A friend just texted me that she’s reading Facing the Faeries 1906 and found the following paragraph still timely today:
[Charlie tells his friend] “Laoise and I have been hungry for this kind of
intellectual stimulation.”
“Me too,” said Liam. “You should hear them when they start getting off
on nationalism and economics. It’s refreshing to be in an environment where
people can discuss disparate views without fear of recrimination. Amazing,
truly. In my experience there are few such places in Ireland outside of college
campuses. There’s too much fear in the air to allow free sharing and mutual
learning and growth in friendship between people with differing political
perspectives.”
In Ireland at that time, people could have their tongues cut out for speaking badly of Britain (as happened to one of the characters in the book). Over a hundred years later, most of us are in a different country and face different circumstances, but have a similar quandary: Where are the safe places where we can air our doubts and questions without losing friendships?
