Sir, – I was struck by the opening lines in the article by Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys, "I want the commemorations to be inclusive" (Opinion, March 31st) where she cites an eye-witness account of the carnage on Dublin streets in the immediate aftermath of the Easter Rising 99 years ago.
I was struck too while on a visit to Berlin last week by the many monuments and memorials to the victims of the Nazi regime.
The German people clearly recognise that their children will never be able to hold their heads high unless the horror perpetrated by their government some 80 years ago is unreservedly acknowledged.
Mass killing multiplies family grief into community trauma. Deep hurt was caused by the killing in 1916, whether of rebels, security forces (both British and Irish) and innocent civilians including children.
When we acknowledge the grief caused to families, and the damage of community trauma, with both honesty and kindness, we can begin to face up to two controversial issues: Was this rebellion necessary to achieve independence?; and, is there any difference between violent revolution against imperial domination and IRA terrorism in more recent times?
Both these issues are being hotly debated by political parties flying various banners claiming ownership of either nationalism, socialism or republicanism. We the people need to be wary of these “isms” and be guided by our own humanity. – Yours, etc, JIM HOLOHAN Stranorlar, Co Donegal.