Why do the Sunnis and Shi'ites fight? and is it really just in the mideast that they don't get along?

They have been fighting since Mohammad died and the two factions fought over who should be his successor. Of course in most cases they don't fight, but in some places they do.

Protestants and catholics have been fighting until recently in Northern Ireland for example but they don't kill each other in NY?

The Sunni branch believes that the first four caliphs--Mohammed's successors--rightfully took his place as the leaders of Muslims. They recognize the heirs of the four caliphs as legitimate religious leaders.

Shiites, in contrast, believe that only the heirs of the fourth caliph, Ali, are the legitimate successors of Mohamed

Another difference between Sunnis and Shiites has to do with the Mahdi, “the rightly-guided one” whose role is to bring a just global caliphate into being.

practically its another prime example of how religion bring hate suffering and fear to people

In the time of their prophet there were some varying interpretations of the prophets words and this lead to different factions. Very similar to Protestant and Catholic interpretations of the bible and the differences they have killed each other over for centuries.

The differences are universal, and global for these differences.

Not sure which takes the Koran most literally, but one does and the other doesn't and there lies the fundamental difference.

Following the death of Muhamand there was a disagreement in who should take his place. One group wanted one person while another group wanted something else. I doubt that the fighting is just going on in the Middle East it probably taking place elsewhere but on a much smaller scale.

i never heard sunnis and shiites fighting until america invaded iraq.

my best friend who is shiite iraqi told me f****** america is behind this blood war.america bombs a shiite mosque and they blame it on the sunnis.{same thing on the sunni side too}. shiites think the sunnis did it and the sunnis think the shiites did it.that's how all fighting starts.

the sooner they both realize evil america was behind these attacks the better they achieve their goals which are defeating this crusade empire.

I don't know of any other places where they fight.

There are subtle differences in the dogmas/beliefs. But I am not sure how much the fight is about beliefs as it is about land dispute and revenge, sort of speak.

Differing interpretations. They fight like Catholics and Protestants: sometimes bloody, usually just a war of words.

Its kinda like a Catholic vs. Protestant fight.

Shiite = there is a direct line of imams from Muhammad (I think his cousin was next in line), so there is a hierarchy

Sunni = no hierarchy

Political and religious differences.

Because of the "tribal mentality."