioning aspects were achieved, however other aspects of the agreement have been left behind.
In the agreement the participants affirmed their "commitment to the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone in the community."
Measures included the establishment of a new Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Northern Ireland law.
The agreement noted the importance of acknowledging "the suffering of victims of violence and economic, social and cultural issues.
The final components included a new British-Irish Agreement with the mandate to hold a referendum vote for a full island vote related to unification.
The avoidance of implementation of this vital component of the agreement has led to direct economic consequences for families living in the border counties in both the North and South.
Then Brexit complicated the situation as the Irish Republic remains in the European Union. I was in 8th grade at the time of Bloody Sunday and in high school when the Kent State shootings occurred.
Then I was in college/first job during the Irish hunger strikes.
So I grew up during the backdrop of the civil rights movements here in the U.S. as well as the North of Ireland.
In the 1980s I visited Ireland for several weeks.
In the North we were pulled to the side at the border.
Our suitcases were opened, clothes thrown all over the grass and we were questioned at length.
While in the North we witnessed the Orange Marches and the bonfires.
We also experienced UDR soldiers aiming guns at us as we jogged on the trail and walked in the city.
The Catholic/Nationalist communities suffered severe discrimination, police violence and loyalist unchecked violence.
Many Americans became involved; participated in activities to bring attention to the human rights violations and discrimination in the North of Ireland.
There was so much publicity about the paramilitary groups, but so little press about the ongoing discrimination, intimidation and unexamined violence supported by the security forces.
Americans concerned with justice in the North of Ireland watched the Good Friday Agreement negotiations closely.
With members of the many Irish American organizations we cheered its adoption.
While there was a lot of work remaining it seemed this was a wonderful first step in moving forward.
However, to see the agreement floundering without full implementation is very disheartening.
I believe that It is time for American citizens and politicians to push the Irish and British governments to honor their agreement.
Ceasefires and diplomatic agreements are meaningless if they are not followed.
Kathleen M Whitford
Cleveland, OH
