froggequene
|
I think it's a bit naive to turn around & say to someone that they should forget the past. I don't think we should forget the past, the events of our past shape who & what we are. It is possible to come to terms with the events that have happened without allowing them to scar us indefinitely but it takes time & energy. |
|
Christine
|
say the problem with our history is the Irish can't forget, while the English can't remember |
|
Shakey
 |
You're 16. All the troubles in NI were before you were born. It's history. Learn from it, especially the bigotry on BOTH sides, and look for a peaceful future. Don't let religion tear you apart. Remember, there was one Christ; the rest is mere detail. Hatred destroys the hater; no-one else gives a toss. Have a great life. |
|
Eddie F
|
The english girls said right. Let the past be consigned to the history books.
No matter what has happened, peace has now taken over.. Lets build on it, and prosper.. |
|
olliedog
 |
The Irish will never forget the Troubles, nor should you. It is part of your history, please God it stays history though. The Welsh and the Scots will never forget the awful way the english have treated them in the past. |
|
Why When How
|
as someone who has a passion for Irish history and well academically qualified in it I would say this.
Do not forget your history as we must learn from it. BUT and it's a big but, do not live in the past, only visit it as a reference point to take you forward.
you only have to look at many of the answers hear to see how inflammatory people get.
Never believe it was a case of goodies vs baddies or England vs Ireland, it's ALWAYS about those in power fighting others with power and suppressing those with none. |
|
Sean
|
They're right in that you shouldn't hate them (the British, not individuals) for it, but the Irish don't forget. The problem is the British try to rewrite history, and some ppl believe it so therefore (I think) the majority of the English or British don't know the truth exactly of the more distant past.
You should remember, learn from, and build upon it. Tell them that, but it's still part of who we are as it's so recent, whether we were there or not. The way for us to live in peace lies with convincing ppl that there's nothing to hate or fear, meaning that you shouldn't hate or promote fear (not you personally). I know that's understandably harder for some ppl than others, but we don't want to wind up in a vicious circle.
I feel strongly about the past too and I want unity but hate just pushes ppl away from it. |
|
Castielfan
 |
Your country's history is part of your heritage and it shouldn't be forgotten but nor should it affect your life today. What's the point in continuing past generations' hatreds? It doesn't achieve anything except bitterness. I'm part Irish part English and I make a point of not discussing politics or religion because in the end it just causes arguments that I would never have become involved with otherwise. So if the girls in your year bring up the subject again, I would probably just say everyone's entitled to their own opinion and then talk about something else. |
|
Orla C
|
They are right.
There are two ways to look at this issue. First of all, you are not responsible for crimes committed by fellow countrymen in the past. The flip side of that is that you can now let go or any bad feeling that you have had regarding that bad time in the history of Northern Ireland - well, when I say 'can', I'm merely suggesting that it is allowed ....
I'm Irish, and I also think you should let it go, and not let your life be dictated by such a dark time in history, nor should you let it define you. If you hold onto it, you'll be that person who could not let go of the past. Do you really want to be that person? |
|
Sorcha B
|
Don't forget the past, try to learn from it. 30 years of war has damaged our country and split many families apart. It's part of our shared heritage and we cannot forget the sacrifices our ancestors made. They died for us so we owe them respect and reverence.
English people have to learn too, all wars, not just world wars. Take the Black and Tans, for example. They were ex-soldiers sent to Ireland. They did what they were told but they were terrible things to do. Not saying that all Irish people were guilt-free either, Micheal Collins ordered the killing of 13 spies and that only led to Bloody Sunday. So it's your duty to remember our forefathers so that they didn't die in vain. |
|
irishgirl2009@ymail.com
 |
i know exactly how u feel..!
its SO ANNOYING isnt it you dont know what to say because you feel so strongly about it.im the same my bf is english,!!but i cant leave the past behind because it is still a problem today but i just learn to understand where he is coming from and dont really talk about it to him because if i did i would explode with rage lol. |
|
Tap
|
Yes we should try and get on with our lives but it will impossible to forget the past, I have lived in Belfast all my life and have seen a lot of friends and one member of my family murdered. IMO we must get on with our lives because the other option would be terrible for everybody, I don't consider myself a bitter person and I have friends from both communities but I could never forgive the person/people who murdered my cousin. Time is a great healer they say. |
|
Flying mop dog
|
I'd say that your question is highly misleading. If they had actually said to 'forget the past' then I would have considered it highly insensitive however telling you to leave the past in the past is completely different and I agree with them. It's time to move on from all of that unless you want more innocent people to die. |
|
doberman
|
Dear Irish girl,
I was born in Brazil...should I hate the portugueses? Suppose you was born in Africa. Should you fight against the british government, or spaniards, that dealed slaves centuries ago? Learn about your ancestors (it´s so good to know how don´t get wrong way), but don´t worry...now you live in a very nice place...and Northern Ireland is developing very fast. |
|
greenorlagh
|
It's easy for English people to say that. They don't happen to live with the reality day after day. I drive past the pub where the Trick or Treat Killings were, the pub that was blown up in Ballykelly with 13 killed. My uncle was blown up. My best friend was shot. I have no ill feelings against anyone - Catholic or protestant, unionist or republican or nationalist. But living with the memories of so much isn't about putting it back into the bag of history. That's too simple. |
|
dugs
|
its our history, and cant be forgotten , ask them to forget the last war, they want you to forget because it makes them feel bad |
|
chasegreenfields
|
Irish people need to get over the 600 years of oppression thing, its childish and immature for this generation to still hold a grudge. |
|
Hurling MAD
|
ah cristin u stole my anser!!haha
ya just tell them to look it up on wiki or sumthing. tell them to find out aout it because cristin is rite. we should try to forget but english need to remember. i have to say i am like you i have strong feelings about the troubles and the war of independence, easter rising etc but u shud be tellin a lot of ur irish classmates to rember because most of mine dont have a clue about our histry and some dont care!!! i tink dis is disgraceful! |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Travel
Forum 
Ireland 
No Spam
Adult 
Gambling
Unfinished
Deception
Plagiarism
Not English
