Page 12
THE CELTIC CONNECTION » MAY 1996
"OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
(and later during holiday season)
CENTURIES OF SLURS DEGRADE THE IRISH
mythological & celestial treasures Angels, Goddesses & Faeries
Candles, Lamps & Incense
Crystals & Jewellery
Tee-Shirts
Medieval, Celtic, Pagan & Fantastical Books
By BRENDAN ANDERSON ern Ir?1,an^' so ^ seejt ™ r,f"
BELFAST — A new study of anti- grettable b«* understandable.
Irish racism in England reveals The emphasis prior to the Six-
that, far from being a recent phe- teenth Century was on the pa-
nomenon, it dates back to the ganism, superstition and barbar-
Twelfth Century. ism of the Irish. In the reign of
The findings are contained in the Elizabeth I the systematic
book Religion, Class and Identity colonisation of Ireland began,
by Doctor Mary J. Hickman. She In particular, the notion of the
is conducting a nationwide study Irish as "stupid" became com-
4556 West 10th. Avenue - 224-1912
The Diner
Kst. 1958
WE PUT OUR SOLE INTO OUR FISH & CHIPS
• Steak & Kidney Pie • Shepherd's Pie • • Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding (Sunday) • This is Just a Few Items from our Menu
Weekdays K:3() a.m.-8:3() p.m. Sundays Noon - 7 p.m. Prices to Fit Students'Pocket • Phone for Take-Out Orders Just 1 Block East of LJ.B.C. Gates.
ft
I-
CHEV * OLDS * GEO
1515 Boundary Road, Vancouver, B.C. V6K 6C4
_ PAT GlBBONS
Put pleasure, not pressure into buying
Business
Fax
Home
(604) 293-1311
(604) 293-1468 (604) 433-7935
fc: *-s *V *-: £: •> MAKE TRACKS - MAKE DEALS
of discrimination against the Irish for the Equal Opportunities Commission in Britain.
The book records written attacks on the Irish for their "filth and ignorance" as far back as 1187. And it traces the origin of "Paddy" jokes back to the Sixteenth Century.
The study comes amid a series of allegations by Irish politicians and community workers that recent British TV programs have stereotyped Irish men and women.
Cookstown SDLP councillor' Patsy McGlone has claimed that primetime ITV courtroom drama Kavanagh QC contains an anti-Irish bias. McGlone said the drama is the latest in a long line of ITV and BBC programmes which portray Irish people in a negative light.
The SDLP spokesman said he has written to the Broadcasting Standards Council about several programs, including the popular series which features leading British actor John Thaw as barrister James Kavanagh.
McGlone said, "For some considerable time there has been a trend in British soap and light drama series to have virtually every criminal, from the murderer to wife-beater, cast as Irish.
"Other series such as The Bill, Brookside, Casualty, Coronation Street and so on have all cast Irishmen and women in prominent criminal roles.
"The net result is to contribute to the racist stereotype of the Irish in England as drunken criminals — a gross insult and injustice."
McGlone said it is high time that major broadcasting companies examine their contribution to "such obvious racism."
Recently, the Irish in Britain Representation Group attacked the producers of Coronation Street for featuring a wife-beating scene involving Belfast character Jim McDonald.
Hickman, Director of the Irish Studies Centre at the University of North London, found that the Irish both at home and as emigrants have been the butt of English racism for more than 800 years.
The Irish-born community in Britain numbers 840,000 and millions more claim Irish ancestry.
In her book, Hickman says that since the Anglo-Norman invasion in the Twelfth Century, the English have tried to justify their attacks by racism.
She said, " Many people assume that current English hostility or discrimination towards the Irish is the result of events in North-
mon. Hickman said, "Most of this was designed to show how English rule could be used to benefit the Irish." During the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, the stereotype changed and the half-human savage became a figure of contempt. In the Nineteenth Century, images of idleness and drinking were added.
Hickman pointed out that a separate system of Catholic schools grew up in England not because the Church insisted but because
the English working class was hostile to having its children educated alongside the Irish.
Robinson in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA — Mary Robinson, President of Ireland, recently returned to Oklahoma to host a reception at the Gilcrease Museum, in Tulsa. Choctaw Nation council persons Randle Durant and Charley Jones represented the tribe by conveying warm greetings to the President. In her public address to those attending the reception, she reminded the crowd of the Choc-taws' generousity of 1847 to the starving people of Ireland.
•
Reproduced from The Bishinik, the Choctaw newspaper
Tafia EJectRic LTD.
17030 - 30A AVENUE, SURREY, B.C. V4B 5E7
MARTIN KING
Martin is from Athenry, Co. Galway
Ph. (604) 536-7723 or 250-2352 Fax: (604) 536-3204
Williami';-iii^^ & Sons
PLUMBIgi^ LTD. COMPLjjH f/!£CHANlCAL GCBS1S ACTING
William Kelly / AntU ?ny Keily
#290-4611 Nofe Rd/RichmondrCc. V6V 2L3 Phone: (604) 278-3553 Fax: (604) 278-3573
KEARNEY FUNERAL SERVICES
BROADWAY CHAPEL 7096 West Broadway Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: 736-0268
COLUMBIA 3 DWELL
CHAIPEL 219 Sixth St. New Westminster B.C. Telephone: 521-4881