I suppose it's inevitable to a degree, which is why Cracked.com has all of those history lists, but that doesn't mean that we should let them have it easy.

And I also think (I both really, really want to think, and I do think) that along with the taming/forgetting process, we're seeing that over the years sometimes people do learn something, sometimes, and accolades for someone once condemned as a terrorist can be a sign of that as well as co-opting.

If they renounce their previous position, absolutely. If they take action today that proves their commitment to the equivalent social justice struggles, more power to 'em. I love a redemption story. Can't think of many examples, though; most of the figures I'm speaking of are still very much active in creating or supporting policy that reinforces a racist, sexist, classist world order.