Originally posted by jack doe: Wasn't food being exported when people were starving?
Yes, which I've agreed with repeatedly - large quantities of food were being exported.
This was not, however, the fault of "the British". Complain about certain factions of the ruling elite if you like, but these people are no more "the British" than P Flynn is "the Irish".
Yes most of the food was exported to sustain the British Army in other parts of the 'Empire'
I think we can all safely agree that this will never happen. We all have sympathy towards the unfortunate Irish that succumbed to the famine, but our sympathy is all there can possibly ever be. History is full of cruelty, catastrophe and tragedy. Unfortunately we have to draw the line somewhere, and leave such sorry events in the past. Let us remember them, by all means, but apology/recompense is out of the question. And rightly so.
Out of the question? - Why, pray? And Blair has already given an apology.
As far as i know Blair has only apologised for the Guildford four not the Famine
Originally posted by jack doe: Out of the question? - Why, pray? And Blair has already given an apology.
Who should they pay? Ireland does not *need* reparations - we are one of the most prosperous countries in the world. Taking money from the British taxpayer [most of whom are currently looking at a bleak future] would serve only to inflict needless hardship on people who bear no responsibility whatsoever for any Irish deaths.
That is very civil of you - but I an sure if it was the other way round, Britain would be asking for recompense. To me, it is just natural justice - have you heard of that?
And, Jim of The South, yes, Blair did "apologise" - but not so you'd notice, eh!
You’re obviously very passionate about this. However, your passion seems to stem not from the need for justice, but from an apparent dislike of the British. That’s your choice of course, and you’re free to your opinions. But don’t let them be ruled and fuelled by hatred, because if you do then there’s only one loser, and that’s you.
You said to Eoghan: “but I am sure if it was the other way round, Britain would be asking for recompense. To me, it is just natural justice - have you heard of that?” This leads me back to my earlier question, which you sadly failed to make reference to. Where do you draw the line Jack? How far back do we go before we realise that such tragic events should be left only in the past? 160yrs, 300, 450, 1000, or perhaps you don’t draw the line at all? I’m sure Britain would have a case against several nations, particularly the Norwegians, Danes and French. Or perhaps you would welcome the Scots claim for recompense from the Irish, thanks to their repeated raids and attempts at colonisation?
To me, it is just natural justice - have you heard of that?
You’re obviously very passionate about this. However, your passion seems to stem not from the need for justice, but from an apparent dislike of the British. That’s your choice of course, and you’re free to your opinions. But don’t let them be ruled and fuelled by hatred, because if you do then there’s only one loser, and that’s you.
You said to Eoghan: “but I am sure if it was the other way round, Britain would be asking for recompense. To me, it is just natural justice - have you heard of that?” This leads me back to my earlier question, which you sadly failed to make reference to. Where do you draw the line Jack? How far back do we go before we realise that such tragic events should be left only in the past? 160yrs, 300, 450, 1000, or perhaps you don’t draw the line at all? I’m sure Britain would have a case against several nations, particularly the Norwegians, Danes and French. Or perhaps you would welcome the Scots claim for recompense from the Irish, thanks to their repeated raids and attempts at colonisation?
To me, it is just natural justice - have you heard of that?
No, I don't hate the British - what I resent is the fact that all this has been covered up - lets have an Inquiry.
You forget that British State still exists, so your talk of ancient times is just silly. And no wonder you want to limit the time period - there are plenty of other peoples with grievences.
Well, all we can possibly say to you is good luck with your grievances. I hope they are of benefit to you, and have a positive rather than negative affect (though all evidence points to the latter). If your desire is to dredge up events from the past and let them control you to the extent that is clearly evident. then i can do no more than you wish you the very best. Good luck to you sir.
And i thought this post was about irish history not just the famine you seem to forget the irish who joined the union army in their tens of thousands to fight in the american civil war, the easter rising, the birth of the irish free state and most importantly Hurling - the worlds fastest field sport!
At the time of the famine, a great deal of the British army was indeed made up by Irish servicemen. To quote from Professor Richard Holmes’s excellent book “Redcoat”……….
The worsening economic situation in Ireland increased the proportion of Irish recruits...: in 1830 42.2 per cent of the army was Irish and 13.6 per cent Scottish. This meant that not only were the fifteen infantry regiments that actually bore Irish affiliations composed largely of Irishmen, but several 'English' regiments had many Irish in their ranks...
After the great famine of 1846 the proportion of Irish recruits began to fall, with emigration to the United States coming to replace enlistment in the British Army. In 1870 27.9 per cent of the army was Irish, dropping to 15.6 percent in 1888 and 9.1 per cent in 1912, roughly proportionate to Ireland's proportion of the United Kingdom's population.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Havercroft (in Wakefield, West Yorkshire) is undoubtedly God’s chosen village
Originally posted by Jim of the south: And i thought this post was about irish history not just the famine you seem to forget the irish who joined the union army in their tens of thousands to fight in the american civil war, the easter rising, the birth of the irish free state and most importantly Hurling - the worlds fastest field sport!
You forgot the bloodletting which took place in the civil war after the birth of Eire.
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We really have dinosaurs today, without any question. You just need the right weather conditions, as I see it, to get huge creatures. And in the ocean, of course, we have huge creatures....this is where the plesiosauruses seem to be today, and perhaps also this fire breathing dragon is still down there -- very rare, but occasionally there.
--Rev. Walter Lang Founder, Bible-Science Association
Originally posted by Jim of the south: Yeah i hear that happens a lot in most civil wars not just in that one!
ROFLMAO!
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We really have dinosaurs today, without any question. You just need the right weather conditions, as I see it, to get huge creatures. And in the ocean, of course, we have huge creatures....this is where the plesiosauruses seem to be today, and perhaps also this fire breathing dragon is still down there -- very rare, but occasionally there.
--Rev. Walter Lang Founder, Bible-Science Association
after watching the shambolic king arthur film, it made me think that they should make films out of the irish legends... that would be great!!
It would be amazing if someone could do for Cuchuliann or Finn Mac Cumhail (and friends) what the Chinese have done for some of their old stories with 'House of the Flying Daggers' and the like. Of course, there's not much chance of comparible budgets, but it would be nice to see the time of these stories in a vision a little more refined than 80's barbarian flics...
