Law1 min ago
The Weird Thing About The Irish
Not sure whether this is an appropriate question for the news section, but here goes...
I've just been out in Covent Garden celebrating St Patrick's Day with a few Irish mates, and a few 'fake Irish mates' (the ones who suddenly discover they have family in Cork who remain dormant for the rest of year)...and something became glaringly obvious..
...the Irish can celebrate St. Patrick's Day and include people like me who is black and sticks a temporary 'O' with an apostrophe onto his surname for and evening to celebrate with them.
Furthermore, looking around the West End of London, I saw black, Scots, Americans, Chinese and Asians celebrating alongside the Irish in the same way that they do with the lefties at the Notting Hill Carnival.
So the question is - can there ever be an inclusive St George's Day, in the same way that the Carnival is, and St Patrick's Day is, and the Mardi Gras is?
Why can't moderate Brits wrestle the idea of a St. George's Day celebration away from the far right?
I've just been out in Covent Garden celebrating St Patrick's Day with a few Irish mates, and a few 'fake Irish mates' (the ones who suddenly discover they have family in Cork who remain dormant for the rest of year)...and something became glaringly obvious..
...the Irish can celebrate St. Patrick's Day and include people like me who is black and sticks a temporary 'O' with an apostrophe onto his surname for and evening to celebrate with them.
Furthermore, looking around the West End of London, I saw black, Scots, Americans, Chinese and Asians celebrating alongside the Irish in the same way that they do with the lefties at the Notting Hill Carnival.
So the question is - can there ever be an inclusive St George's Day, in the same way that the Carnival is, and St Patrick's Day is, and the Mardi Gras is?
Why can't moderate Brits wrestle the idea of a St. George's Day celebration away from the far right?
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Exactly Jake. We, the English are either banded together with the right wing minority or the actions of our government/armed forces. If all else fails we're branded as being generally arrogant.
Alot of countries and cultures fall victim to sweeping generalisations and I guess we're not immune.
Maybe this would go some way to answering SP1814s original post.
Alot of countries and cultures fall victim to sweeping generalisations and I guess we're not immune.
Maybe this would go some way to answering SP1814s original post.
-- answer removed --
I believe that proposing a new flag is actually throwing the baby out with the bath-water...........
We don't need a new flag, we need to rally round the old one. We need to be able to tell those who tut at its 'racist connotations' that they are mistaken and that the greater part of UK society is moderate and temperate and inclusive.
I shall be wearing a red rose on April 23rd, as I do every year; and I guarantee that the only sop towards England's national day will be the fact that my local pub will display the Union Flag, in bunting, around the bar.
We don't need a new flag, we need to rally round the old one. We need to be able to tell those who tut at its 'racist connotations' that they are mistaken and that the greater part of UK society is moderate and temperate and inclusive.
I shall be wearing a red rose on April 23rd, as I do every year; and I guarantee that the only sop towards England's national day will be the fact that my local pub will display the Union Flag, in bunting, around the bar.
Typical Jake posting slagging England and he gets 3 stars of his mate .
Now why did that not amaze me
sp1814 , I would have thought from your previous posts that you would not like the English to celebrate anything ?
You and your mate, Or are you the same person ? give the impression of being so far left that i think you fell off the left side of the screen .
I am truly amazed that you should think it is right that the English should celebrate St George's Day .
Now why did that not amaze me
sp1814 , I would have thought from your previous posts that you would not like the English to celebrate anything ?
You and your mate, Or are you the same person ? give the impression of being so far left that i think you fell off the left side of the screen .
I am truly amazed that you should think it is right that the English should celebrate St George's Day .
Interesting points about the Flag of St george and the far right. maybe in the late 70's early 80's but not any more.
I struggle to understand why people think all the Oirsih are loveable.
St patricks day was thought up purely as a reason to have a drink during lent and there are still Irish Clubs in Birmingham who have a bucket going round for "the cause"
I struggle to understand why people think all the Oirsih are loveable.
St patricks day was thought up purely as a reason to have a drink during lent and there are still Irish Clubs in Birmingham who have a bucket going round for "the cause"
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/09_03/om aghbombingPA_468x507.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDI1DaYYzAs&fea ture=related
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stori es/april/24/newsid_2523000/2523345.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/mar/08/north ern-ireland-soldiers-killed-antrim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDI1DaYYzAs&fea ture=related
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stori es/april/24/newsid_2523000/2523345.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/mar/08/north ern-ireland-soldiers-killed-antrim
Not on such a scale
But trust me their are one or two Oirsih clubs where it still goes on.
My mate went out with a 3rd generation Irish girl up until about 6 months ago. She was a member of a social club where you had to be signed in by a member and was predominantly irish.
He nearly got a slap when he didn't stand for the national anthem and the raffle was for "the cause"
This is Birmingham in 2008
But trust me their are one or two Oirsih clubs where it still goes on.
My mate went out with a 3rd generation Irish girl up until about 6 months ago. She was a member of a social club where you had to be signed in by a member and was predominantly irish.
He nearly got a slap when he didn't stand for the national anthem and the raffle was for "the cause"
This is Birmingham in 2008
The difference is that Irelands battle have just been with the British
We have fought wars in Iraq, Afghanistan (twice), Europe, Suez, North Africa generally, Palestine, India, The Far East, Kenya, South Africa...
In fact is there a continent we've not sent armed troops to?
On the other side Irish Nationalism is often seen in the wider world as a tiny force still struggling for full independance from colonial Britain after 900 years.
You and I know it's more complicated that that but that's the perception.
We have a serious image problem
And pictures of a Royal Prince cheerfully manning a machine gun in a foreign country aren't exactly helpful!
We have fought wars in Iraq, Afghanistan (twice), Europe, Suez, North Africa generally, Palestine, India, The Far East, Kenya, South Africa...
In fact is there a continent we've not sent armed troops to?
On the other side Irish Nationalism is often seen in the wider world as a tiny force still struggling for full independance from colonial Britain after 900 years.
You and I know it's more complicated that that but that's the perception.
We have a serious image problem
And pictures of a Royal Prince cheerfully manning a machine gun in a foreign country aren't exactly helpful!
No-one will believe me when I write this, but I didn't actually mean to give Jake's post three stars!
I was giving out stars when when I was writing on my iPod, and didn't maximise the screen...I actually meant to give the stars to Lil O'lady who posted directly below.
No offence Jake...but then again - seeing as we're the same person, it shouldn't matter!
I was giving out stars when when I was writing on my iPod, and didn't maximise the screen...I actually meant to give the stars to Lil O'lady who posted directly below.
No offence Jake...but then again - seeing as we're the same person, it shouldn't matter!
troutater
With regards to my stance on St. George's Day - I have always been in favour of it. You wouldn't be able to any post from me where I've said it wouldn't be a good idea.
I'm all in favour of it - my concern is that it shouldn't in any way be linked with right wing sentiment.
Surely you would agree with that?
With regards to my stance on St. George's Day - I have always been in favour of it. You wouldn't be able to any post from me where I've said it wouldn't be a good idea.
I'm all in favour of it - my concern is that it shouldn't in any way be linked with right wing sentiment.
Surely you would agree with that?
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