07.25.08
Ah the fun..
I get from this blog.
Godwin’s Law has been invoked on Economy CA.
I am going home tomorrow. Can’t wait! But to ease the stress of these last 24 hours I am meeting Gerry and Ben tonight. I said “meat and spuds”. No more Italian food or seafood salads.
A note on multiculturalism vs integration.
This company has 30 employees who come from
Ireland
England
India
Brazil
Columbia
France
Serbia
Hungary
Peru
Pakistan
Poland
and yes, America.
They have some things in common, mainly the fact that they are computer scientists BUT their ideologies are similar – liberal, environmentally friendly, family-friendly, clean-living, well-educated, and interested in world-affairs. There’s only one real republican. I have no idea what religion any of them follow. The only ones that talk about religion are me and the other Irish guy.
I think the point is that they moved from all around the world to this spot because they were interested in computer science but also because they wanted to live in California. So, they made the shift in their minds before they got here. They moved to a country where they felt the lifestyle and the world view would match theirs. It contrasts strongly with people who moved to a new country without making, or even wanting to make that adjustment – they want to live in the country – but hold onto their native country’s world view. And in fact, want the new country to adjust to them. That’s the source of a lot of problems (not all – I’m not arguing its this simplistic) but its certainly a major factor.
B said,
July 25, 2008 at 9:14 pm
From my experience of Filipinos, Chinese, Koreans, Russians, English, Estonian, Romanian, Polish, Nigerian, Spanish, Dutch and German, Venezuelan, Italian, Jordanian, Iranian, Pakistani, Hungarian and Indians that I have met in Ireland who live and work here they want to join in and live here. That said there are a minority that don’t bother their arses joining in. They generally don’t stay long, get a bit of cash together and feck off back to the rock that they emerged from underneath.
The problem I see is the the natives have in most cases practically no curiosity or interest in these people. You see practically no Irish in ethnic shops and small numbers ordering Chicken Satay and chips from the local chinger. You get the odd person but not many. I have been a regular in Asia Market for 7 years and the number of Irish I see there is still minimal. Most customers are Chinese or from other countries but not Ireland.
In Ireland we have this curious notion of what is Irish all of which is imported. Catholicism is imported and so was St Patrick. Both cornerstones of being Irish. For some reason we think that if we embrace what is new we are becoming less Irish. Sean Og’s mother is from Fiji and nobody says he isn’t integrating well. Nobody I would say knows or cares.
I know kids who have “non national” parents who are in essence Irish kids. Non National is the greatest load of PC codswallop ever invented implying that foreigners somehow have no country. These kids have foreign faces but are kids just like kids anywhere else.
We are great at pointing out obvious migration to Ireland. Polish, Chinese and Filipino immigrants are easily identified because they work in public and are in contact with many people by virtue of the fact they are nurses or serve you food. What is ignored or is not as noticeable are the people here that are working in non contact jobs and who are not seen or are white just like we are.
The largest group of immigrants to Ireland are from the UK. The second largest are from EU countries. Just because you are from an obvious ethnic group like being Chinese makes people notice you.
I heard kids on Newstalk yesterday talking about the recession. About how all the East Europeans will all go home again. Talk about narrow worldview. Yis can work in the shops when we are all off being property millionaires but as soon as the game is up yis are to F off back.
My brother lives in Kildare. His neighbours are Polish. He is great mates with them and they help him with his garden or whatever in the house and he helps them with something else like taking a package from the postman if they are at work. Normal neighbourly things.
I live in Dublin and had for a time an old German car. I came out one day to see some knacker kid standing on my car. She assumed until I let roar at her I was Polish and therefore fair game to mess with the car. Its amazing here what happens and the coldness you get when people don’t think you are a local. The fact that we have had that same car for 17 years means nothing. If you drive an old car you are an immigrant. Thats the reality of modern Ireland.
I went to the guards six times to get them to leave it alone. Sat in the station for hours waiting for someone to do nothing.
Also the notion that Ireland is the land of the 1000 welcomes is rubbish. Its more like the land of 1000 F offs. Is it any wonder that people keep to themselves. They would integrate if they were allowed.
All it takes is simple manners and the odd hello or even a chat not eyed with ignorance and suspicion.
B said,
July 25, 2008 at 9:16 pm
To clarify I am not talking about your local Chinese restaurant. I am talking about the smaller ones that have sprung up that cater to Chinese tastes rather than the sugary menu they think the Irish want.
Steven said,
August 2, 2008 at 1:57 pm
It’s spelled “Colombia.”
Sarah said,
August 3, 2008 at 10:25 am
oops.