Should Ireland apologize for its role in the creation of the British Empire?

swimming in a sea · 07-09-2015 11:17AM

Nodin wrote: »

The only relationship was that of abused and abuser. The Brits used us the same way they used the Scots, Sikhs and whoever else - using the desperation of a subjugated people to aid in subjugating others.

Scots are Brits, unless Brits are now only the English and those crafty Welsh(the real imperial power I'd say

)

CEOL40 · 07-09-2015 11:18AM

Of course they always had/bought the worst of the locals, knowing that keeping the colonised under the thumb is easier done using insiders. But yes, abuser and abused is right. Delegating some of the abuse to some the abused is time-honoured, effective abuse in itself.

Nodin · 07-09-2015 11:19AM

LordSutch wrote: »

1914-1918 The Great War.

Poverty, idealism, and the words of one the great arseholes of Irish history, John Redmond.

Nodin · 07-09-2015 11:20AM

swimming in a sea wrote: »

Scots are Brits, unless Brits are now only the English and those crafty Welsh(the real imperial power I'd say )

Now, they are.

LordSutch · 07-09-2015 11:21AM

Nodin wrote: »

Poverty, idealism, and the words of one the great arseholes of Irish history, John Redmond.

Not sure historians would call John Redmond "an arsehole" but if that's the way you feel, then carry on . . .

irishfeen · 07-09-2015 11:22AM

I have literally heard it all now....

LordSutch · 07-09-2015 11:25AM

This thread is totally wasted here, it should have been posted in the History forum.

Bye.

listermint · 07-09-2015 11:28AM

Should the OP Apologise for opening this thread ?

Yes

Nodin · 07-09-2015 11:35AM

LordSutch wrote: »

Not sure historians would call John Redmond "an arsehole" but if that's the way you feel, then carry on . . .

failure would be too kind.

Nodin · 07-09-2015 11:36AM

LordSutch wrote: »

This thread is totally wasted here, it should have been posted in the History forum.

Bye.

...the history forum on www.JohnBruton.com?

Reiver · 07-09-2015 11:38AM

"The British Empire was wanted by the English, fought for by the Scots and Irish. Ran by the Welsh"

The army, traditional escape from poverty, no surprise so many Irish joined it, just as the highlanders in Scotland did. But a part to empire building? Absolute bollocks, I very much doubt despite our representation in the British armed forces that we had many work their way up to the higher echelons of command.

kneemos · 07-09-2015 11:39AM

irishmover wrote: »

I think the OP should apologise for using American English when talking about Ireland and the British Empire.

My phone gives me a red line when I spell things properly.
I think fuk you yank.

doolox · 07-09-2015 11:43AM

On the device there should be an option to change the dictionary to UK from US.

c_man · 07-09-2015 11:45AM

coffee with colm wrote: »

So this begs the question; should we apologize for our imperial past?

I just can't get the image of Gay Mitchell writing that post out of my head.

Frynge · 07-09-2015 11:47AM

If we are going to start apologising for historical events maybe we should start with some more recent things.

I suggest we apologise for unleashing crystal swing on the world first.

foggy_lad · 07-09-2015 11:50AM

coffee with colm wrote: »

I visited the soldiers and chiefs exhibition at Collin's Barracks more than once in the past and what struck me about the exhibition was that it said that Ireland provided more troops to the British Empire per head of population more than England, Scotland or Wales.

The statistics vary over time by on more than one occasion or period in time this is the case.

I thought that was a very interesting fact considering that relations between Britain and Ireland have been so bad in the past.

Obviously this isn't to say we had a role in running it but we did contribute a lot of troops which brought a lot of terror and misery to native populations of the world.

So this begs the question; should we apologize for our imperial past?

The British Army was the biggest training camp the IRA and other terrorists ever had!

they also pay and train people quite well for people who have little chance of making the same money here.

Fratton Fred · 07-09-2015 12:07PM

Nodin wrote: »

Now, they are.

Why, when weren't they then? Or are the Scots now being painted as more poor lowly Gaels beaten by the Saxon oppressor?

Nodin · 07-09-2015 12:10PM

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Why, when weren't they then? Or are the Scots now being painted as more poor lowly Gaels beaten by the Saxon oppressor?

If the scots were willingly British Fred, what were they rebelling about? A tax on their battered mars bars?

mg1982 · 07-09-2015 12:12PM

No we shouldnt. They were different times and different circumstances. No doubt irishmen in the british army carried out atrocities. Such as the Connacht rangers who had an reputation for brutality.

P_1 · 07-09-2015 12:13PM

Yes because flogging yourself for the actions of your 2nd great grandfather is such a logical thing to do :rolleyes:

Fratton Fred · 07-09-2015 12:17PM

Nodin wrote: »

If the scots were willingly British Fred, what were they rebelling about? A tax on their battered mars bars?

When did the Scots rebel?

Nodin · 07-09-2015 12:19PM

Fratton Fred wrote: »

When did the Scots rebel?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_War_of_Scottish_Independence

whisky_galore · 07-09-2015 12:22PM

kneemos wrote: »

Apologising for historical events is pointless,should never have started and needs to stop.

Maybe an apology for this might be forthcoming?

kneemos · 07-09-2015 12:27PM

whisky_galore wrote: »

Maybe an apology for this might be forthcoming?

Not for eighty years.When everyone involved is dead and few remember or care.

Fratton Fred · 07-09-2015 12:29PM

Nodin wrote: »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_War_of_Scottish_Independence

So just a mere 400 years before the act of union then.

Or 700 years ago.

Damned rebellious bunch those Scots.

Nodin · 07-09-2015 12:31PM

Fratton Fred wrote: »

So just a mere 400 years before the act of union then.

...........

...which, much like the passing of the act of union here, was a classy example of transparent and honest democracy in action.

StonyIron · 07-09-2015 12:35PM

If there's one thing Ireland's very good at its self-flagellation!

Fratton Fred · 07-09-2015 12:36PM

Nodin wrote: »

...which, much like the passing of the act of union here, was a classy example of transparent and honest democracy in action.

Really, in 1707 democracy was all the rage apparently.

mg1982 · 07-09-2015 12:36PM

Nodin wrote: »

...which, much like the passing of the act of union here, was a classy example of transparent and honest democracy in action.

There wasnt a whole lot of democracy going on in the past centuries. Europe was ruled by large colonial powers. Trying to judge that period now is a waste of time. It was just the way things were back then.

SEPT 23 1989 · 07-09-2015 12:41PM

what did the Scots do after they won at the Battle of Bannockburn?

raped and pillaged their way through Ireland

more apologies

Should Ireland apologize for its role in the creation of the British Empire?

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