As many of you know, our greatest joy in traveling is to meet people whose lives are very different from ours and to connect with them in meaningful conversation. That has happened very little on this trip for reasons I am coming to understand.
This trip has turned out to be more about beautiful scenery and indirectly to learn of the very difficult political, religious, social issues affecting people here.
I had read before leaving home:"
Politics - Scotland is volatile while struggling with possible independence. Ireland is a powder keg. The peace has been so fragile that they are one violent act from The Troubles starting again. A recent shooting has caused the Sinn Féin members to leave the Northern Ireland Parliament and could end the peace formed by the Good Friday Agreement at any moment.
Religion and politics are tightly intermingled. Protestants want to be united with the UK and it's Protestant heritage while Catholics wanted a united Ireland. Sport teams are from cities/towns that are aligned with one or the other sides in this conflict so Sports are VERY political and one needs to be sure which team's fans are gathered in a Pub. Some have signs out "no colors" meaning no one admitted with colors of their team. This is to try to avoid violence.
So while people have been VERY helpful in giving directions and advice of where to go and what to see, there is little beyond that. I was quite confused by that as I get excited at home or traveling when I hear a language I don't recognize and usually ask what it is and end up learning more about another country. and someone's experience Our first night in Dublin I asked our waitress where she was from and she told me Mexico. I told her i felt badly about how the US was treating people from there. She told me she didn't discuss politics or religion and was obviously upset and from then on the rest of the staff served us.
After 3 weeks in Ireland and Wales I get it. These are CURRENT and very volatile subjects. I also like to learn how we are perceived abroad and that too seem to be forbidden except for 2 memorable conversations or overheard conversations.
On a more personal note -
This trip has turned out to be more about beautiful scenery and indirectly to learn of the very difficult political, religious, social issues affecting people here.
I had read before leaving home:"
Etiquette
- Avoid controversial lines of conversation. Religion, racism, homophobia, and criticism of government are ones to avoid, the list is not limited to these, however.
- An easy way to begin a discussion with a stranger (in a pub, queue, train, etc) is to talk about the weather. All British people have an opinion on the weather and most can tell you what the
- weather is due.
Politics - Scotland is volatile while struggling with possible independence. Ireland is a powder keg. The peace has been so fragile that they are one violent act from The Troubles starting again. A recent shooting has caused the Sinn Féin members to leave the Northern Ireland Parliament and could end the peace formed by the Good Friday Agreement at any moment.
Religion and politics are tightly intermingled. Protestants want to be united with the UK and it's Protestant heritage while Catholics wanted a united Ireland. Sport teams are from cities/towns that are aligned with one or the other sides in this conflict so Sports are VERY political and one needs to be sure which team's fans are gathered in a Pub. Some have signs out "no colors" meaning no one admitted with colors of their team. This is to try to avoid violence.
So while people have been VERY helpful in giving directions and advice of where to go and what to see, there is little beyond that. I was quite confused by that as I get excited at home or traveling when I hear a language I don't recognize and usually ask what it is and end up learning more about another country. and someone's experience Our first night in Dublin I asked our waitress where she was from and she told me Mexico. I told her i felt badly about how the US was treating people from there. She told me she didn't discuss politics or religion and was obviously upset and from then on the rest of the staff served us.
After 3 weeks in Ireland and Wales I get it. These are CURRENT and very volatile subjects. I also like to learn how we are perceived abroad and that too seem to be forbidden except for 2 memorable conversations or overheard conversations.
On a more personal note -
1998–present (for those of you who don't know, my name before Marriage was Donaldson and that part of my family was from what is now Northern Ireland)
I found this in Wikipedia:
The party expelled Denis Donaldson, a party official, in December 2005, with him stating publicly that he had been in the employ of the British government as an agent since the 1980s. Donaldson told reporters that the British security agencies who employed him were behind the collapse of the Assembly and set up Sinn Féin to take the blame for it, a claim disputed by the British Government. Donaldson was found fatally shot in his home in County Donegal on 4 April 2006, and a murder inquiry was launched. In April 2009, the Real IRA released a statement taking responsibility for the killing.
The party expelled Denis Donaldson, a party official, in December 2005, with him stating publicly that he had been in the employ of the British government as an agent since the 1980s. Donaldson told reporters that the British security agencies who employed him were behind the collapse of the Assembly and set up Sinn Féin to take the blame for it, a claim disputed by the British Government. Donaldson was found fatally shot in his home in County Donegal on 4 April 2006, and a murder inquiry was launched. In April 2009, the Real IRA released a statement taking responsibility for the killing.
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