The most inflexible elements in Northern Ireland cannot be allowed to dictate the pace of political change. That path will lead to continuing social unrest and economic stagnation. If hope and opportunity is to be offered to young families and long-suffering communities, then the leaders of the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin must show courage and maturity by stepping away from extremists to forge a new consensus.
It will not be easy. Nearly 40 years of death and destruction have left their mark. Some people who lost loved ones feel angry and betrayed. Others believe that long-held principles are being abandoned. And there are those so deeply damaged by tribal prejudice that they cannot tolerate the thought of reconciliation and will resist it by any means possible. Overall, however, there is a deep-seated desire for democratic normality, political accommodation and the re-establishment of devolved government.
At this stage, Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party know what is required of them in terms of commitments to policing and powersharing. But political skirmishing continued yesterday as the parties disagreed over the terms of a ministerial pledge and the timing and terms for a devolution of policing powers. British legislation based on the St Andrews Agreement may give rise to a fresh bout of political point-scoring and condition-setting, given the levels of suspicion that exist between the parties. But time is wasting. And the suspicion remains that precautions are being taken against the collapse of negotiations and the development of a "blame game".
Northern Secretary Peter Hain is likely to announce a March date for Assembly elections later today, when legislation is published. And while it may be too much to expect prior agreement between Sinn Féin and the DUP on legislative change, an election process could provide them with an opportunity to reassure their supporters while spelling out the economic benefits of political co-operation. In regard to the latter, they will be singing off the same hymn sheet as the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance parties.
Surrendering to the violent and oppressive tendencies of the past is not an option, although small groups in both communities would willingly do so. An upsurge in dissident republican activity has underlined that threat and emphasised the need for Sinn Féin to complete its transition to democratic politics. Most of the hard decisions have already been taken. The IRA has been disarmed and stood down. Members have taken their places in an Assembly and Executive. But Sinn Féin has shied away from supporting the police. The DUP has its own difficulties in agreeing to share power with republicans. But the longer the parties prevaricate and set preconditions, the greater the likelihood the entire edifice will come tumbling down. If government threats to wind up the Assembly are taken at face value, the parties have little more than a week to decide on their political relevance.