Just the Poles then? What about the Lituanians? The Lativans? Or for that matter the Northern Irish?
How has Ulster unionism arrived at where it is today – fractured and uncertain, yet dominated electorally by the DUP, a party that tells us it offers unionists sure footing in uncertain times? In his latest book, Ulster’s Last Stand? Reconstructing Unionism after the Peace Process (Irish Academic Press, 2010), Prof. James McAuley from the [...] read our review »
Short answer: very little, other than he enjoyed the environs of Hillsborough Castle, enjoyed working with the local politicians, and has Gerry Adams to thank for Bobby his dog. Peter Mandelson’s book The Third Man has captured media headlines in recent weeks as the Times serialised the most juicy bits. But what did he have [...] read our review »
MP let me repeat something i condemn any type of bigotry,sectarianism and racism no matter what side it comes from – i’m sure anyone who knows me will tell you that.
I’ll leave at that readers can make their own minds up about the balance the facts are there 9 to 1
Again its not personal
HtB
If only it were as simple as Joyce’s Bloom suggested when he said that a “nation is the same people living in the same place.”
You know as well as I that the question you pose is loaded with words that have taken on pejorative meanings. Take ‘nation’ for example; having been born in Ireland I can claim to be part of the ‘Irish Nation’, yet I am a unionist and regard myself to be part of the ‘British Nation’. Nationality it seems to me is best when it is not defined by ‘Nationalists’, of any hue.
Do I consider myself to be ‘Irish’? Yes I do; but I suspect that I do not give the fact that I was born on the island of Ireland the same weight and value as you may do. Why? Because in my opinion it has become to be defined in a particular exclusive way that is to me an anathema. To me my Irishness is a geographical reality pertaining to my birth. It has little impact on my world view although I accept that it does flavour my cultural background. It does not make me feel any less part of, or semi-detached from, the rest of the British (political) nation. Having said that I am nevertheless happy to have been born Irish.
Now as to “living under British Rule”. That to me is pure Republican-speak. Does someone living in Cork think of themselves as living under Irish Rule? I don’t think so.
Technically it may be so but to couch it in those terms presents the political position of Northern Ireland as imposed from outside. As I’ve already noted I regard myself as a fully paid up member of the UK. I am not a vassal of the Crown simply happy in my serfdom.
It is generous of you to consider me “established” in Northern Ireland. Are you too so “established”? Perhaps you regard yourself as somewhat more native than me? I am always amused by Irish Nationalists’ views in this regard.
To me it is nothing more than a put-down, a way of diminishing the other. I am however intrigued enough to ask when was the date of the Establishment of the Irish? The date from when anyone arriving afterwards is regarded as some kind of blow-in? Pre or post Vikings, the Normans’ arrival perhaps?
Anyway to return to your question. Neither (a) or (b). As America has already been touched on lets go there for a definition; call me a proud hybrid, British-Irish if you like.