Ran accross this piece from U2 front-man, Bono, in which he reflects on the "Bloody Sunday" massacre in Ireland in 1972 and contrasts it with the recent apology, for the massacre, by the British Prime Minister a few days ago.  Best part was the concluding paragraph:

In fact, it can be that quick everywhere. If there are any lessons for the world from this piece of Irish history ... for Baghdad ... for Kandahar ... it’s this: things are quick to change for the worse and slow to change for the better, but they can. They really can. It takes years of false starts, heartbreaks and backslides and, most tragically, more killings. But visionaries and risk-takers and, let’s just say it, heroes on all sides can bring us back to the point where change becomes not only possible again, but inevitable.