Zaire's Essay

The connection with New Orleans and Ireland is a strong one. One of the main similarities is that both Ireland and New Orleans have a history of violence. Northern Ireland has dealt with violence for a long time. There was a lot of fighting as the Provisional Irish Republican Army fought for political freedom from the United Kingdom. New Orleans is one of the most violent cities in the United States. People will kill each other over money, drugs, revenge, and gangs. Though the reasons for the violence may be different, the effects on the communities and the youth are the same. Violence in New Orleans is something that is in the news every day. Growing up here is difficult, because the violence is everywhere. I have known many friends that have been affected by violence in New Orleans. A few years ago, I had a friend that was shot, because of a situation that he wasn’t even involved in. As young black man in New Orleans, it is difficult to avoid going down this path. Many young men do not have anything else to do but get in trouble. It’s hard to watch people I know committing crimes and participating in the violence and not being able to do anything to help them. The effects of violence in both New Orleans and Northern Ireland are very similar. Not only are loved ones and friends dying, but also the violence causes so much stress on a community. Not feeling safe in your own neighborhood can cause many emotional and psychological problems. Poverty is another effect of violence in New Orleans and Northern Ireland. When people are worrying about whether or not they are going to die if they leave their house, they stop thinking about everything else, like bills and their health. One of the most significant effects is the number of people being put in prison. Once you are in the criminal justice system, it is difficult to get out and it puts your future at risk. The connection between New Orleans and Ireland is important in 2013, because there is a lot that New Orleans can learn from the violence in Northern Ireland. People in Northern Ireland fought for a greater justice and political freedom. They fought for something that they felt was right. In New Orleans, we are killing each other over things like drugs. If everyone would take a step back to reflect on this, people in New Orleans may realize the stupidity of their actions and the significant negative affect that it is having on our community. New Orleanians need to learn a lesson from the Irish. As a community, we need to come together to fight to rebuild our city and not fight each other.