It’s not funny or clever
I really do not understand racism, ok I can see there’s moments wear all common sense flies out the window and an insult turns into a racial slur in the blink of an eye, but in all honesty it comes across as cheap, when someone thinks it is clever.
With this in mind, I read the story of the English Pipe Fitter who was awarded €20,000 in compensation after enduring regular abuse from his Irish co-workers.
He claimed colleagues called him names and frequently ganged-up on him to sing Irish rebel songs. If there were dangerous areas and situations, the Equality Tribunal was told that some of the workers would say ’send the Brit in’ to make the way safe.
Now I know there’s a long history between the English and Irish and maybe some of the hurt and suffering will never go away because it has been passed down from generation to generation.
Yet, Ireland is the country that is influenced so much by other countries, particularly England. Our favourite soap operas, music, sports teams and many other forms of entertainment and craft are from the United Kingdom.
So we take all of that and yet we still give abuse back to those that provide us with it? I know old habits die hard but come on this is the 21st Century.
We are supposed to be a kinder gentler race of people with a laid back attitude and that no matter what it’s always a case of “ah it’s grand” and yet there are some die hard people that will never accept that change can be for the better.
It’s sad to think that a cheap laugh with your mates can be used like this. The workplace is still meant to be a fun place; it’s a pity that some versions of fun are more shocking then others.
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 and is filed under Thoughts & Questions, Views on News.
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Lmaher Says:
I know it’s not politically correct to suggest this but is it possible they the other pipe fitters just didn’t care for the guy & his nationality was only a convenience to them? If it wasn’t his British nationality maybe they would tease him about his eyeglasses, weight, shoe size, the (imagined) reputation of his mother/sister(s), or his political leanings. Maybe they could have teased him about the permissive nature of the Anglican Church as that denomination continues its descent into politically correct irrelevance.
Clearly the British have done much good in the world. Walsingham is a lovely shrine but the Irish need not be pleased with the cultural rot that spills into the country from “Our Lady’s Dowry”. Seems strange to speak about about the virtues of a nation that continues to forbid any Catholic from sitting on the throne and whose former Prime Minister felt he had to wait until after his term in office expired to embrace “the fullness of Christian truth.”
This is not an issue of “racism” anyway. Nationalism or bigotry maybe but certainly not racism. The English and Irish are the same race (despite decades of British attempts to “prove” otherwise during the age of Darwinism). The term “racism” brings up images of brutality, chains, & segregation - not applicable here and the term tends to unnecessarily inflame emotions.
The last question is what does this suggest about masculinity? Name calling, the singing of songs, suggestions that the British pipe fitter lead the way into tough spots during their work (as opposed to actually always sending him first). Clearly there is room for greater Christian charity from the Irish pipe fitters but would our fathers be able to bring a case about teasing & banter between men into court … and win? Does this serve to litigate the workplace to an unwarranted extent?
After all - if name-calling and teasing remains eligible for law suits businesses will be chased out of the country, schools will have a great deal of work imposing silence on students, and red-headed step-children will become very wealthy.
August 12th, 2008 at 6:20 pm