To accept that Unionists were ever seriously wrong in the past is perceived as weakness, and therefore cannot be done. What one is guilty of, one represses quickly if one takes it seriously at all. Yet, it needs to be done. The past needs to be acknowledged, and accepted, warts and all. Bad things that have been both done and experienced need to be faced up to - for if we don't, we can never even begin the process of escaping from their demonic power.
Amnesia assists no one.
If the reality of the past is not both seen and accepted, we will forever live in the twilight world of unreality. Unless we accept the reality of our past we will be condemned to repeat it - it will become our future. We will never be able to have a shared vision of the future if we cannot even arrive at a shared version of our common history. I dream of a society in which everyone will be free - free to develop their full potential, and free to express themselves fully, without fear of rejection or violence. I dream of a society wherein there is respect for diversity, and in which we will regard difference as a positive thing, and not as a threat.