On Sat, 7 May 2005 12:10:20 +0000 (UTC), Rob
wrote:

Tim Martin wrote:
"Rob" wrote in message
...

Direct and indirect discrimination of Irish communities ... *remains* an

institutionalised aspect of

British society.


Please feel free to explain. If I understand that's going on, I'll write to
my MP and instruct him to put a stop to it.

Tim



Fair enough :-).

Take a quick look at http://www.cre.gov.uk/downloads/irinbrit.pdf -
plenty of documented evidence, although rather sketchy. Examples of
stereotypes - and that is what they are - can be found much closer to
home. In this very thread in fact.

As to why people hold these attitudes and assuming you can take them as
a 'given', the answer is complex and controversial. It's basically the
same as the answer to 'why racism?'. I have an informed opinion -
rather OT for this group ;-).

If you fancy trying this out, go into a pub with a 'No travellers' sign
in the window, and strike up a conversation about the benefits of ethnic
diversity with the locals. Make sure you have a clear route to the door.

Rob

I don't know where you live, but here in London I believe there is no
discrimination. Certainly I have several Irish friends who have never
talked to me about any troubles. On the other hand, while travelling
in the Republic, I have encountered some anti-British racism. It was
very much a minority thing, though, and it came from the kind of
moronic neanderthal who would be a racist wherever he lived.

As for the "No travellers" thing - that is rather different. There are
certainly considerable problems associated with traveller communities.
They tend to leave scenes of devastation in their wake when they leave
a district, and hugely inflated crime rates while they are present.
Whether they are Irish or not simply isn't an issue. On the other
hand, perhaps you are the one making the racial link with trouble...

d

Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com