Now Hear This

[Pangurban]

An insightful piece of writing by an Australian journalist

Ireland is not a nation, once again or ever, so the new story runs, but two nations; maybe several; it does not have its characteristic religion—or if it does, it ought not; it does not have its characteristic language, as anyone can see or hear; it has no particular race or ethnic integrity. Ireland is nothing—a no-thing—an interesting nothing, to be sure, composed of colourful parts, a nothing mosaic. It is advertising prose and Muzak.

Put that in your Pipes and smoke it

[stephenite]

An insightful piece of writing by an Australian journalist

Ireland is not a nation, once again or ever, so the new story runs, but two nations; maybe several; it does not have its characteristic religion—or if it does, it ought not; it does not have its characteristic language, as anyone can see or hear; it has no particular race or ethnic integrity. Ireland is nothing—a no-thing—an interesting nothing, to be sure, composed of colourful parts, a nothing mosaic. It is advertising prose and Muzak.

Put that in your Pipes and smoke it

Which Australian journalist? What was that published in?

[Pangurban]

The journalist was William Buckley, the quote is from a Book of his entitled Memory Ireland.

[Puckoon]

Then what pray tell is Australia?

What a load of nonsense.

[Elias]

And this from a nation descendant of petty thieves, muggers, murderers and rapist. What a load of w@nk!

[Pangurban]

Ah now lads, is that the best you can do, respond in kind by insulting the Authors birth-place. Why not exercise your brains by pointing out where  he is wrong, that might not be so easy.

[stephenite]

Ah now lads, is that the best you can do, respond in kind by insulting the Authors birth-place. Why not exercise your brains by pointing out where  he is wrong, that might not be so easy.

Well, he tries to state that it's 2 nations.

And as far Aussies, well I agree with the above, in no position to be lecturing anyone. However it was written in 1985

[Pangurban]

Why are his points any less valid today than they were in 1985

[Puckoon]

I am not insulting him - I am merely suggesting that it is a pretty strange assertion - unless of course he has already said the same about his own country.

[stephenite]

Why are his points any less valid today than they were in 1985

The realtions between the 'two' have changed radically since 1985

[Zapatista]

An insightful piece of writing by an Australian journalist

Ireland is not a nation, once again or ever, so the new story runs, but two nations; maybe several; it does not have its characteristic religion—or if it does, it ought not; it does not have its characteristic language, as anyone can see or hear; it has no particular race or ethnic integrity. Ireland is nothing—a no-thing—an interesting nothing, to be sure, composed of colourful parts, a nothing mosaic. It is advertising prose and Muzak.

Put that in your Pipes and smoke it

BS. These things perfcectly define the Irish Nation. No characteristic religon leaves us fighting over religon (typically Irish), if it does have this religon it's probably Catholic which has screwed us for decades (again typically Irish) No characteristic Language means we use our neighbours and feel guilty about it but not enough guilt to stop doing it (typically Irish). No race or enthnic integrity, is a common Irish trait. We come from all over and leave to go all over while never forgeting where we came from and near or far we complain about it.

What the author seem to miss is that Irelands lack of nationality is a typically trait of the Irish nation. If it wasn't arse about face it wouldn't be Irish.

[ziggysego]

Interesting quote, but is there really a nation that is complete in the ways that William states? The US and UK is a melting pot of different ethnicities and whilst Protestantism would once have been the major religion in both countries, that is no longer the case. Especially in the UK. Whilst English is the language, which originated in England, it's not really a language they can claim as their own anymore. With different dialects and idiosyncrasies in the different parts of the UK, is there truly an 'English' language anymore? Never mind throwing Americanisation into the mixed.

So whilst yes, Irish is not a nation once again, show me a nation that truly is. Anymore, it makes it's a more interesting place to be when we have our differences and our similarities.

[bcarrier]

Ireland is not a nation, once again or ever, so the new story runs, but two nations; maybe several; it does not have its characteristic religion—or if it does, it ought not; it does not have its characteristic language, as anyone can see or hear; it has no particular race or ethnic integrity. Ireland is nothing—a no-thing—an interesting nothing, to be sure, composed of colourful parts, a nothing mosaic. It is advertising prose and Muzak.

What is the context ? What is the new story and who is telling it ?

[maddog]

Especially in the UK. Whilst English is the language, which originated in England, it's not really a language they can claim as their own anymore. With different dialects and idiosyncrasies in the different parts of the UK, is there truly an 'English' language anymore? Never mind throwing Americanisation into the mixed.

I would have a different angle on the angles

[ziggysego]

Especially in the UK. Whilst English is the language, which originated in England, it's not really a language they can claim as their own anymore. With different dialects and idiosyncrasies in the different parts of the UK, is there truly an 'English' language anymore? Never mind throwing Americanisation into the mixed.

I would have a different angle on the angles

What's your angle on the angles?