‘Peace is not only better than war, but infinitely more arduous.’

— George Bernard Shaw

I never thought I’d see a picture like the one above, at least not one that hadn’t been photoshopped. But there they were today, the Rev. Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, two men who represent the face of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Troubles that have caused so much pain, heartbreak, death and dismay for all of the days of my life. But there they are, shoulder by shoulder, smiling and laughing, on the day both were sworn in as leaders of the new power-sharing government at Stormont.

What a wonderful sight.

The Guardian reports:

Ian Paisley, the Democratic Unionist party leader who spent decades denouncing republicans, and Martin McGuinness, a former IRA commander, joined together today to assume office as first and deputy first minister at the head of a new power-sharing government.

With two prime ministers and a host of US political dignitaries in the gallery watching the ceremonial opening, the Northern Ireland assembly elected a new speaker, three deputy speakers and an entire ministerial team without a voice of dissent.

The extraordinary display of cross-community unity at Stormont marked a symbolic end to the Troubles and opened an era of cooperation between former enemies.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, US Sen. Ted Kennedy and a host of other dignitaries witnessed the historic swearing-ins.

According to the Guardian’s report:

Paisley said: “I can say to you today that I believe Northern Ireland had come to a time of peace, a time when hate will no longer rule. How good it will be to be part of the wonderful healing in this province today.”

McGuinness said: “We know the road we are embarking on will have many twists and turns. It is, however, a road which we have chosen and which is supported by the vast majority of our supporters. In the recent elections, they have voted for a new political era based on peace and reconciliation.”

Blair said: “Normal life and normal politics can seem a small ambition to anyone who has not lived through the abnormality of a society living on the edge – and for many years Northern Ireland was such a society. Look back and we see centuries marked by conflict, hardship, even hatred among the people of these islands; look forward and we see the chance to shake off those heavy chains of history.”

But perhaps the most telling detail was this last paragraph of the story:
“In the hall afterwards politicians mingled but, as Mr Paisley had promised, there was no handshake between himself and Martin McGuinness.”

In the nearly 40 years since the start of what we call The Troubles, sectarian violence between Protestants and Roman Catholics in the North of Ireland have left 3,600 people dead and more than 36,000 injured.

FOR MORE COVERAGE (THE GUARDIAN, CNN, BBC, RTE) OF TODAY’S EVENTS AT STORMONT CLICK HERE, HERE, HERE, AND HERE