Irish inferiority complex

But the problem we face is that the English, in many respects, refuse to acknowledge their cultural nationalism (which became cultural imperialism - which is not to ignore the complicity of the Scots, the Welsh, and the Anglo-Irish) and then to digest and get over it. This is, in my view, why so much of the debate around the EU, for example, is couched in sovereigntist terms. It has little to do with the substance of the EU and the debates that can be had but rather to do with the Little Englander paranoia.

Until we all deal with our nationalism we'll never get rid of it.

Can I say that I am amazed and horrified at the level of ignorance displayed by the OP. Did you perhaps forget that any animosity held by Irish people towards England stems from centuries of abuse and violence perpetrated upon our country by our larger neighbour? People are very quick to say 'move on', but such a thing should never be forgotten, the English tried to systematically destroy our culture and our language(and very nearly succeeded), and were responsible for the deaths of millions of Irish people. You point to our dearly held sense of nationalism: do you find it terrible that we enjoy having our own rich vibrant culture, and we enjoy being able to govern ourselves according to what we believe is best for us, and not to suit the demands of another country? You also raise the issue of Europe.

Can I say that I am amazed and horrified at the level of ignorance displayed by the OP. Did you perhaps forget that any animosity held by Irish people towards England stems from centuries of abuse and violence perpetrated upon our country by our larger neighbour? People are very quick to say 'move on', but such a thing should never be forgotten, the English tried to systematically destroy our culture and our language(and very nearly succeeded), and were responsible for the deaths of millions of Irish people. You point to our dearly held sense of nationalism: do you find it terrible that we enjoy having our own rich vibrant culture, and we enjoy being able to govern ourselves according to what we believe is best for us, and not to suit the demands of another country? You also raise the issue of Europe. The fact is that the EU provides many benefits that outweigh it's disadvantages, with the trade advantages it gives us by far compensating for the limited amount of legislation they pass that we have to adhere to. You are also very quick to label Ireland as a country in meltdown. Ireland has suffered during the recession, but no more than England has, the opinions you express are born out of your own ignorance and from following the propoganda distributed by the English media which feels free to lambast the state of my country because it is unable or unwilling to take a closer look at it's own nation. Our efforts for freedom are labelled as barbaric, yet you yourself are a citizen of a nation that for hundreds of years subjugated countless territories using superior technology so that it could rape their resources. Your own sense of nationalism has given you a poisonous, skewed view of the patriotism of those who were once under your control and those who still are. I don't limit my views to Ireland. I believe that it is a wonderful necessity that both Scotland and Wales have a strong national identity.

The only animosity is that the British Empire was one of the most powerful and had the power to control other countries, like Ireland. It is not good or right, but just plain and simple power. I am also curious, if Ireland were given the chance to become an Empire and take over England, if they would seize the chance?
Like I said, it is the nature of power. There are always winners and losers, and the losers are hardly going to be happy.

Claiming that Ireland would have also pursued an imperial path had one been available to it is nonsensical, it didn't happen and has therefore no relevance to the discussion. If Japan had obtained the H-bomb first they would have used it, but does that condone what the Americans did? The chief grievance Irish people have from when England ruled us is not that they had control(though that was decidedly unfavourable), but how they treated those who were supposed to be their subjects, like they were little better than animals in many cases. People are also quick to demean the idea of romantic nationalism, but ask any surviving French or Belgian citizen from the period in question how they felt about Germany occupying their country? Were they glad they were removed? You will obtain and answer quite similar to the one Irish people give concerning our independance.

Hence the chip on your shoulder.

Hmm, it isn't quite one-sided as that. Why do you think the British Empire wants to extend its power to different lands? So that it can trade. But to do so, that requires cooperation from the habitants. If they won't cooperate and keep insisting on going back to their medieval ways, what do you expect the British Empire to do? It is only reasonable they used force.

Romantic nathionalism gets no-one anywhere especially when you're a tiny island, that isn't to say you can't be proud ...

The whiggish version of history does make me laugh.

Do you actually have anything to add/say or are you just spamming?

Oh, it's just you triumph the benevolency of the "British Empire" whilst denying its nationalistic tendencies which is all rather whiggish.

Being proud of its accomplishments is not nationalism.

Depends on how you go about being proud of its accomplishments; if you consider the treatment of the Irish by the British an accomplishment then you have to wonder where the line is.

As for your offer, s'alright. I tend not to pm people of your ilk.

Can I say that I am amazed and horrified at the level of ignorance displayed by the OP. Did you perhaps forget that any animosity held by Irish people towards England stems from centuries of abuse and violence perpetrated upon our country by our larger neighbour? People are very quick to say 'move on', but such a thing should never be forgotten, the English tried to systematically destroy our culture and our language(and very nearly succeeded), and were responsible for the deaths of millions of Irish people. You point to our dearly held sense of nationalism: do you find it terrible that we enjoy having our own rich vibrant culture, and we enjoy being able to govern ourselves according to what we believe is best for us, and not to suit the demands of another country? You also raise the issue of Europe. The fact is that the EU provides many benefits that outweigh it's disadvantages, with the trade advantages it gives us by far compensating for the limited amount of legislation they pass that we have to adhere to. You are also very quick to label Ireland as a country in meltdown. Ireland has suffered during the recession, but no more than England has, the opinions you express are born out of your own ignorance and from following the propoganda distributed by the English media which feels free to lambast the state of my country because it is unable or unwilling to take a closer look at it's own nation. Our efforts for freedom are labelled as barbaric, yet you yourself are a citizen of a nation that for hundreds of years subjugated countless territories using superior technology so that it could rape their resources. Your own sense of nationalism has given you a poisonous, skewed view of the patriotism of those who were once under your control and those who still are. I don't limit my views to Ireland. I believe that it is a wonderful necessity that both Scotland and Wales have a strong national identity.

Claiming that Ireland would have also pursued an imperial path had one been available to it is nonsensical, it didn't happen and has therefore no relevance to the discussion.

So it was okay for the English to attempt to destroy an entire culture just so they could 'trade'(take)?

Firstly, Ireland was part of the 'mother country', not some colony of the Empire. Resources cannot be arbitrarily appropriated by the State under British law.