To think these comments are a bit uneducated/weird?

[savebuckbeak]

I expect I'll probably get slated for this, but here goes...

I recently started dating someone. Very nice guy, polite, kind, seems intelligent (went to a Ivy League university in the US), American but lived in the UK for a short while. Sometimes when we're talking I feel like some of the things he says, especially if we're discussing politics/world affairs, just sound a bit...odd. He's clearly very highly educated, which is what surprises me more, but maybe he's just a bit naive? It's made me feel like I can't really converse with him on the same level, but he's so great in other ways that I'd feel reluctant to let him go. Some examples:

When talking about Ireland..."I'm really hoping for Irish reunification". When I asked why and tell him that the majority of N.Irish citizens want to stay part of the UK, he says "it'd be cool to have it just as one island, particularly because of how downtrodden the Irish have been historically". Like sure, I get that, but if N.Ireland want to stay in the UK, then...?!

When talking about Priti Patel's Rwanda policy, he says "that would never fly in the US. There'd be protests all over the country." UMMMMM. Really?!?!?!? In America, where race relations and immigration rhetoric is arguably even worse? Is he suggesting that the US is some enlightened land? I questioned him on this, and he said "but there were loads of protests about the Iraq war!" Ummmm yes there were, but that's a different issue. The majority of people probably appreciated that protesting against a foreign war, where US national security is directly at stake, is worth it. But for a couple thousand migrants that get shipped off somewhere far away - that's not something (sadly) the average person would get up in arms about in the same way.

Anyway, there've been various different comments like this, and it surprises me because he seems to read a lot and I initially thought he was quite switched on, but I feel a bit confused now.

BTW I have nothing against Irish in schools but I do believe by secondary it should be optional. I just find that the near billion spent on it in the state annually is not worth it and you'd be hard pressed to find evidence that the billion is showing great outcomes. Even those who do well in the leaving cert exams will have no use for it after and not be well spoken in it, when I was doing my leaving cert in Irish it was simply route learning essays etc.
I did honours and passed it but I could speak it as well today as my friend down the road who left school at 14 with no education.

The houses are all falling down in the country and it's set to cost billions for example and so many are saying 'we cannot afford the taxpayer to pay'. Yet in the same breath they support the funding of a language that is as good as dead.

The language is not dead. Say that to my siblings, nieces, nephews and friends that were/ are all taught through the medium of Irish. There are thousands (think about 4K) being taught through Irish every year and not enough school places to warrant it (especially in Belfast). There were 10's of thousands at the rally in Belfast weeks ago. It's not just about the language, it's the culture and community that goes hand in hand with it.

The language is not dead. Say that to my siblings, nieces, nephews and friends that were/ are all taught through the medium of Irish. There are thousands (think about 4K) being taught through Irish every year

I said as good as dead- 4000 out of an island of 6.5 million learning a language is still very much a minority and still can't justify all the money spent on it annually. About a decade over 800 million was spent on it annually and today it's easily more.Many who leave them gael scoils will have no use for it after either-let's be realistic.

@SurfBox
I was talking about the North of Ireland. Yes that's 4K per year, but I went to a gaelscoil in the 80's so there's many many more thousands who speak it. I use it with my family and friends. Plenty of people have had use out of it and have benefitted. I did a gcse when I was 12 and another when I was 14 (in Irish then Gaeilge) and that massively helped me when applying for very competitive courses as I had 13 GCSE's so it gave me the edge!

I did a gcse when I was 12 and another when I was 14 (in Irish then Gaeilge) and that massively helped me when applying for very competitive courses as I had 13 GCSE's so it gave me the edge

the irish getting you into a course has bugger all to do with people actually speaking it.

@SurfBox
Of course it does. Change Irish to French etc and what it says is that there was a desire for students to acquire a high proficiency in the language. You're ignorant of how people and communities have used and continue to use the language.

Of course it does. Change Irish to French etc and what it says is that there was a desire for students to acquire a high proficiency in the language. You're ignorant of how people and communities have used and continue to use the language

French is diffeent as it is spoken by millions globally so has a million times more benefit. What exactly was the course you got into and explain to me why Irish was needed for it and your career?

@SurfBox
Well I'm not going to tell you what job I do but you can't be a nursery worker, teacher, head teacher in an Irish medium school without knowing Irish! Irish was specifically needed for the uni course I took, not needed for my masters but after completing a doctorate, I now use it frequently.

What about government translator departments, publishing and community workers- if it's Irish specific then they need to know Irish. It's not rocket science.

Btw my French gcse was totally pointless. Haven't used it since I was 16 as I don't live in France and it's not a place I travel to...

Btw my French gcse was totally pointless. Haven't used it since I was 16 as I don't live in France and it's not a place I travel to

you do know that French is a global language and is spoken in like 29 countries and by nearly 300 million people?

What about government translator departments, publishing and community workers- if it's Irish specific then they need to know Irish

there still is not an abundance of careers in these fields with Irish. French much more so.

but you can't be a nursery worker, teacher, head teacher in an Irish medium school without knowing Irish

good job these schools are in the minority though.

Irish was specifically needed for the uni course I took

again interested to know here the course and your job that Irish was so essential.

OP you are kidding yourself if you think the UK is less racist than the US.

Stephen Fry said it best recently when he commented on just that and he is nobody’s fool.

If you want a very recent example, look no further than Windrush, which I think is being celebrated this week.

I think you are being unreasonable. I live in the UK and even I don't understand the history of Ireland in terms of the republic and Northern Ireland. I am aware there was trouble with the IRA in the past and there is perceived differences between catholics and protestant. My information came the news stories as a child. I have not heard any recent stuff. Irish history is not taught in schools. As someone who is not Irish, I wouldn't be understand the naunces as both parties are just Irish to me. My take on the issue is I think people deserve to live in peace

In terms of the language. I personally think it is great that the Irish language is being taught. The language is part of ones heritage and cultural identity. I am actually surprised to see Irish posters who do not see value in learning their own ethnic language.

@SurfBox

Where are the French speaking jobs in Northern Ireland?

Anyway I'm bowing out. You're ignorant and unwilling to accept that speaking Irish is an important part of some peoples lives. You've just supported the argument why we need a language act.

I personally think it is great that the Irish language is being taught. The language is part of ones heritage and cultural identity. I am actually surprised to see Irish posters who do not see value in learning their own ethnic language

because in a country with so many needs(houses falling down literally with the mica scandals, absurd shortcomings in health care, mile long lists on mental health waiting lists etc) we can just throw out a billion towards a language that the vast majority can't speak and we all were forced to learn it at school and yet nobody can speak the dam language.

Ofcourse again people will say they want people learning it and it's important blah blah yet few have interest in learning it themselves and just expect others to. The result is a tiny minority of the country can speak it and this costs us a billion annually.

Where are the French speaking jobs in Northern Ireland

French teachers, translators, publishing, education and beyond that you can work internationally with it... I am still intrigued to the abdunace of jobs Irish would get 1 in Northern Ireland.

A billion pound? Where did you get those figures? The whole entire NI health budget isn't even that.

A billion pound? Where did you get those figures? The whole entire NI health budget isn't even that

It was over 800 million euro I recall reading on a budgetary report and this was around 2010 so today likely a billion or over with inflation,growing population etc.

Well seeing as NI doesn't use the euro I think your figures are wrong.

I'm talking about how much they spend in the Republic, that was what I assumed from the report and even if it was including NI then there is a such thing as conversion...

@SurfBox should read soapbox, get off it. Stop using general terms 'the vast majority, most people this, most people , the same can be said, many people, the general this, the general that, nobody really cares etc. etc. And then ...

I hate when people throw crap propaganda around that has no evidence behind it.

The irony of speaking of evidence. You are very small minded. Your world and viewpoint is not necessarily others. Yes you have seen this and that but never presume to categorise entire populations under sweeping statements using the above list of words. It shows a very uneducated mind.

SurfBox should read soapbox, get off it.
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