I've a close friend from a well known Ardoyne republican family, who once said to me that if the Brits had only been just and fair in ending the systemic and institutionalized racism and bigotry in 1969, and opened the way up for the civil rights reforms which are now being implemented, none of the Troubles would have happened. Even in the republican communities in 1969, people wanted peace, security, living wage jobs, and decent homes and schools much, much more than they ever wanted a reuinited Ireland.