Sir, - With Christmas approaching it is time to take stock of the current state of the peace process. The island of Ireland has suffered either 700 years of oppression and/or 30 years of terrorism, depending on one's viewpoint. Almost every day we hear that a deadline is about to be broken on the path to peace. There is much talk of the Queen of England visiting these shores, even of our re-joining the Commonwealth. I find this unusual.
Violence and terror are usually an expression of pain, real or imagined. The people of violence on all sides hold within them a belief that they have been hurt, or betrayed. When they have attempted to give voice to this hurt, they have been marginalised. This has given rise to anger which they have chosen to express violently.
I too feel hurt but have not chosen a violent path. I do believe, however, that the longer we ignore the real need for apologies and acknowledgement of all wrongdoing on all sides of the problem, then the longer the arguments about decommissioning will continue. If we override the real need for forgiveness and an acknowledgement of pain that exists in many but is voiced particularly by so few, we will eventually have an even bigger problem on our hands. We cannot sweep under the carpet the fact that people do feel hurt and that forgiveness is a long and difficult process. Nor should we be afraid to give voice to this hurt.
Perhaps the best gift the Irish people can get this Christmas is an acknowledgement of wrongs perpetrated and an apology. Perhaps the greatest gift we can give is forgiveness. It is not only the right way forward for peace, But the only way. - Yours, etc., Colm Maguire,
Drumcondra, Dublin 9.