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Go - Move – Shift: Anti-Traveller Racism in Ireland
national |
rights, freedoms and repression |
opinion/analysis
Tuesday December 20, 2005 17:17 by Sean - Organise! organiseireland at yahoo dot ie
Its power for the course for the mainstream media, politicians and their lackeys to make a career out of criminalisation and scapegoating of minorities. In Ireland if a scapegoat is needed all too often Travellers are made to fit the bill. One of the most deprived and discriminated against ethnic groups in our society, to such an extent that Travellers are regularly barred from shops and pubs. Even people who believe that they are not racist, and some who see themselves as anti-racist, seem struck blind when it comes to attitudes to, discrimination against and attacks on the way of life of Travellers. |
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Jump To Comment: 1 2good article organise. the above link has some good info on it too.
"One of the most deprived and discriminated against ethnic groups in our society, to such an extent that Travellers are regularly barred from shops and pubs. Even people who believe that they are not racist, and some who see themselves as anti-racist, seem struck blind when it comes to attitudes to, discrimination against and attacks on the way of life of Travellers.
As stated by the Irish Traveller Movement,
Travellers are an indigenous minority who, historical sources confirm, have been part of Irish society for centuries. Travellers long shared history, cultural values, language, customs and traditions make them a self-defined group, and one which is recognisable and distinct. Their culture and way of life, of which nomadism is an important factor, distinguishes them from the sedentary (settled) population."
In fairness, can we stop pretending that the Traveller way of life is 'culture'. I'm not being racist about this, but the fact is Travellers a) do not have a distinct culture or way of life from ordinary people, and b) the Traveller way of life is damaging to society and Travellers themselves.
The first sentence contains a major flaw; calling Travellers an 'ethnic group'. Wrong. Travellers are just as genetically Irish as the rest of us.
Why should we, as a society, not only tolerate but encourage a way of live that is not suited to the 21st century? Why should we allow kids to be living in overcrowded caravans, playing on the sides of roads and moving from town to town and school to school every few months? If a 'settled' (a ridiculous term, by the way) family were to raise their children in a similar way as many, if not most, Traveller families do, they would be prosecuted for child abuse. But of course, to dare even think of forcing Travellers to actually look after their kids and make sure they're educated would be inherently racist and an attack on their unique 'culture'.
A 'culture' of poor education, illiteracy, low pay, unemployment, crime, large families, illness and early death. It is time that people stopped refusing to tell Travellers to get their act together for fear of being branded a Nazi, and actually recognised the Traveller 'culture' for what is it- an outdated, unsuitable and failed way of life that should be killed with kindness.
Regards.