Quotes from
John Hume
The real duty now, if we want to have a totally peaceful and stable
country, is for all true democrats to implement the will of the people.
Let's work
together and build together, and as we do that, the real solution will begin,
... The real healing process will begin, and we will erode the distrust of the
past.
When people are
divided, the only solution is agreement
Difference is of the essence of humanity.
The basis of
peace and stability, in any society, has to be the fullest respect for the
human rights of all its people.
All conflict is
about difference; whether the difference is race religion, or nationality...
Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of
birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The
answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental
principle of peace: respect for diversity.
I never
thought in terms of being a leader. I thought very simply in terms of helping
people.
U2's Bono sent a
specially-written verse to John Hume's funeral in honour of the Derry
politician.
The musician's verse was read at Mr Hume's funeral at St Eugene's
Cathedral was read to the congregation by Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown.
Bono's verse read:
We were looking for: a giant and found a man whose life
made all our lives bigger.
We
were looking for: some superpowers and found clarity of
thought, kindness and persistence.
We
were looking for: revolution and found it in parish halls with tea
and biscuits and late night meetings under fluorescence.
We
were looking for: a negotiator who understood that no-one wins
unless everyone wins...and that peace is the only victory.
We
were looking for: joy and heard it in the song of a man who loved
his town so well and his missus even more.
We
were looking for: a great leader and found a great servant.
We
found John Hume.
Town I Loved So Well
Phil Coulter
In my memory I will always see the town that I have loved so well
Where our school played ball by the gas yard wall
And we laughed through the smoke and the smell.
Going home in the rain running up the dark lane
Past the jail and down beside the Fountain
Those were happy days in so many many ways
In the town I loved so well.
In the early morn the shirt factory horn
Called the women from Creggan, the Moor and the Bog
While the men on the dole played a mother's role
Fed the children and then walked the dog
And when times got rough there was just about enough
But they saw it through without complaining
For deep inside was a burning pride
In the town I loved so well.
There was music there in the Derry air
Like a language that we could all understand
I remember the day when I earned my first pay
When I played in a small pick-up band
There I spent my youth and to tell you the truth
I was sad to leave it all behind me
There I learned about life and I found a wife
In the town I loved so well:
But when I returned oh my eyes how they burned
To see how a town could be brought to its knees
By the armoured cars and the bombed out bars
And the gas that hangs on to every breeze
Now the army's installed by the old gasyard wall
And the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher
With their tanks and their guns
Oh my God, what have they done
To the town I loved so well.
Now the music's gone but they carry on
For their spirit's been bruised, never broken
They will not forget but their hearts are set
On tomorrow and peace once again
Now what's done is done and what's won is won
And what's lost is lost and gone forever
I can only pray for a bright brand new day
For the town I Iove so well.
