I believed that, in a situation where the community that I came from were being treated like second- and third-class citizens, that I had a responsibility to fight back against it. And I don't apologise to anybody for having done that. I think it was the right thing to do.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a commitment to standing up against injustice and taking responsibility for one's community.
In this quote, Martin McGuinness emphasizes the moral obligation he felt to combat the discrimination and marginalization faced by his community. He asserts that fighting against such injustice is not something to be ashamed of, but rather a principled stance that he believes was necessary and right.
In practice
During a speech about civil rights, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of fighting injustice.
British rule depends upon repression and collaboration and the Irish people should recognise that those who collaborate with Britain in exchange for a slice of the cake will implement British policy and remain silent when Irish people are murdered and oppressed. It is they who are responsible for prolonging the war in Ireland. Without the quislings, without the collaborators, we would already have reached freedom.
What's important is that, when you're tested, you stand firm against the violent activities of those who would try to plunge our people back into the misery of the past.
The reality is that the people that we represent are no longer going to be second-class citizens in their own country.
We face up to awful things because we can't go around them, or forget them. The sooner you get it over with, the sooner you say 'Yes, it happened, and there's nothing I can do about it,' the sooner you can get on with your own life. You've got children to bring up. So you've got to get over it. What we have to get over, somehow we do. Even the worst things.
Never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.
Fear can make you do more wrong than hate or jealousy... fear makes you always, always hold something back.
I wrestled with anger from the age of sixteen. It's still one of my nemeses. I have to remember that the word of God says, 'Be slow to anger.'
We must use words to uplift and include. We can use our words to fight back against oppression and hate. But we must also channel our words into action.
[talking about the race at Imola circuit] There are no small accidents on this circuit.
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