A Time To Speak Out And A Time To Fight?

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There is a programme about peoples roots on the BBC at the moment called "Who Do You Think You Are". Last night's programme was about an Irish actress (now resident in Britain) called Dervla Kirwan. She was related to Michal Collins (I read an excellent book about him called, Hang Out Your Brightest Colours) a leading figure in the fight for Irish Independence, who was killed when civil war broke out in Ireland, after the Irish Frees State was declared. Her maternal grandfather had also been involved in the fight for Irish independence.
She seemed concerned that they had been involved in that fight and said that "She would opt for peace every time".
Now this raises an age old moral dilemma which I have often thought about myself. You see I am not a pacifist although I have been against most of the conflicts that have occurred in my lifetime and have protested against many an unjust war and was a CND activist, although never a member of that fine organisation.
I do believe however that there are "Just Wars" and like to think that had I been old enough I would have taken up arms against Hitler and the terrible crimes that he was responsible for. Note the "like to think" for until I was  placed into a position where I had to decide to take up arms I don't know  honestly how I would react.
 Firstly I would have to face the thought of being killed or injured and then: would I be prepared to kill somebody else? Thankfully I have never been forced into that decision but when faced with minor incidents in my life, where,what I consider an injustice has occurred, my instinct has been to stand and fight..
 Which brings us full circle back to Ms Kirwan. I have Irish blood in me through my grandfather and mother on my paternal line and I think that I would have been proud to have had relations who stood up and fought for Irish independence. This is not to criticise her for taking a different point of view and dear reader I ask you to consider how you would react faced with this moral dilemma.
 As for the ROI they have remained neutral in world affairs, giving great assistance in the past to UN peace keeping missions, and yet their politicians have been essentially conservative apart from Mary Robinson whom I greatly admire.