Following PSNI claims that the Provisional IRA still exists, and looking ahead to emotive centenaries of events that resulted in the partition of Ireland, this weekend Stephen Collins of the Irish Times highlighted a curious difference between US and French reflections on their respective revolutions.

Whereas Americans think of paintings of the constitution’s founding fathers attending “an orderly indoor event” celebrating the triumph of politics, among prominent French images are those of Bastille in flames “with people storming the symbolic fortress of tyranny.”

The circumstances and timing of America’s independence and later civil war differ to those in Ireland, but here we are clearly much more willing to rue incidents of violence in isolation rather than celebrate events of political compromise together.

In this decade of centenaries, as paramilitary organisations endure and still haunt us, by glorifying acts of violence – whatever the political motivations – it will remain difficult to marginalise sinister motives.

Historical events ought to be commemorated with caution.

The days of armed men and women in military uniforms – and of glorifying paramilitary efforts to win arguments – across our continent are largely over.

The times, the discourse and means to achieve political objectives have changed forever. The answer to our constitutional question – decided upon and subject to change only by referendums on both side of the Irish border – has transformed also.

In commemorating events the intention today should not be to celebrate strikes for or against perceived “loyalism” or “freedom”, but to view these as parts of a historical jigsaw. A jigsaw that has ended in agreement and in some cases stalemate.

With paramilitary organisations continuing to wield influence, political leaders and we as a society should question the impact upon which emphasising the success of violent acts can have.

Whilst most of our society has moved on from conflict, evidently others have not.

To reconsider how we commemorate historical events is not to rubbish the roles or sacrifice of individuals of history. Rather, it is to reassess the appropriateness of focusing upon the means employed.

It is to recognise the triumph of politics, and the fact that the future of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland today lies democratically in the hands of the citizens whom live there.

It is also to accept that by considering events in isolation, without context or appreciation for the courage and compromises which brought our Troubles to an end, commemorations can encourage dissident motives.