You're completely right, Lizzie. People do hold onto things too much.
I live in a country that has a complicated political past (Ireland), and I am all too aware that some people are stuck in the past and even long for the past where division and violence were everywhere. It seems to get ingrained. They are in a small minority though.
As time goes by, and new generations come through, the past will be left behind, but I am not sure there is a quick fix here.
But yes, we should live in the now...it's all we have, after all!
Yes, Ireland has a complicated past - and you are right - there is no quick fix, but if one looks at history, it normally takes something extreme before the human race can move forward again - like a war, famine,natural disasters etc
Very sad actually.