Three Families
I thought the BBC excelled itself with the docudrama ‘Three Families’. It’s not easy dealing with such sensitive issues, but they pulled it off well, providing the viewer with an insight into the extraordinarily challenging and tragic circumstances that some folks have to face. The fact that it’s still vehemently dividing opinion in Northern Ireland today made it all the more compelling. BBC at its best.
Comments
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I didn't watch it either but Margaret did and she was quite animated about in that she couldn't believe that women were treated like that in any part of the UK. NI has been very slow to accept what the rest of the UK, and even the Republic of Ireland take as normal. Difficult to understand the mindset.
David
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I haven’t seen it, but know a bit about how difficult life has been for many Irish women. I hope that the vast majority of Northern Irish feel able just to get on with leading normal, everyday lives, but far too much of its past is being clung onto and fuelling further divisions, unfair treatment etc....
We watched a Simon Reeves documentary, and the deep divisions, mistrust are all still there, perpetuated for many with every generation. It’s so sad, a beautiful place, with nice hardworking people. Religion, and politics, both have left a tragic and still ongoing problem.☹️
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As I understand it the series was based on events fairly recently rather than historically. As you say the latter haunts all of Ireland in many different ways over many years.
The basis of the programme as I understand it was the denial of basic rights that the rest of the UK enjoy because of political dogma. This lack of compassion even went down to colleagues at work and the medical profession. One poor women was informed her child was dead in her womb about half way through her pregnancy and yet she was forced to go the full term. I would find it hard to believe that even someone, as a matter on conscience who was oppose to abortion, would put a women through that?
David
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Agree with your comments entirely 'Bill. It was one of the best programmes I have ever watched. Brilliantly done, as you say.
If I were a member of the 'fairer sex' I would also have been very animated (like David's wife!) What is occurring in Northern Ireland is frankly disgusting in this day and age. Maybe Brexit has divided us even further, but N.I. is supposed to be a part of the UK and the discrimination shown towards woman is nothing short of disgraceful. Basic breach of human rights in my book. These were incredibly harrowing stories and I'm glad the law was changed. The fact that many inhabitants STILL have to come to England shows a complete lack of dignity and respect. Well done BBC for highlighting this.
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Many communities around the World, and women folk in particular are suffering because of entrenched cultural and religious beliefs, some medieval and beyond in their origins. It all the more shocking when you realise it’s happening in the UK, and not truly being tackled. Little whiffs of discrimination, unfairness, lack of recognition are all around us, but there are some truly horrendous hidden issues as well, rarely do they surface until a true tragedy hits the headlines.
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Things do change and perhaps they will in NI. It wasn't that many years ago that the Republic of Ireland was considered as very conservative in outlook but in recent years as younger people with more liberal views prevail it has changed considerably. Perhaps also since they joined the EU. Some commentators suggest that there is a younger more liberal demographic emerging in NI and some of the tradition political parties could find themselves side lined if they don't change. Apparently one of the reasons Arlene Foster was replaced was that she was considered too liberal, make of that what you will but it would be quite amusing if it wasn't so serious. I have probably strayed too far into politics but the situation those ladies featured in the TV programme found themselves in would have been very different had different politics existed where they lived.
David
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Pace of change/progress on such entrenched issues is frustratingly slow and for most of us difficult to understand. However, (getting back to ‘entertainment’), the programme illustrates the power of well crafted public broadcasting. Without it all we’d have to worry about is Harry and Megan!
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