Is this racist

[postitgirl]

So DS says some boys at school are picking on him - he's Year 8. Today they had to move places in the classroom and he's ended up beside these 2 'mean' boys. They said to him 'just shut up and go back to Ireland to eat your potatoes'. I think that's racist - or what do you think.

YABU - not racist
YANBU - racist

Example if you moved up north from say London, and someone told you to go back to London would that be racist?

@Pixxie7 - Example if you moved up north from say London, and someone told you to go back to London would that be racist?

The more you post, the more racist you're coming across. Is it just that you don't like to think of yourself as racist that you're trying to excuse it? It's still racist even if the victim doesn't fit into your neat little definition of who can be victims of racist.

Jesus, that is really racist. I’m offended on your behalf. I am also surprised that they understand the meaning behind it. Fucking awful.

Stuff that the school should take it seriously. Even if it isn’t due to ‘race’, as such, he’s being singled out for a reason he can’t help. Why the hell is there even any anti-Irish (or other marginalised group/ethnicity) sentiment these days?? We’re supposed to be stamping this kind of unacceptable behaviour out so don’t treat this gently, op.

Little shit bags!

Yes racist - penalty should be temporary exclusion

Needs to be taken seriously

I am just giving an example of how this could be interpreted as both are part of uk, how does that make me a racist?

@pixxie7 I advise looking up a map or reading the most basic of history books. Although I suspect you're just a troll.

Good point Agus; I had a colleague mock my accent on a near weekly basis. But of course, they didn't consider themselves racist.

Northern Ireland is part of the uk, I can assure you I am not a troll. I am just as entitled to my opinion as you are to yours. Ok you may not agree but that doesn’t make either of us wrong.

If it really happened as DS says (seems a bizarre thing for 12 year olds to say) then report to school.

@Pixxie7

Northern Ireland is part of the uk, I can assure you I am not a troll. I am just as entitled to my opinion as you are to yours. Ok you may not agree but that doesn’t make either of us wrong.

You obviously don't mind coming across as racist. Fair enough. At least you're honest about it.

Yeah it's racist.
He feels picked on.
Enough to act on imo.

The OP said he is Irish Pixxie7; she did not say he is British.

Sorry to hear your son is going through this OP. If someone said “go back to Nigeria and eat your….”, it would be classed as racist. The fact that you’re (presumably) white doesn’t make it any less racist legally. I’d absolutely be making that argument if you don’t get support from the school and taking it to the governors/LA if necessary. A bit OTT, some might say, but casual racism against other races or nationalities would be clamped down on like a ton of bricks and the same should apply to anti Irish rhetoric.

Pixxie - not only are you coming across as racist, but also imperialist. Ireland is a separate country. It is amazing how many British people don’t realise this.

We were Britain’s first colony and exploited in the same way as all other colonies.

@Dutypaid
You can be Irish and be from Northern Ireland. I've had anti-Irish comments made to me many times when I lived in England. Nobody ever thought I was British.

@WeeSisters

Pixxie - not only are you coming across as racist, but also imperialist. Ireland is a separate country. It is amazing how many British people don’t realise this.

We were Britain’s first colony and exploited in the same way as all other colonies.

It always irritates me when people spout this nonsense. We Irish are the people who colonised the island of Ireland. We came from Wales and pushed the indigenous population out (mostly they went to Scotland). It's easy to blame the UK but that was founded long after we had invaded Ireland ourselves.

Also, Ireland was not "Britain's first colony." Ireland is part of the British Isles. We are British (geographically speaking). At best you could argue we're the UK's first colony.

If you feel your son is being bullied at school, for whatever reason, talk to the school about it. The opinions of Mums Nutters is irrelevant!

Of course it is and warrants a call from you to the Head of Year at least

Absolutely racist and it's awful seeing people on here saying it's not. Report to the school - hope your sons okay.

@Pixxie7 Ireland is not part of the UK. Are you being deliberately provocative, or do you genuinely not know that?

It is xenophobic (racism is towards a race, not a country). These boys are bullying your DS. It is up to him whether he wants to ask a teacher for help. Does he have friends? I had lots of friends at school, but I faced racism from others. I had to try to keep my distance because the school didn’t think it was racism as I am mixed race…

[quote Orf1abc]@Pixxie7 Ireland is not part of the UK. Are you being deliberately provocative, or do you genuinely not know that?[/quote]
Deliberately provocative.

Irrelevant.

They should be pulled up on being mean and making fun of him for being Irish- this is not acceptable regardless of whether it’s racist/xenophobic/whatever.