Why label the terror threat in Britain as 'Irish'?

gurramok

Coming from todays news about the British govt raising the terror threat from dissident republicans, I find it insulting that they have labelled it an Irish threat when 99.9% of Irish people north and south have nothing to do with dissidents.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11408758

bbc wrote:

The threat level to Britain from Irish-related terrorism has been raised from moderate to substantial.

The threat from Irish-related terrorism to Britain is still lower than the overall threat from international terrorism, which remains unchanged at "severe"

The new category of threat from Ireland applies to England, Wales and Scotland but not Northern Ireland, where the level also remains "severe".

Mrs May said: "The director-general of the security service has informed me that he has raised the threat to Great Britain from Irish-related terrorism from moderate to substantial, meaning that an attack is a strong possibility.

I feel that the hard work done for peace between our nations has not only been under attack by dissidents but is now under attack through mislaid language like above.

Why couldn't they have said 'Dissident republican terror threat' instead of 'Irish related terror'?:mad:

That is discrimination and creating anti-Irish prejudice among the British people through fear and is simply not fair to 99.9% of Irish people. I think our glorious leader should protest about this unfair labeling diplomatically.

vincentdunne

Yes, I wondered about that too. I don't think I am a threat to anyone.

deise go deo

IRA, as all murry would say, the clues in the f*****g name.

amacachi

The only people who will use this to tar or view all the Irish with the same brush are the same people who would do so even if it were explained in great detail how small the organisations in question are. I really don't see the issue here.

gurramok

deise go deo wrote: »

IRA, as all murry would say, the clues in the f*****g name.

The various titles under which these groups operate don't represent me as a resident of the south nor do they represent the vast majority of people from the republican/nationalist community of the North.

Whats their numbers, less than a 1000? Thats 6million people mislabelled as a terror threat because a few hundred assumed a name claiming to represent Irish people.

vincentdunne

deise go deo wrote: »

IRA, as all murry would say, the clues in the f*****g name.

As in the 'British National Front', the 'British Labour Party' and the 'British Assoc. of Fruit Growers' (all the same of course) The clue is in the rest of the name.

gurramok

amacachi wrote: »

The only people who will use this to tar or view all the Irish with the same brush are the same people who would do so even if it were explained in great detail how small the organisations in question are. I really don't see the issue here.

They don't, thats the problem. The British people are really not up to speed on what all the fuss is about.

They see headlines like 'Irish terror threat' and they automatically assume its the fricking Irish threatening them. It happened in the past and its happening now. Like ffs.

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*edit*...Well, that totally didn't work...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxYzQtSxoKE

*edit 2*...and now you can imagine how all those muslims felt..

deise go deo

A terror threat from Ireland, What would you call it if not an Irish terror threat?

Just so were clear I see where you are comeing from but I doubt there will be anyone becomeing suspicious of Irish people just because of poor labeling by a news reader, If it upsets you that much you could always write a strongly worded letter.

amacachi

gurramok wrote: »

They don't, thats the problem. The British people are really not up to speed on what all the fuss is about.

They see headlines like 'Irish terror threat' and they automatically assume its the fricking Irish threatening them. It happened in the past and its happening now. Like ffs.

You're not giving them enough credit, even aside from the fact that a massive percentage of the population would see themselves as at least somewhat Irish. No right-thinking person will base opinions of all Irish people on a news report like that unless it just confirms their existing thoughts (and I use that word loosely) on the matter.

johngalway

Is that minister Con or Lib, by the by?

gurramok

deise go deo wrote: »

A terror threat from Ireland, What would you call it if not an Irish terror threat?

Just so were clear I see where you are comeing from but I doubt there will be anyone becomeing suspicious of Irish people just because of poor labeling by a news reader, If it upsets you that much you could always write a strongly worded letter.

The analogy is with Islamic terrorists. Nowadays they tend to name it as an al-qaeda threat rather than a threat from Muslims.

Here, they have labelled the threat as Irish. :mad: Why not use the terror groups name instead of using our nations name? :mad:

amacachi wrote: »

You're not giving them enough credit, even aside from the fact that a massive percentage of the population would see themselves as at least somewhat Irish. No right-thinking person will base opinions of all Irish people on a news report like that unless it just confirms their existing thoughts (and I use that word loosely) on the matter.

It happened before when the Troubles was on. Incorrect reporting by British media of labelling all Irish people as potential terrorists helped create prejudice against the Irish. Now I fear, its a rerun.

deise go deo

gurramok wrote: »

The analogy is with Islamic terrorists. Nowadays they tend to name it as an al-qaeda threat rather than a threat from Muslims.

Here, they have labelled the threat as Irish. :mad: Why not use the terror groups name instead of using our nations name? :mad:

OK Ok rabble rabble rabble.

I just dont think a few news reports are much to worry about.
I think we are well inside mountain and mole hill teritory here

amacachi

gurramok wrote: »

The analogy is with Islamic terrorists. Nowadays they tend to name it as an al-qaeda threat rather than a threat from Muslims.

Here, they have labelled the threat as Irish. :mad: Why not use the terror groups name instead of using our nations name? :mad:

Islamic fundamentalists and in America especially just Muslims is generally how I've come across it.

It happened before when the Troubles was on. Incorrect reporting by British media of labelling all Irish people as potential terrorists helped create prejudice against the Irish. Now I fear, its a rerun.

It happened before but thankfully most people have moved on, the idiots and racists haven't and they can't be converted by any "misreporting" as they already think the worst.

gurramok

Lets compare RTE to BBC of the story

RTE says outside the remarks made by Mrs May

"UK: Dissident republican threat 'substantial'"

as their headline.

Yet the BBC say "Irish terror attack a 'strong possibility'" as their headline. Thats prejudice.

gurramok

amacachi wrote: »

It happened before but thankfully most people have moved on, the idiots and racists haven't and they can't be converted by any "misreporting" as they already think the worst.

I'm not talking about idiots and racists who are mislead by such misreporting. The whole British population will see headlines like today for many years if there is a ongoing RIRA campaign there and yet the media will say its Irish terrorists when in fact its not but a tiny group of dissident republicans who do not represent us.

Its like labeling all Basques or Palestinians as terrorists when they are not and added into the mix is that Ireland is a bloody sovereign state and does not deserve this labeling as terrorists by the British media.:mad:

amacachi

gurramok wrote: »

I'm not talking about idiots and racists who are mislead by such misreporting. The whole British population will see headlines like today for many years if there is a ongoing RIRA campaign there and yet the media will say its Irish terrorists when in fact its not but a tiny group of dissident republicans who do not represent us.

Its like labeling all Basques or Palestinians as terrorists when they are not and added into the mix is that Ireland is a bloody sovereign state and does not deserve this labeling as terrorists by the British media.:mad:

The RIRA and all the others are Irish terrorists though. They're Irish and they're terrorists.

gurramok

amacachi wrote: »

The RIRA and all the others are Irish terrorists though. They're Irish and they're terrorists.

Most probably UK citizens! Not all Irish are terrorists, get the difference.

Anyway, why should a tiny weeny minority of a few hundred be labelled as representing the Irish people by the language in British media?

KeithAFC

gurramok wrote: »

Most probably UK citizens! Not all Irish are terrorists, get the difference.

Anyway, why should a tiny weeny minority of a few hundred be labelled as representing the Irish people by the language in British media?

So people who live in Londonderry are British then? The majority of the nationalists are British?

indioblack

gurramok wrote: »

They don't, thats the problem. The British people are really not up to speed on what all the fuss is about.

They see headlines like 'Irish terror threat' and they automatically assume its the fricking Irish threatening them. It happened in the past and its happening now. Like ffs.

I have relatives in Cork that I've known all my life, and the message is the same from them. "We are a friendly and welcoming people, but finally we don't like the English. We want all the credit for our rebellious actions, but don't expect us to take any responsibilty for them. The struggle continues - but can we please be seen as your neighbours too - only don't forget we don't actually like you and we are fundamentally different and unique in a way that you should accept even if we can't explain why.
It's called wanting to have things all ways.
The British aren't up to speed, it's true.
If they are your enemy they'll probably be your enemy.
If they are your friends there's a probability that they will remain your friends.
They aren't cute enough for the double thinking.
Too many people in Ireland want to play the game of vocally giving support to those supposedly representing a renewed threat, and yet they want to be regarded as responsible citizens of a country too.

amacachi

gurramok wrote: »

Most probably UK citizens! Not all Irish are terrorists, get the difference.

Anyway, why should a tiny weeny minority of a few hundred be labelled as representing the Irish people by the language in British media?

Most aren't living in the North, that has been well established.
They're not labeling all Irish people as anything.

deise go deo

KeithAFC wrote: »

So people who live in Londonderry are British then? The majority of the nationalists are British?

What? Thats not what he was saying. He said that a few hundred disidents =/= the Irish people and it should not be made to seem like they do.

That has nothing to do with people in Derry.

gurramok

KeithAFC wrote: »

So people who live in Londonderry are British then? The majority of the nationalists are British?

Whats that got to do with anything? They can be Irish citizens or British citizens still residing in the UK, they as in vast majority ain't members of the RIRA.

amacachi wrote: »

Most aren't living in the North, that has been well established.
They're not labeling all Irish people as anything.

They are. The flipping headline in the British media is "Irish terror threat". No distinction between the state and a tiny terror group nor is there a distinction made between 6 million people on the island and a few hundred.

Even UTV up north has not used those words, they used "Dissident threat 'substantial' - Government" http://www.u.tv/news/

deise go deo

indioblack wrote: »

I have relatives in Cork that I've known all my life, and the message is the same from them. "We are a friendly and welcoming people, but finally we don't like the English. We want all the credit for our rebellious actions, but don't expect us to take any responsibilty for them. The struggle continues - but can we please be seen as your neighbours too - only don't forget we don't actually like you and we are fundamentally different and unique in a way that you should accept even if we can't explain why.
It's called wanting to have things all ways.
The British aren't up to speed, it's true.
If they are your enemy they'll probably be your enemy.
If they are your friends there's a probability that they will remain your friends.
They aren't cute enough for the double thinking.
Too many people in Ireland want to play the game of vocally giving support to those supposedly representing a renewed threat, and yet they want to be regarded as responsible citizens of a country too.

Dubble thinking?

Not really, its quite simple.

Irish people are not British people.
Irish people are happy they are free from British rule.
Irish people are happy to be freinds with British people as long as the difference between the two peoples is respected.

Not hard really.

KeithAFC

I don't think they would consider themselves as UK citizens though. Which was my point. So surely it is Irish?

gurramok

johngalway wrote: »

Is that minister Con or Lib, by the by?

Con. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Secretary

God, she is ignorant in what she said.

gurramok

KeithAFC wrote: »

I don't think they would consider themselves as UK citizens though. Which was my point. So surely it is Irish?

Define 'it'. Why should a few hundred who are probably Irish citizens be labelled by the British media as an Irish terror threat when the Irish are a few million strong and have nothing to do with this terror?

Its frankly outrageous.

deise go deo

KeithAFC wrote: »

I don't think they would consider themselves as UK citizens though. Which was my point. So surely it is Irish?

Yes I beleive nationalists in Derry would tend to view themselves as Irish, Whats your point? Your not trying to claim that disident republicans
are the same thing as the Irish people are you?

d22ontour

gurramok wrote: »

Define 'it'. Why should a few hundred who are probably Irish citizens be labelled by the British media as an Irish terror threat when the Irish are a few million strong and have nothing to do with this terror?

Its frankly outrageous.

They are Irish , no ? It cuts out all religious prejudice when you think of it.Would you rather the comment was aimed at Roman Catholic, maybe a few Protestants and possibly a few Presbyterians, sure maybe some of them are Atheists too... All that potential religious bigotry....They are Irish, the comment is pretty valid.It is factually an Irish terror threat.

gurramok

d22ontour wrote: »

They are Irish , no ? It cuts out all religious prejudice when you think of it.Would you rather the comment was aimed at Roman Catholic, maybe a few Protestants and possibly a few Presbyterians, sure maybe some of them are Atheists too... All that potential religious bigotry....They are Irish, the comment is pretty valid.It is factually an Irish terror threat.

Nothing to do with religion. You just said the RIRA represent you.

Gerry.L

OP why are you so sure 99.9% of us dont support the IRA?

I have to say I have found that the further south in this country you go (and this includes Dublin) the IRA and the "troubles" (for want of a better word) are the last thing on peoples minds.

Come up here to some of the border counties (on both sides of the border) and its a very relevant issue... and the IRA get alot of support. Though not neccessarily support for dessidents... or killings of innocents.

Im not saying Im a supporter. Or Im not sticking up for the IRA. Its just an observation.

digme

id love to see them bankers hang outside the dail.

gurramok

Gerry.L wrote: »

OP why are you so sure 99.9% of us dont support the IRA?

I have to say I have found that the further south in this country you go (and this includes Dublin) the IRA and the "troubles" (for want of a better word) are the last thing on peoples minds.

Come up here to some of the border counties (on both sides of the border) and its a very relevant issue... and the IRA get alot of support. Though not neccessarily support for dessidents... or killings of innocents.

Im not saying Im a supporter. Or Im not sticking up for the IRA. Its just an observation.

As per the election results. I said RIRA not IRA. The RIRA(and its variants) has no substantial support within communities up north like the PIRA did.

indioblack

deise go deo wrote: »

Dubble thinking?

Not really, its quite simple.

Irish people are not British people.
Irish people are happy they are free from British rule.
Irish people are happy to be freinds with British people as long as the difference between the two peoples is respected.

Not hard really.

I've no problem with the above.
Thanks for making it simple for me!
But if some people from Britain get charged with guilt by association, with the north, with the past, as I have had experience of, then some in Ireland could face a similar charge for paying lip-service to the aims of the dissidents and, indirectly, their activities.

Ren2k7

I do think it's a sad state of affairs when organisations like the BBC, renowned for impartiality, would go so far out of their way to describe terror groups like ETA as "Basque Separatists" and Hamas as a "Palestinian Militant Group" and then use such a blanket term such as "Irish terror threat" to describe a very tiny number of people with little or no support throughout the island.

We all know the dangers of profiling an entire group of people in such an irresponsible manner, take a look at what internment did for the IRA popularity and how it led to 30 years of civil war. I hope the BBC are more careful in the future. If they can be sensitive to Muslims then I'm sure they can do the same for us.

DingChavez

The government probably had people on the phone to Britain apologising for the threat.

Cú Giobach

I have to agree with the mountain and mole hill analogy.
OK the headline says "Irish terror attack" but the body continuously refers to "Irish-related terror" which it is.
In a way, we should almost be thankful they have to distinguish it like this, not many years ago it would have been just "Terror attack" and the "Irish" bit wouldn't even have been necessary.
That said, maybe adding "related" to the headline would have been more professional.

Nehaxak

Saying dissident Irish Republican threat gives the impression, which is the truth, that the threat is from a small disorganised, delusional, tiny group.

Saying or implying the threat is Irish implies falsely that the threat is from a whole nation.

It suits both the BBC and I'm sure the British state forces to blow the whole thing up for a whole lot more than what it's worth, sure how the hell can they otherwise get support for continued defence/security spending in a recession ? They already milked the whole Muslim thing, which didn't really work so why not revert back to old wounds and scare the crap out of their ordinary public that there's a possibility some mad Irishmen with a load of Chinese bangers bundled together with sellotape are going to blow up London bridge ?

How anyone cannot see this as anything other than a public relations stunt by the UK state forces (with support from their state funded broadcaster to boot) just to gather or garner funds is beyond me.

So yeah, I'd agree with the OP.

big b

Irishman gets upset at report calling Irish dissident groups Irish.

jaysus

Mister men

Worrying development tbh. Put's as all into a nice little box. Next you know we'll be in an "Axis of evil" speech.

mike65

Such offence being taken, quite silly. I suspect the raising of the terror threat level is also silly but the trouble is if a bomb goes off then I look rather silly to dismiss the threat.

As for defintions the R-IRA are I presume fighting for the fredonm of the Irish in their own deluded minds and are Irish by birth and instinct, so to describe them as being Irish is er logical.

amcalester

It says Irish-related terror. Thats exactly what it is, I think you are just getting upset for the sake of it.

Palmach

Ren2k7 wrote: »

We all know the dangers of profiling an entire group of people in such an irresponsible manner, take a look at what internment did for the IRA popularity and how it led to 30 years of civil war. I hope the BBC are more careful in the future. If they can be sensitive to Muslims then I'm sure they can do the same for us.

What nationality are the dissident groups? What motivates and drives them?

PeterIanStaker

Yes, lets not bother arguing or distinguishing a small bunch of head-the-balls from the rest of the population, (who have other things on their minds, such as work, money and family).

Lets just all agree that these guys are representative of the entire island of Ireland, because we as a people are so weak and passive and so used to getting f*cked by church government and media that to speak up is not tolerated, and we'll happily tar each other with the same brush out of some post-colonial/inbuilt religious guilt - trip.

So in summary, all Irish people are dissident terrorists, and if you disagree, you are part of the problem.
:rolleyes:

gurramok

Contrast the BBC & Sky headline with The Guardians one. No sensational 'Irish terror threat' headline there.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/24/mi5-britain-terrorism-threat

Fighting Irish

i couldn't care less to be honest

Wolfe Tone

BBC biased against Irish? Shock.

caseyann

The nation could sue for deflamation and slander i just found our couple of billion :cool:

PeterIanStaker

caseyann wrote: »

The nation could sue for deflamation and slander i just found our couple of billion :cool:

Be funny if that happened, but read my post (#44). Nobody has a backbone.

caseyann

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

Be funny if that happened, but read my post (#44). Nobody has a backbone.

Pensioners only.
Why is there no proper organisation in the name of the people to protect them from the government and the bankers? The Irish of yester year would have been out in full force.
Is it because they are paid so much now they dont care what the rest of Irish are getting.

DingChavez

Palmach wrote: »

What nationality are the dissident groups? What motivates and drives them?

1. UKish.
2. Having to live in the UK.