Irish Examiner View: Take a moment

A portrait of John Hume surrounded by candles lit by members of his family and colleagues in St Eugene's Cathedral in Derry yesterday. Photo: PA

John Hume will be buried in Derry today. His funeral, in the normal course of events, would have been a historic public expression of the view of a great majority of people on these islands that social and political progress cannot be forced by violence. 

Agitation, protest, and persuasion yes. Car bombs, kidnappings, kneecappings, and bullets no — the principle that Hume dedicated his life to, so a new, stable Ireland might escape the shackles of tribalism and bigotry.