its nationalism, that accursed passion that has caused us such consternation over the last few centuries. i am pro-globalization of government, but not at all in a big brother way, more like earthgov or something like that. i think that nationalism, the idea of each separate culture and religion and skin color and suich getting its own nation is a waste of resources and a waste of effort and everything. i dunno, maybe i am just ignorant though.
they should be happy they are living in a progressive kingdom like spain that gives them at least token independence, not like the blasphemy we force on the american indians. i do not see why the irish are fighting for belfast either. that part of the nation has nothing economically and is better off part of england, besides, the religious persecution there would possibly be catastrophic.
500 years ago, England became a non-Catholic country. Fearing what might happen if Catholic Ireland allied with Catholic Spain and Catholic France, we transplanted Protestants to Ireland (note, this is 200 years before the Act of Union) in order to get religious control of the country and suppress Catholicism/oppress Catholics.
500 years later, the problem has never gone away. Republicans want a United Ireland, Royalists want to stay with the UK and Ulster is stuck in the middle.
When we divided Ireland in 1928 Northern Ireland was formed out of some, but not all, of the counties of the ancient province of Ulster. The Catholic/Protestant balance was assessed for each and the most Catholic counties would become part of Eire, the most Protestant counties would become Northern Ireland. Except that if that had been done completely, Northern Ireland would have been too small and weak. So some of the counties which had a majority Catholic population were moved into Northern Ireland. Dividing Ireland was a good idea, and would probably have worked. If it had been passed in the 19th century when it was first proposed. But because it wasn't until 1928 by the time it actually happened it was too late and it's never worked.
As for the religious persecution - currently Catholics are the minority in Northern Ireland. If it unites with Eire, then there will still be an overall Catholic majority *I think* So religious persecution probably isn't too much of a worry for the republicans (indeed it's a good reason for republicans in NI to want to unite again.)
No problem. I learnt Irish history 3 times in 15 months. Some of it kinda sticks. Plus it's always nice to know why your countrymen are being blown up (although thankfully that's in the past now. Hopefully forever.)
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timeasmymeasure
basque and irish
Date: 2005-01-18 11:08 pm (UTC)they should be happy they are living in a progressive kingdom like spain that gives them at least token independence, not like the blasphemy we force on the american indians. i do not see why the irish are fighting for belfast either. that part of the nation has nothing economically and is better off part of england, besides, the religious persecution there would possibly be catastrophic.
Re: basque and irish
Date: 2005-01-19 03:21 am (UTC)500 years later, the problem has never gone away. Republicans want a United Ireland, Royalists want to stay with the UK and Ulster is stuck in the middle.
When we divided Ireland in 1928 Northern Ireland was formed out of some, but not all, of the counties of the ancient province of Ulster. The Catholic/Protestant balance was assessed for each and the most Catholic counties would become part of Eire, the most Protestant counties would become Northern Ireland. Except that if that had been done completely, Northern Ireland would have been too small and weak. So some of the counties which had a majority Catholic population were moved into Northern Ireland. Dividing Ireland was a good idea, and would probably have worked. If it had been passed in the 19th century when it was first proposed. But because it wasn't until 1928 by the time it actually happened it was too late and it's never worked.
As for the religious persecution - currently Catholics are the minority in Northern Ireland. If it unites with Eire, then there will still be an overall Catholic majority *I think* So religious persecution probably isn't too much of a worry for the republicans (indeed it's a good reason for republicans in NI to want to unite again.)
Re: basque and irish
Date: 2005-01-19 10:56 pm (UTC)Re: basque and irish
Date: 2005-01-20 05:19 am (UTC)