John Hume was a man who reached out, talked and listened to those with whom he disagreed. 

That included unionists who had presided over a Northern Ireland state that had discriminated against his own people, as well as republicans whose violent methods he courageously opposed. In all the many, heartfelt and justified tributes to John Hume, the prevailing recurring theme is that our current ability to lead relatively peaceful lives, is largely due to his heroic, skilful and persistent efforts. For that it is widely acknowledged that we owe him a great debt of gratitude.

However, I wonder if there is potentially a greater legacy still that lies within our grasp? His words have been widely reported and restated over the past few days and often, gloriously, retain the power and significance of his voice. I paraphrase, of course, but cannot get away from the idea that you cannot unite territory without first uniting people.

Our peace is presided over by our disunited Stormont Executive, with feuding ministers underpinned by their contradictory political ideologies and policies. This, in turn, reflects the reality of a still-divided society. Our political leaders mirror the absence of mutual respect, the lack of trust and the residue of blame still exists across society. One side blames the other for the maintenance of a sectarian state, full of repression, discrimination and targeted inequalities. Meanwhile, reflected back is the anger of people who feel they were the target of a 30-year campaign of terrorist violence. 

As they say, we are where we are.

However, it is in John Hume’s example that we may find the key to unlocking this vile stalemate that still has the capacity to lock us into a sterile and unproductive future.

He reached out. He talked. He listened. He was persistent. He was courageous and, at the time, controversial. So, could our current leaders summon some of his inspirational example and use his death to take the next steps to a just, lasting and productive peace?

Will unionism ever have the courage and humility to acknowledge its role in the sectarian crimes of the past that John Hume fought so hard against?

Will Sinn Féin ever have the courage and humility to acknowledge, as John Hume did so much to reveal, that the IRA’s murderous campaign of violence was a choice and not an inevitability?

Self-awareness and admission of guilt would be the first steps towards a really meaningful dialogue about the future of this island, and could start building the respect and trust we desperately need to start talking and listening purposively.

And that would be a legacy that even a great Nobel Laureate peace-maker like John Hume could be proud of.

***

A poem

Mutual admissions

Face to face with a terrible truth

we seek to mitigate the crime.

“Look what your side did’ we cry,

‘Your atrocities were worse than mine!”

We pick and choose our realities

immoral ground in which to hide

tell ourselves that although not perfect

we are better than the other side.

But if we were really honest

allowed ourselves to look anew

think and say the dreadful words

“Yes, we murdered your people too.”