Daniel O'Connell has been the source of a lot of thought in the last couple of days. He was a man that lived in the 1830's in Ireland in a time where the Catholics were oppressed by the more powerful and dominate Protestants.
Catholics of the time couldn't hold seat in parliament and there were many laws in the protestants favor. Catholics couldn't be schooled and only 5% of them owned land to the dismay of the protestants. England was trying to get the Catholics out of Ireland because they stood for the "old way" and times were changing.
O'Connell comes on to the seen from a family that was catholic and did own land and was tutored by a man in the ways of a lawyer.
He became a political figure head for Ireland Catholics and believed in the law and peace.
He started speaking and holding rallies. Soon 100s of 1000s of catholics would show up to listen and the protestants were threatened by this
They knew he was a peaceful man and so when he would go to speak at these rallies they would threaten to send in troops and he would back down knowing what his catholic brothers would do.
You can imagine that the Catholics didn't put up with this behavior very long (just as our society wouldn't) and a couple of years later this man was killed.
I have immense admiration for Daniel O'Connell because of his dedication to what he believed. Even when his own brothers turned on him he still stuck to what he believed. My professor saw this a weak and cowardice but I saw it convicting and challenging.
As a believer am I willing to stand up for what I know to be right regardless of who has my back?
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