Quite frankly, I am disappointed that the folks whose view I support are letting themselves get dragged into a dispute over who said what. It is the classic tactic by those whose actions are indefensible. It is called "shifting the premise". In this debate the defenders of the Crown have managed to make the discussion about all manner of things that are not germane.

There is no defense of UK actions in the North, most especially during the time of Thatcher. Who killed how many only serves to obscure the real issue which has to do with the actions of the British military, the RUC, and the various loyalists groups in denying basic civil rights to the Catholic/Republican citizens. This has been substantiated at every level. War is war, whether it is being fought by regular armies or by guerilla forces has no bearing on its legitimacy. ANC, the Free French, and many others demonstrate this point.

The McCartney family suffered a terrible loss. So have the families of fallen British soldiers in the North. As have the families of the IRA soldiers that died in this war, whether on the streets or in the Kesh. It is time to bury the dead and get on with peace. Remember them in whatever way has significance to you. And then get about the business at hand. The children of the North deserve this. There should not be one more generation that grows up looking over their shoulders.

The demographics are changing, lads. And so are the politics. Anyone who fights that will simply be a sad loser.

Mick