In the eyes of many, Sinn Fein has always been respectable. America didn't reject English oppression with a polite request, and neither can we expect the Irish State to do so. No apologies needed. 800 years of slavery is quite enough, don't you think? Consider the genocide practiced against the Irish by people whose own historical records contain the declaration: "At last we shall be free of the plague of the Irish in Ireland." However, with what amounts to an apology from Lizzie the Hun, it is indeed time to work through more peaceful means.
I'm only second gen American born. My grandfather and GG fought with Collins and after his assassination fled Ireland one jump ahead of John Bull, so I was raised in a politically saturated close knit group who sent $ back home as a matter of faith. I love political cartoons, too; my favorite being on a tee shirt still offered by Zazzle. It shows the front view of Goliath (with Union Jack designation) in full battle armor, towering over a little David we see only from the back, designated IRA. Goliath's bellowing: "Yer A Bleedin' Terr'ist!"
800 years of occupation by a totally foreign invader that practiced massive literal slavery and at one time even genocide. Time for change; although yes, by the most peaceful road available. I personally wouldn't agree with real estate ownership by foreign nationals or anyone w/o Irish citizenship, swearing sole fealty to Ireland herself. None of this UK crap. God bless Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. 
You win a free shamrock if you can guess who gets my house when I die.
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