Very Happy to beHere!

the fnj

Sometimes you really have to look at things from a totally different perspective!

Just let me start by saying I am very proud to be Irish. I really do feel that this country is a great place to live at the moment and that we have our problems but hey were doing a lot better than a lot of other places.

The thing is, like a lot of Irish people I walk around looking glum. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because despite all the good things we have going for us I still focus on the bad. Maybe it’d because I’m aware of how shallow I’ve gotten as have a lot of people due to this booming economy. Material goods seem to be all that matters anymore. If I was to stop 100 random people in town with question “are you happy to be here?” I would bet most of them would say no.

(This has a point bear with me)

I was in work last Friday evening when two newly arrived Nigerian couples walked in. I know they had just arrived in this county because they had with them their application for asylum forms to get them photocopied. They were chattering excitedly to each other and from what I picked up they were genuinely happy to be in our country.

Later that day I was walking down Liffy Street in the blistering sun and I really started to noticed all the glum faces. Then from around the corner came one of the couples that had been in my shop earlier. The two of them where in high spirits, messing and running around like children. This couple was just so happy to be here and everything was so new and different to them it really made me think about how lucky we actually really are.

Yes Ireland is not perfect but where is? It must be better than the countries that the refugees are coming from. Maybe my logic is totally off but I do appreciate a lot more than I used to how much worse of I could have been.

My only concern is how long does it take to break down the spirits of some of the asylum seekers? The negative attitude of Irish people towards them and the blatant racism that they have to endure everyday must eventually take its toll till they are just as cynical as we are. It’s a sad cycle of events, but if people actually focus on the good maybe it will change.



[This message has been edited by The FANJ (edited 07-08-2001).]

Xterminator

I agree this is a fine country.

It has it's faults, and I've seen the downside of city centre at night, and I've seen some seedy areas like summerhill and ballymun, darndale, corduff, jobstown etc.

But i dont think there's a city in the modern world that hasn't got it's problems.

I think the Irish know how to have fun!

As for us becoming racist, I think it is true we are more racist than before, but considering the majority of 'refugees' are in fact economic migrants, claiming a status they are not entitled to.

I believe that refugees that are accepted, plus controlled no's of migrants should be given english lesons, till they are fluent (if not alreay so), and then given jobs in the likes of mcdonalds as soon as they have enough english skills.

Of course some of the migrants are highly skilled, and if work can be found in their area of expertse, great. If not, start at the bottom rung.

After 5 years of gainful employment, then they should have the right to claim citizenship, and then have rights to the dole\healthcare etc that we the Irish citizens enjoy.

It is only because they are seen to be spongers that the disatisfaction is grwing.

Also they should be dispersed into the larger community. Area's in Dublin are becoming ghetto like, and this only fuels racial tensions also.

Kensai

I dont like Ireland.

Oogy_Boogy

Whats wrong with Corduff?
ah no i live near it, to me it aint such a bad place.

Shiminay

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Kensai:
I dont like Ireland.</font>

It's all fine and well making a statement like that, but what are you saying to back it up?

I like Ireland - weather's a bit pants from time to time and people can be pants bandits, but overall, we're not a bad bunch - so long as you're not different

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All the best!
Dav

So Bob Hoskins was about to roll a spliff when in walks Dana with her 3 foot Bong
[honey i] violated [the kids]
When the Beefy King arrives, I shall be paying homage with Puunack The Receiver in a haze of green curry.

[This message has been edited by Kharn (edited 08-08-2001).]