Posted on 12/28/2011 5:32:30 AM PST by the scotsman
'Five thousand Irish soldiers who swapped uniforms to fight for the British against Hitler went on to suffer years of persecution.
One of them, 92-year-old Phil Farrington, took part in the D-Day landings and helped liberate the German death camp at Bergen-Belsen - but he wears his medals in secret.
Even to this day, he has nightmares that he will be arrested by the authorities and imprisoned for his wartime service. "They would come and get me, yes they would," he said in a frail voice at his home in the docks area of Dublin. And his 25-year-old grandson, Patrick, confirmed: "I see the fear in him even today, even after 65 years."
Mr Farrington's fears are not groundless. He was one of about 5,000 Irish soldiers who deserted their own neutral army to join the war against fascism and who were brutally punished on their return home as a result.
They were formally dismissed from the Irish army, stripped of all pay and pension rights, and prevented from finding work by being banned for seven years from any employment paid for by state or government funds.
A special "list" was drawn up containing their names and addresses, and circulated to every government department, town hall and railway station - anywhere the men might look for a job. It was referred to in the Irish parliament - the Dail - at the time as a "starvation order", and for many of their families the phrase became painfully close to the truth.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
“Cornwallis would’ve ...”
If my aunt had different plumbing she’d be my uncle.
Rebellions work. Not all do and not all don’t. It really depends on those deing the rebelling and if they have an end goal and the will to get it.
LOL. Do you even now recognize the irony of using that tired old rejoinder?
This nation was formed by rebellion. Seemed to work just fine then.
To paraphrase your cliche, if "this nation" were comprised of the same mettle as what worked "just fine then" then we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Other than the unprecedented catastrophe in 1865, what gives you any indication that rebellions within mature, corrupt countries turn out well for liberty and freedom? I rattled off several that didn't. Can you name a couple that did?
Two years ago my wife and I spent three weeks in Ireland crisscrossing the country. We didn’t meet one a...hole. We did meet a lot of very friendly Irish men and women though. In fact, in Galway as we were traveling in an open top tourist bus around the town, we passed by an elementary school with the kids getting out for the day. A bunch of them hollered at the bus: WELCOME TO IRELAND!!! I guess they were just a bunch of little, unfriendly a..holes, huh?
Britain bought grain from America and exported it to Ireland. Britain set up a Famine Commission to organise relief. Britain revoked its Corn Laws. And passed several laws to help relieve the famine.
Chose not to?. Nonsense.
Mistakes were made, but much of what Britain is supposed to have done did not happen and what she did do gets ignored.
I like the Irish, north and south, Catholic and Protestant.
I have Catholic relatives by marriage in the south, and Protestant relatives by blood in the north.
The victim mentality of the Republicans/Nationalists gets on my tits, but they are a minority.
Both Irelands are beautiful countries with very friendly people.
Perhaps you have met the Irish-Americans, who are psuedo-irish who couldnt find the old countree on a map with GPS.
You wrote:
“Britain bought grain from America and exported it to Ireland. Britain set up a Famine Commission to organise relief. Britain revoked its Corn Laws. And passed several laws to help relieve the famine.”
Yes, but Britain helped cause the famine in the first place by having the laws it did.
“Chose not to?. Nonsense.”
I think you need to learn to read. I said “Britain was next door and could have done far more. It chose not to.”
It chose not to do FAR MORE. I never said it “Chose not to”. Try to be honest.
“Mistakes were made, but much of what Britain is supposed to have done did not happen and what she did do gets ignored.”
Britain did enough to oppress the Irish for centuries. She could have done more to save millions from needless suffering. Did she do anything? Yes. Could she have done far more? Yes.
By the way, did you know that the Irish famine in the 1770s was responded to by the government shutting down the ports to make sure Irish grown food actually went to the Irish?
In the 1840s the British refused to do that. Incredibly Ireland was a net EXPORTER of food during the famine!!! There was plenty of food but it was carted away under guard to feed England while the Irish starved. Read Christine Kinealy’s This Great Calamity.
“Other than the unprecedented catastrophe in 1865, what gives you any indication that rebellions within mature, corrupt countries turn out well for liberty and freedom?”
By your own statement our own Revolution turned out well.
You’re still stuck at ONE example in 250+ years vs SCORES of examples of tyrannical revolutions in same.
Plus one horrific revolution in our own country that turned out terribly, plus another one in Europe which pulled us all into global conflagration, plus another one in Russia which led to a regime that nearly wiped out the planet, plus another one in China which is still wrecking billions of lives to this day.
Yes. You have underscored my point brilliantly! Thanks!
Wher?
How many is "many"?
No, I’m talking about Irish southerners. I’ve met several over the years here in America. To a one they were arrogant drunk jerks
As a history graduate, I read and studied the Famine widely, and still do.
You wrote:
“As a history graduate, I read and studied the Famine widely, and still do.”
My PhD in History was in a different area, but I still read about the Irish famine. Look at the book I mentioned. There’s no getting around the fact that Ireland was a net exporter of food for those years, and that food was carted away for sale in Britain under armed guards. It reminds me of Stalin’s policies in Ukraine in the 1930s. No one needed to starve to death.
You dare laugh at the privation of an entire nation and death of 1.5 million souls, while the remainder of Europe suffered no diminution in lifestyle. And yes, the Lords and Ladies responsible feasted on Irish livestock. Your denial is detestible.
If that's your issue, then just say so at the beginning of the thread. I'm sure there are 100 other things we can find wrong with the world of 1845 that also have little to do with WWII.
Peel's Brimstone?!? Good one!
Eamon De Valera ordered the flag flown at half mast when Der Fuehrer committed suicide. Truly disgraceful behavior from the Irish government and even today there is anti-Semitism and sympathy for Islamist scum. I am sad to report this.
Good posts Vlad. Belated Merry Christmas to you.
I am guilty of thread hijacking - my apologies!
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