GRMA wrote: » Ah yeah, things were fine and dandy in the ritish empire and sure things got even better after the act of union. You should read a history book.
Japer wrote: » you should read one about what happened in the rest of the world. Look at the huge numbers killed by Belgium in Africa as resent as a hundred years ago. Look at the Russian gulags. Closer to home and more recent, look at the millions of various Europeans killed in German Concentration camps.
Nodin wrote: » Yep. Name one - other than the British - that has people defending it on a regular basis. Or a semi-regular basis. Or ever.
bobbysands81 wrote: » Can you point me to where I said this was ok?
GRMA wrote: » What did we have to fear from other empires? Like France? They wanted to help us.
GRMA wrote: » If we want to look as massacres in Africa we dont need to go back as far as a hundred years for the British. The British empire was at the very least, just as barbaric, cruel and oppressive, if not more so, than all the empires you mention, bar none. This is readily apparent looking just at Irish history.
partyguinness wrote: » Bloody hell...is this thread still going.
Spread wrote: » No country likes to be overrun/invaded.
Spread wrote: » Fred - old bean! You come across as a typical British right on sort of chap. The way you try and try again to legitimise the barbarism of colonial rule would give the impression that you have not sank back in your armchair with a cup of Rosie and thought the process through. No country likes to be overrun/invaded. No amount of talk about roads/bridges being built, educating the ignorant or exchanging cultural values (one way of course) makes sense. The fact is that empire building was all about rape, loot and pillage. Not your fault that you don't get it as this historical axiom is anathema to most British minds who's history lessons were, er, taught by teachers that had been educated in that system. But like most colonial ruling nations ......... the chicks come home to roost and, in the face of seismic change, are left pining for the old days when Britannia ruled the waves and Johnny Foreigner knew his place. Get with the programme Fred and take the pressure off your spleen. Try eating Mr Kipling instead of reading Rudyard .......... leaves a far nicer taste in the mouth
gurramok wrote: » Even closer to home, we had mass starvation under British rule, aka the Famine.
Japer wrote: » so what are you doing in the USA? Ask the native Americans how they feel....or any of the people who have a grievance with the USA before lecturing others on " colonial ruling nations". If you believe "No country likes to be overrun/invaded. ", why was your USA so slow in coming to the aid of such overrun / invaded countries in WW1 and WW2?
The Idyl Race wrote: » We also had mass emigration, destitution, slums, tuberculosis, the Magdalen homes and Letterfrack under Irish rule. Up to the end of DeValera's rule as Taoiseach, was independence any better than what had gone before? Ireland was still run for the benefit of a tiny minority except this time they were Catholics. Whoop de do.
Fratton Fred wrote: » Up until the second world war, most countries were run for the benefit of a few. Lets face it, the seven main founding fathers of the US, who signed a deceleration stating that "all men were equal under god" all owned farms and plantations worked by slaves. Obviously "All Men" only applied to the white christian ones.
Fratton Fred wrote: » Spread, my old mucker, how's she cuttin? I have not once tried to defend empires, or the British one. If I have I would be grateful if you could point to it. Now, here's a bit of news for you. No, The British Empire was not the worst. Not the best and not benevolent, but not the worst. Also, no, the Irish were not treated worse than the jews under Hitler or whatever such sob story people like to come up with.No, the Famine wasn't genocide and yes, a lot of Irish people did quite nicely under the British and carried out their own bit of Empire building. Ask yourself why, for example, the people of Montserrat celebrate St Patrick's day. Not because they love the Irish (Although obviously, the whole world do ) but because they chose that day to rise up against their imperial slave owners who, as like most Irish people, would be celebrating that day.[/QUOTE] Ungrateful fuckers. After all we did for them. Educated them, taught them Irish, showed them ye olde equivelent of Riverdance (camera cue to row of drunken Irish plantation owners shooting under the dancers' toes) etc. This is not the way I would think .......... but it is possibly your train of thought. Because (I'm not blaming you) that was the way you were taught Fred!
K-9 wrote: » Yeah that's great, didn't really address my point but wasn't expecting it tbh.
Japer wrote: » All the European countries had Empires : Belgium, Germany, France, Spain. Portugal etc. We were part of the UK, and Irish people made up a third of the admonistration of India, for example. In the 20th century, we had much to fear from the like of Germany and Russia, and hundreds of thousands of Irish people fought against those empires....if they did not / nobody did, its almost certain your life would be a lot worse.;)
marwelie wrote: » Anyone who watches Our War on BBC would be moved to wear one.
Judgement Day wrote: » http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=81544990&postcount=519
marwelie wrote: » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Poppy_Appeal Anyone who watches Our War on BBC would be moved to wear one. To possibly sacrifice yourself in war for your country (and im not talking ROI/UK/NI stuff here) when you're barely out of school is the most selfless act anyone can commit.
Spread wrote: » Fratton Fred wrote: » Spread, my old mucker, how's she cuttin? I have not once tried to defend empires, or the British one. If I have I would be grateful if you could point to it. Now, here's a bit of news for you. No, The British Empire was not the worst. Not the best and not benevolent, but not the worst. Also, no, the Irish were not treated worse than the jews under Hitler or whatever such sob story people like to come up with.No, the Famine wasn't genocide and yes, a lot of Irish people did quite nicely under the British and carried out their own bit of Empire building. Ask yourself why, for example, the people of Montserrat celebrate St Patrick's day. Not because they love the Irish (Although obviously, the whole world do ) but because they chose that day to rise up against their imperial slave owners who, as like most Irish people, would be celebrating that day.[/QUOTE] Ungrateful fuckers. After all we did for them. Educated them, taught them Irish, showed them ye olde equivelent of Riverdance (camera cue to row of drunken Irish plantation owners shooting under the dancers' toes) etc. This is not the way I would think .......... but it is possibly your train of thought. Because (I'm not blaming you) that was the way you were taught Fred! Even by your standards, that's a load of bollocks.
bobbysands81 wrote: » Even more selfless if you're a Volunteer and not gaining financially from it surely?
