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Post by earl on Feb 5, 2008 11:31:29 GMT
I met a Protestant from north Belfast during last Paddies day in Dublin and he was of the same opinion. The Irish nation doesn't equal Irish citizen. Sure there are many Irish 'citizens' who would not consider themselves a part of the Irish nation, as many Unionists have bought Irish passports for various reasons (usually none political), and would technically have dual citizenship. But they'd be like yourself WASP, and wouldn't consider themselves that way. It's complicated, init??
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Post by Wasp on Feb 5, 2008 20:17:54 GMT
It is complicated, there are those who call temselves Irish but are not part of the Irish nation. Earl you seem to have a far greater understanding of things than you let on or rather first let on. By that I mean Unionists.
I have already mentioned to do with some of my Catholic mates before and most call themselves Irish and a few British but out of those who view themselves as Irish most do not want a U.I or to be part of the Irish nation.
It just shows how mad things are up here, to me my view like many others is not mad in anyway but looking at the bigger picture, to an outsider especially we are all bonkers.
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Post by earl on Feb 6, 2008 9:41:42 GMT
We put too much weight into symbols and labels. Everyone's a 'something-something'. That said, I was talking to a Polish guy from work the other night (after a few scoops) and one thing he envied the Irish for was the sense of identity within our communities. He said that Poland has around 40 million or so people, massive landmass and yet, because of communism, everyones identity is nearly the same. Here, you have people who are not only proud of their nationality, they are as equally proud of their provence and county. He just couldn't get how an island this small could have so many quasi-independent identities. It's our blessing and curse!
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