Pumpkinseeds wrote: » I'm part of Generation X, tbh, the whole Irish heritage begosh and begorrah, Irish language, dreary depressing poetry, etc crap means nothing to me, never has done. For me being Irish is an accident of birth, nothing more. I'm not knocking other people's views but being born on an island in the Atlantic isn't really an achievement.
conorh91 wrote: » Of course it's important. Its importance isn't overbearing, but it certainly matters.It matters if you had ancestors who grinded and drudged through life hoping for a better future for their offspring, and eventually you or your grandparents are the generation who saw that alternative way of life finally realized. To me, being Irish means an awareness of where you came from, which for many of our ancestors, at least somewhere along the line, was poverty and oppression, and even famine in our recent history. The sacrifices those people made deserves to be acknowledged. Not as tokenism, with parades and museums, but in a practical way, by ensuring fairness and freedoms in our own country. People who rejoice at the gradual erosion of cultures and heritage, and who think we should all be part of one great featureless world where everyone is the same, are as bad as those who would sack museums and desecrate monuments. It's a type of cultural sabotage.
Pumpkinseeds wrote: » Apart from the upper classes that applies to every generation of every country in the world.
conorh91 wrote: » To me, being Irish means an awareness of where you came from, which for many of our ancestors, at least somewhere along the line, was poverty and oppression
Donkey Oaty wrote: » Jesus Cornflakes on stilts. Why don't we rename the country "The Self-Pitying Republic of Misery".
brummytom wrote: » As an English person with Irish grandparents, the heritage does mean a lot to me. It's hard to describe, but 'Irish Catholics' here, first second or third generation, have a distinct identity. I find I instantly get on with people who've got that heritage, probably due to similar upbringings, the same frames of reference, and similar attitudes. I once read an article by an English flute player about Traditional Irish music in England. He made the point that many musicians in England may feel the need to try and outdo their Irish counterparts to prove their 'irishness'. I know a lot's said about the whole 'Irish-Americans' who's great grandad bought a lawn mower off a woman who's brother had been to Ennis, and I don't do the plastic paddy shít of only drinking Guinness at this time of year while wearing big hats, but that connection to Ireland is something I value. There's nothing that annoys me more than 'but you're English, shut up,' many other immigrant groups celebrate where they came from, and I think the irish catholic identity should be embraced.
conorh91 wrote: » Yeah yeah. Acknowledging does not being wallowing, it can aim to make sure we have a more positive future. If you bother to read what I said, you'll see the bit where I said our heritage should make us especially passionate about freedom and fairness for everyone.
conorh91 wrote: » The specific nature of it doesn't. That's a bit like saying that future generations of Jews shouldn't remember the Holocaust as something central to their identity because the same thing happened the Chinese under the Qing Empire, or to American natives during 16th century acts of genocide in the Americas.
LDN_Irish wrote: » I saved this to show a friend but I feel it's relevant here:
Iwasfrozen wrote: » Everyone is concerned with freedom and fairness but people's definitions of freedom and fairness vary wildly.
Adamantium wrote: » Watching Game of Thrones and seeing the beautiful landscapes of Northern Ireland has made me realise that there are little to no movies based on Irish Myths and legends and/or real life Irish ancient figures. It seems like like a goldmine that is waiting to tapped, enough of the existential student films that nobody but yourself gives a **** about, give me a rousing epic.
Pumpkinseeds wrote: » Nah, you just need to admit that I'm right and you're clutching at straws.
LDN_Irish wrote: » Sorry, I hit post too soon. I think my point was that it's not relevant at all to me, especially when you're dragging up sun 10 Percentiles to derive your sense of self.
Eugene Norman wrote: » Surely people in Ireland -- where this forum is based -- would be more than 8% irish.
conorh91 wrote: » Not sure what your point is. We have the democratic institutions to debate, apply and amend our particular vision of those two aspirations. All I suggest is that, given our recent history, we should be protective of the right to freedom and fairness, even if interpretations will change as society changes.
Iwasfrozen wrote: » My point is that given everyone's definition of freedom and fairness is different then compromise is necessary and someone (probably large groups of people) is (are) always going to believe we are failing that aspiration.
Eugene Norman wrote: » Yes but do you feel irish or not.
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