[Brigid]

Brigid, it is more than a little annoying that after all these posts, it turns out you are not really much concerned with England or the nations living in the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Instead, you’re concerned with the position of Anglo-Celts in Australia.

Yes, I can see how you would feel this way... but you've got me wrong then. I am interested in the plight of the English redefining themselves and how history has affected their self-identities. I was merely admitting my limitations as an Australian. But as for being interested in the English occupation of Ireland... well, this certainly wasn't the focus of the article either. My point in saying this...

Sure. I guess where I'm coming from is that as an Australian, I am sick and tired of having institutionalised guilt for a British Imperialistic past being hoisted on my people. Perhaps this doesn't even happen in England, I don't know. But here it is rampant in our school system and our media, and it is very effective. This whole occupation of Ireland issue is not really relevant to me. We all have our own issues which dictate our perceptions... you interpret this article regarding the English as relating directly to the relations between Ireland and England, I see it differently. And you're right that I am quite indifferent really to the whole occupation of Ireland situation. I don't really see it as any of my business.

... was to highlight the fact that Milesian and I were viewing this situation from very different vantage points... probably leading to discrepancies in our interpretations of the situation.

And my point here in case you missed it....

Quote:
Any people with the history the English have should be ashamed of it, collectively, but not personally. I am ashamed of certain Irish (traitors or whatever). I am ashamed of them as fellow countryman of ill repute, but I don't walk around wracked with personal guilt.
Well that's nice for you, but things are different for Australians.

... was that you can't compare peoples with very different histories (eg, the Irish and the English) and say *well, it's like this for me, so it should be like this for them too.* But I could hardly say "things are different for English living in England" as an Australian now can I? So I adjusted my comment... although I feel it was still relevant.


Funny how it's fine for connections and relevancies to be drawn between English occupation of Ireland and English self-identity, but not between Australian (colonised by Britain in the expansion of the British empire) ethnic English and English... even though our histories up to a certain (relatively recent) point are one and the same.

I honestly wish the old-stock Australians all the best, but what do your comments have to do with England and its future or the future of Great Britain and Ireland?

The English are our kin, sharing common blood and cultural background... and their future affects us directly. We are not as yet independent of them, and English immigration to this country is still very high.

As for Ireland, my comments probably have no relevance... but then, this was never the topic at hand. You and Milesian have interpreted it to be, fair enough... but then don't criticise me for my interpretations if you wish to be free make your own.

but Australia is not in Europe.

No kidding.

That's fine. I was never planning on sticking around here for long anyway.... but I am entitled to express my opinion, and if you can't see the relation between my opinions and the topic at hand, that's your own problem.