Europe's Immigration Crisis Highlights its Rigid Humanitarian Qualities

 by Edel O'Shea

Last week The Guardian highlighted, quite shockingly, Poland’s lack of willingness to help with Europe’s current refugee and migrant crisis. One reason noted for their harsh reluctance to assist with the latest influx of human suffering was a lack of understating surrounding immigrants and the general consensus was a population that simply didn’t want them in their country.

This could suggest a lack of government support or willingness to educate in the areas of equality and solidarity concerning humans in mass crisis and suffering. If a vast majority of the populace feels intolerance or even hatred towards a struggling group of non-nationals surely it’s time for collective rewiring through educational intervention and campaigning on a large scale to combat this anti-human mind-set.   

In May 2004, when Poland joined the EU, Ireland was among only 3 EU countries accepting Polish workers along with the UK and Sweden. It has been noted how beneficial EU membership has been to Poland and Western EU member States are suggesting Poland should give back by assisting with the current crisis.   

So Poland, whether you understand them or not or you feel you are not prepared you must at least make attempts to summon the basics of human nature and open your borders to those in need. This is not just a political issue it’s a spiritually driven ethical one too pertaining to the safeguarding of man in an equal arena of justice. 

Poland is a small example in a long list of offending countries, all of which have turned their backs, to some greater or lesser extent, on their fellow man, and so it would seem that humanity is defined and measured by strict adherences that don’t stretch to meet the needs of all those struggling in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.

The EU is attempting to cope with an unforeseen flow of refugees from the Middle East and Africa and given the encompassing European feeling of failure towards these refugees and migrants this could well be our biggest test in our ability to look after one another on the most basic human level. 

In order to fully equip the crisis with financial and logistical aid we must imagine a world that exists without borders and alliances if we are to complete our missions of kindness and equality for all and in particular those currently in distress whether on the Mediterranean or elsewhere.

One hopes that implementing an aid programme to our newest refugees without exceptions and boundaries is not a cause that exists solely on the peripherals of a utopian society but one that mirrors a common declaration of care, decency and compassion for our fellow man.

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1 Leszcynski, A. (2015). Poles don’t want immigrants. They don’t understand them, don’t like them. (July 2, 2015) Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/02/poles-dont-want-immigrants-they-dont-understand-them-dont-like-them  Retrieved July 6 2015

2 Leszcynski, A. (2015). Poles don’t want immigrants. They don’t understand them, don’t like them. (July 2, 2015) Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/02/poles-dont-want-immigrants-they-dont-understand-them-dont-like-them  Retreived July 6, 2015

3 Sherwood, H. (2014). Ten years on and Poles are glad to call Britain home. (April 26 2014) Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/26/polish-immigration-britain-cities-elections Retrieved July 6 2015.

4 Leszcynski, A. (2015). Poles don’t want immigrants. They don’t understand them, don’t like them. (July 2, 2015) Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/02/poles-dont-want-immigrants-they-dont-understand-them-dont-like-them  Retrieved July 6 2015

5 Irish Independent (2015). Portrait of the Week – Number of refugees coming to Europe soars by 80pc  (July 5 2015). Available at: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/portrait-of-the-week-number-of-refugees-coming-to-europe-soars-by-80pc-31352299.html Retrieved July 6 2015.  

6 Amnesty International (2015) Amnesty’s International “Blueprint for Action” to end refugee and migrant deaths in the Med (April 22 2015). Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/04/amnesty-international-s-blueprint-for-action-to-end-refugee-and-migrant-deaths-in-the-med/ Retrieved July 6 2015.

Readers' Guide to Racial Bias in the Mass Media

 With the explosion of mass media and its availability to more people than ever before in Europe, how the media manages and monitors its attitudes and beliefs towards issues of racism and how they’re covered is crucial for the fair representation of everybody on a local and international level.

The media is collectively responsible for the influence it has on society as it feeds its audience with attitudes, beliefs and stereotypes that are then devoured so willingly by our collective unconscious or, perhaps, conscious, thus creating new negative ideas surrounding different groups in society.

Every media outlet should then continually ensure the presence of any act of inequality is wiped from their organisation’s belief system if they are to commit to enhancing and improving society rather than hindering its progress.

This may be tough task, however, as in the US less than 2% of those working in news media are made up of racial minorities, those with disabilities or aboriginals. Stronger representation is key to impose counter views and beliefs to those that currently drive the majority.

UNESCO promotes safe freedom of expression for all but how can we all exchange and share knowledge via mass media and furthermore trust those shaping it if it those in the majority that hold most of the expression?

This is particularly worrying when we consider the different ways in which black and white males, for example, are reported and portrayed in the media for similar violent crimes. Media institutions presenting with racial bias, whether vividly or subtly, coupled with the fact the media is so influential, is a testament to how vital it is that all media and individuals are reporting and representing everybody in a way that does not hinder the progress of equality in the media.

You, the audience member and contributor of all forms of media, have the power to control what messages and beliefs you choose to mimic and uphold. Awareness is key and we must demand these basic standards of fairness from all media providers. So make the choices that reflect change, diversity and fairness in your media.

Below is a guide to help both audience and contributor of mass media alike, engage in fair reporting, advertising and entertainment and so fully enjoy the power of media. 

•Be vigilant when being sold a service or product in the latest clothing or gaming ad campaign. How, for example, are the characters portrayed in a gaming campaign, are avatars overly stereotypical? Is the black man always the gun wielding car thief in the latest violent video game?

•Watch out for how we identify a certain race through images, sounds or words used by media. Ideally no group or individual should be categorised by a sound or image.

•Likewise does some media paint an assumption to the reader or audience about where some races may live? What particular cars they might drive? How sexually overt they may be or not? How they live and work?    

•Be aware of wording used to describe an alleged suspect in a news report. There is no reason why a reporter or a news agency should describe a person’s race unless it is absolutely relevant.

•If it is relevant however, choose wording carefully. The word ‘coloured’ is not appropriate but rather the NUJ advises the use of the word black to imply those of African, Asian or Arabic origin. It’s OK to ask how one defines themselves if you are interviewing them.

•Don’t assume someone’s racial background or guess their possible religion based on their name, this is highly presumptuous and offensive.  

•Your favourite news publication might be your go to source for trusted accuracy but they too may get it wrong. Question everything!

•Ask yourself, due to the continued impact of offending media inequality, do individuals from different races have fewer opportunities and experiences than me due to media assumptions and portrayal?

•Choose your news sources and entertainment carefully but never stop questioning and remain vigilant! 

Be part of the collaboration of justice and fairness for all and above all except nothing less than the clear facts in your news and equality across all platforms.

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The Critical Media Project (2015) Available at:

http://www.criticalmediaproject.org/cml/topicbackground/race-ethnicity/ & NUJ Guidelines on Race Reporting (2007). Available at: http://www.dochas.ie/Shared/Files/7/Guidelines_on_Race_Reporting.pdf

I Love Tea But Not In That Mug: Controls on Immigration on the Table

by Lorraine Lally

As a tea lover the misuse and abuse of a mug which is a common household item to send a message was upsetting because these items will survive even if the Party does not get elected. This mug was not Ukip either which another worrying point is.

 

To quote Diane Abbott a member of the Labour Party “This shameful mug is an embarrassment. But real problem is that immigration controls are one of our 5 pledges at all”.   I was severely distressed and sickened almost to the point of not wanting a cuppa tea at the United Kingdom Labour Party selling red mugs with a pledge.  They are being purchased for 4 pounds, can you imagine buying a mug stating “controls on immigration” there were no mugs stating “Increase Disability Supports” or “Promote Child Welfare” or “Report Domestic Violence”. The United Kingdom is our closest neighbour and the discourse that is present there is equally present in other EU States such as Spain.  Barcelona has a serious issue with illegal immigrants like most European Countries.  And on a recent trip it was clear the ghettoization that had occurred in the City. I hate seeming the use of high rise buildings with large amounts of impoverished migrants who are all surviving in unacceptable conditions often in accommodation that is not appropriate.

 

When talking to a member of staff in the hotel about racism he stated that there was a symbol on the entry to some nightclubs as blacks/Arabs and other foreigners are not welcome. The person telling me this was of African descent with a Spanish mother.

 

I asked him if it bothered him and he reckoned that it was easier to keep the peace and stay away from where you are not wanted.  I mentioned segregation and he did not understand I stated to keep people separate like apartheid. He told me there were no apartheid just cultural and religious issues. He told me that Spain was struggling and that it would improve. What was going to improve?

 

As a tourist in Barcelona you are harassed on the beach by individuals trying to sell you drinks and sun glasses none of the individuals are natives to the country with broken English and equally broken Spanish. I wonder if they are trafficked. Are they struggling to pay off a debt? Are they sending the entire money home to their families? Are they depressed at the thought of their entrapment?  You could sense the desperation which was a little unnerving for someone looking to lie in the sun on the beach which is what I really wanted.

 

The situation is bad in Spain through the eyes of a tourist and on the last day we saw the individuals on the beach mainly African men fleeing toward us at the top of the pier there was an immigration control police car.  On returning to Ireland I read an article that made me smile when I saw that Spain will allow illegal immigrants access to public health care. 

 

In Ireland illegal immigrants can access public health care and are provided with medical cards based on need and income.  This situation will change and we need to be aware of all the changes within the EU to ensure that we protect the most vulnerable people who are trapped. They are often stuck in a foreign country what we need to realise is that country maybe our country.

 

I once met a woman who was over 8 months pregnant and had not seen a single doctor out of fear. I reassured her that she could give birth in Ireland and that the staff would take good care of her. I was lucky to know a midwife who reassured her over the phone that her welfare and that of the baby were the only concern of the hospital. She asked my friend to confirm they would not take the baby from her as she sat before me wearing slippers her feet were so swollen. She told me that she had been preparing to give birth at home. I told her about Noel Browne and the Mother and Child Scheme and explained that we have a proud history of providing good care to pregnant women .We need to make sure that we make good policy decisions and that our changes going forward in relation to health look at international best practice and not the budget costs involved.

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 Spain to Allow illegal Immigrants access to free public healthcare http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/11509227/Spain-to-allow-illegal-immigrants-to-access-free-public-healthcare.html

Racsim ; Learning from Living

by Hannah Church

When I first sat down to write this post, I struggled. I didn’t know what I could bring to the cultural diversity and the media discussion. I don’t know what wisdom I have to impart on the topic. All I can give is what I’ve learned from life and growing up in the world I have. I feel that the best education a person can get comes mainly from experience. If you have a bad experience in a restaurant you’re not likely to return or give it a good review. If you go to a film and absolutely love it you’ll rave about it to your friends and encourage them to see it as soon as you can. And what about people? If you have a negative encounter with a person, you react. Some fight back, some take note to avoid in the future and most recount their experience to friends. This can often affect the friends’ judgement regardless of whether or not they’ve had their own encounter. This could be a far too confusing and convoluted analogy of how I believe media representation of different cultures can work. I don’t agree that traditional media is the best place to learn of other cultures. It can narrow our minds. With the introduction of new media however, there has been a new sort of revolution in the way people of all different cultures are exemplified and represent themselves and show their lives and struggles. We can be exposed to so much more now than we ever had been before. Our minds can broaden and so can our attitudes.

            I’m a twenty year old college student with no real worries or stress other than what I’m going to do once I’ve graduated. I’ve had it relatively easy. I’ve lived a sheltered, happy life and I, unfortunately, have not had many life changing or mind blowing experiences of different cultures. Other than visiting a few European countries every now and then on a family holiday, I’ve never travelled anywhere than takes more than four or five hours on a plane to get to. So I can’t actually regale you with any stories of my travels and the cultural education I’ve gained from each trip. All I have to offer what awareness I’ve developed over time of different cultures and how they can be represented or misrepresented and the obstacles that are still hindering a culturally diverse and developed world.

Living in my sheltered existence meant that many of my cultural experiences, outside of what I’d encountered on a few family holidays, came from outside sources. Mainly the media. The media nowadays is a regular form of education. We get our news and current affairs, our Information on people, places and events, and it can help to expand our knowledge and broaden our minds. Traditional print media and television can help in our education of the world. However, it can also end up interfering in our view on certain cultures. I watched a lot of television as a child. I would watch shows and cartoons on Nickelodeon, I would rent every Disney movie I could and I would love every minute. This is where my cultural knowledge started. Or lack thereof. The most popular shows at the time, and probably most impactful, were the American shows. I would notice small messages here and there within the shows. For example, all Asians are smart or nerdy or high achieving and not very social. Or all African Americans are cool or trouble makers. I would later learn that this was stereotyping and how damaging it is. We were fed closed minded messages like this so often. It’s really troubling how much of this stereotypical content is in children’s television.   I’ve never had to really face racism in my life. My only experience was in second class in primary school, I wouldn’t share my crayons with a class mate so she called me a racist. I remember getting incredibly offended, even though I didn’t fully comprehend what she meant, and I quickly assured her that she was wrong and actually I wasn’t sharing my crayons with anyone. After that day I stopped bringing in any crayons because I’d rather avoid the drama. I grew up not understanding racism until it was discussed in school. We were told in history class about the racism experienced by the Irish by the British. We learned about the atrocities Africans Americans were subjected to for centuries. We read roll of Thunder Hear My Cry as a class to teach us how wrong racism is and what it did to families and entire cultures. Though we knew that racism hadn’t suddenly become extinct it was easy to feel that it had only really happened in the past. To believe it happened when people were less civilised, when they didn’t know as much or understand empathy like we did today. “That was ages ago”, we could reassure ourselves. Having been exposed to the internet I can see that the world did not fix itself in the way we had been led to believe.

Through the internet we can be exposed to so many harsh truths. Not everyone has grown up with the same sense of what is right and what is wrong that I have. We can now see through YouTube, social media, bloggers and online news outlets racism is still out there. More so than we’d like to think. Scrolling through comments sections on videos or articles it is common place now to see at least one or two racist remarks. A simple YouTube search will bring you page upon page of videos with someone sharing their experiences with racism or even videos containing racist content. It’s eye opening. I am a particularly empathetic person, you cry, I cry. So consuming this content can be hard. But I’ve learned so much more about what is really happening in the real world than I had before.

With the introduction of this new media I feel like the conversation about racism, cultural diversity and identity has really taken off. Because though there can be some dispiriting content out there, there is also an army of people who are ready to defend and speak out and fight against the way things are. For example, the tragic cases recently of the shooting of Mike Brown and the death of Eric Garner in America were covered extensively online. Thousands of people came out in protest of the racist treatment of these men, showing their support in so many ways through social media. Stories like this may not have had as much coverage and may not have had a chance to gain as much support as they did if it had been left to traditional media to decide what story takes preference. With social media and new media the story, the issue and the outrage could all be heard clearly.

I believe that a culturally diverse and accepting world is so much more obtainable now with new media. There are so many incredibly intelligent and broadminded people from every corner of the globe ready to give support, speak out and defend themselves and others against oppression, racism and cultural ignorance. There are so many people ready to learn more than what traditional media has told them to be true. There are also people who will abuse their right to freedom of speech and will offend and insult and attack the developed and diverse mind-set. But it is important to know that there are people like that out there, and not just naively believe when your teachers tell you that racism was in the past. This is the only way we can continue learning and growing and fighting for a diverse, accepting future. 

A World of Cultural Diversity

by Adam Halpin

Ireland is not the most diverse of nations, with less than 5 per cent of the population being of an ethnic origin other than white. As a result, one would expect a low level of discrimination and racism. In my opinion, while racism in the sense of colour is not a massive problem in Ireland, there seems to be a lot of discrimination based on origin. I find that people often comment and complain when they hear an accent from overseas as they immediately associate that accent with preconceived notions of a particular nation. These generalisations need to stop and as a nation we need to become more open and accepting, we are not all the same, but we are all human and share many similarities. I’m glad to say that I haven’t witnessed many racist acts in Ireland, but unfortunately they do happen and are mostly based on traditional stereotypes.

To be honest I feel that overall Ireland is a very welcoming country and most people will treat people with culturally diverse backgrounds in a respectable manner. In my opinion, most racism in the world can be dealt with through education, as once people know more of the world and its people they will be less likely to discriminate against those from elsewhere. Currently Ireland seems to have a system of cultural integration in that immigrants tend to respect the cultures and traditions of Ireland while keeping their own beliefs, cultures and traditions, as opposed to cultural assimilation which sees national identity forced upon all citizens. While at the outset, a clear national identity may seem favourable, in some cases it may result in negative outcomes, for example in France, where cultural assimilation has led to many racist attacks in the past. The first extreme case of racism that I have encountered occurred in France when I was 16 as part of a cultural exchange program in Transition Year. My exchange student had racist views, believing that all black people and “Arabs” were thieves who wanted to take over France. While comments such as that were disturbing, I was even more shocked when he told me to put my hands in my pockets whenever anyone that wasn’t white passed us. Attitudes like this need to disappear and can only do so if cultural diversity is respected and accepted. If that experience taught me anything, it is that as world citizens we need to be open to different cultures and look at what makes us similar rather than what sets us apart.

Last summer, I worked in Orlando, Florida in the United States as part of a J 1 programme and was pleasantly surprised to see how well racism is dealt with in America. While on the outside America may seem similar to Ireland, it is a much more culturally diverse nation and has often been seen as a melting pot of culture as all cultures tend to exist together. This was particularly evident to me when an African American colleague jokingly asked me if black people existed in Ireland. My immediate response was that they did exist in Ireland, but not as they do in America, as I would consider most black people in Ireland as Irish. Whether or not this is a good thing I do not know, but I do find it very interesting that  cultural diversity is treated differently in different parts of the world. I find America particularly interesting in how it treats multiculturalism. Minority or ethnic groups are established, e.g. Italian American, Irish American, Asian American and African American which differentiates these groups from the rest of the population. As a result, the majority of these groups keep traditions from their place of origin, often creating their own communities which led to the development of ghettos or “China-town” like areas where people of the same ethnic origin live together. While these minorities may be accepted now, it has taken a long time for America to overcome discrimination and it is still a work in progress, with racism still occurring in some areas.

It is difficult to say whether integration or a “melting pot” can deal with multiculturalism adequately, as there are even more ways that other nations have dealt with cultural diversity. While the melting pot of the United States celebrates the different cultures of American citizens it also creates minority groups, which separates them from the wider society, in a way alienating them. On the other hand, cultural integration also has its issues in that people are forced to let their heritage become more refined in order to respect the national traditions of the new country.  As a result it’s hard to say if either is suitable for a world without racism, but a mixture of both could allow ethnic cultures to better blend in with mainstream culture.

It may take a long time for racism to vanish, but in my opinion, Ireland has already taken small steps which could be built upon. In general people need to become more informed, whether this is through school or public information campaigns, everyone needs to be encouraged to be more open in their outlook of the world and its people. It is clear that people may have established judgements which may negatively influence their actions. However, if people know more about different cultures, they may be less likely to make racist comments or attack people out of discrimination. A recent experience which has allowed me to see the similarities of cultures was last week, when I visited a mosque for a college assignment. During this visit it became clear to me that Islamic beliefs are not that different from Christian or Jewish beliefs with many more similarities than differences. I found this particularly surprising with the amount of violence cause by Islamic extremists which shows that even minor differences can cause disruption. These differences really shouldn’t separate the world, but unfortunately they do. In my opinion if we all embrace our similarities rather than differences we may be one step closer to a world without racism.

Racism in Ireland; An Angled View Through Real Life Encounters

By John Mc Cormack

Racism was something that I once had only heard of. To me it was something portrayed on TV and in movies that how showed African Americans were once treated in America.  As a child and a teenager I believed that these encounters of racism towards blacks, often very inhumane treatments, were records of the past, and were now displayed in a form of historical story-telling that brought tension and interest for the viewer.  Soon, topics of socialization during secondary level education brought to light the realities of racism, and that racist behaviour still existed. Until this point I had still not experienced any racial discrimination on a personal level, or witnessed it inflicted on anyone else.  Having experienced bullying to a large degree, I held a degree of empathy with the hurt that can be endured by the unnecessary treatment from one person to another because of how a person looks or where they come from. The one thing I did not understand was how and why people could possess the evil characteristics it takes to do this.

Years later I travelled overseas, open to accept the ways of other nations. In doing so, I also learned that the racism I once saw in movies and on TV did not only exist as an entertaining form of history, but in the shocking reality of the present.

Two memorable incidents on two distantly separated continents remain very clear. Although both were non-direct, and part of an opinionated conversation the mentality of the perpetrators to hatefully separate humans into very different categories in such a manner shocked me.

The first incident was in the U.S.A. where an employer was advising me where to find accommodation for the duration of my stay. I was advised not to buy or rent in a particular area because it was “full of n…”....” once they move into an area, they destroy it”. I questioned my employer’s view, only to receive the response that “when you live around them long enough you will know”. 

The second encounter happened in Australia, where another employer, angered by an employee not showing up said “Sure he’s only a dirty Abbo” When I also questioned this statement, the man replied “Yes, all Abbos, Aboriginals, are useless drunks, they’re primitive, they should be rounded up, given some land, fenced off, and let them live there, away from normal people, because they are not normal”.

 Although non-direct or physical, the incidents I described are clearly racial, and I use them because they were my initial encounters of very outgoing racist comments from people I knew at nearly opposite areas of the globe. In both incidents I found the people in question (victims) to be very likable and one remains a friend today.  

There is clearly racism, and discrimination joins it hand in hand. I believe both come in many forms and begin as a mind-set, progressing to a verbal stage (as the two examples) on to actions and physical behaviour. 

But is there racism in Ireland? Let me explain that in a very personal way. Discrimination falls under many categories, often not involving clear race/ethnic differences. I say this because the most outrageous and discriminating incidents I encountered were attacks on myself by fellow Irish men with enormous hatred towards me being from Dublin. The attacks were physical assaults, one causing grievous bodily harm, and the other causing property damage. Both were based on the fact that I was not from the area of Ireland where these attacks took place, and in both cases it was clearly stated that I was from Dublin and did not belong in these rural areas. ‘Jackeen’ and ‘Blow in’ are discriminative terms still used in rural areas of Ireland towards Dublin people or people not born in those particular areas.  Perhaps also here refer to the experiences of travellers? Who despite being of the same ethnicity/religion they are very much discriminated against perhaps in ways that parallel those of black Americans and Australian aborigines

The little country of beauty with some remaining primitive ways, still holding a reputation of being welcoming and friendly, may only hold valid to ‘money-spending’ tourists and certain nationalities.

In the same way that most of the world opened its doors to Irish immigrants to come and share their way of life, when Ireland became part of the E.U. it opened its doors to foreign nationals to come here share our way of life. But the famous Irish welcome may not have greeted all that came. While I did not witness any cases myself, I know there have been many cases of racist attacks due to their exposure in the media. I see good caused by the exposure of racial discrimination in Ireland and I feel there has been a certain amount of fear injected into the minds of members of the Irish public not to behave in a racist manner.

As mentioned at the start, my experience of bullying helped me empathize with the endurance of racism abroad, but now I have empathy towards people of a different race living in Ireland due to the experiences of hate I endured from fellow Irish. What I once had to travel to see, I shamefully see deeply ingrained in many of the people of my country of birth, Ireland.

Although racial acts may have decreased in Ireland, or at least that is what the media portrays, I feel that many Irish people possess the ability to hold a deep hate towards others who are not local. While I think it is great that many of the racist cases were addressed, I feel that discrimination, race based or not, need to be the main focus. I think every act that stems outside the norms of how society should treat each other, no matter who is the victim, needs to be treated for the crime it is.

Racism in Ireland: It's Not a New Phenomenon

by Rachel Martin

As an Irish national, I haven’t personally encountered any racism towards my own race. I’m currently in my final year, studying cultural studies, I feel that the topic of ‘Racism in Ireland’ is an issue which needs to be addressed. As someone who works in a hotel, my colleagues as well as the customers are different nationalities and I have never experienced any negative incidents. I feel that working in the Irish tourist industry has expanded my cultural experiences. I would hope that Ireland is a welcoming place for both the non-nationals living here and tourists visiting. I wish I could say that racism doesn’t exist in Ireland but when I witness blatant verbal attacks on non-nationals, I have to disagree.  In my opinion, it is clear that racism is an increasing social problem within Irish communities.     

The majority of my family are Irish and from Dublin. However, my grand-father has extremely sallow skin and is often mistaken for a non-national. In the early 1990’s, my grandfather was waiting for my grandmother to finish her appointment in Holles Street Hospital. Normally he would walk through Merrion Square but on this day he took a shortcut and walked through some apartment block. As he was walking through the apartment blocks, he noticed four youths standing outside a small shop. The teenagers began shouting racial slurs in his direction, presuming he was a non-national and referring to him as Pakistani. Firstly, my grandfather didn’t realise that these racial remarks were targeted at him then he began to feel nervous. As the teenagers became more aggressive, using strong language as well as common racist phrase such as ‘Don’t be taking our jobs’ and ‘Go home to your own country’. It wasn’t until my grandfather spoke that they realised he was Irish; he walked faster through the apartments and felt threatened in his own city. As an Irish national, my grandfather had never experienced racism at this level. He thought of what it would have been like to be treated like this every day. He was shocked to experience the other side of racism in Ireland but they gave him a perspective that he was lacking.

Recently, I was on Dublin Bus on my way home from college and I witnessed a similar incident. Three youths approached a young black man, who was sitting quietly on the bus, and began antagonising him with racial slurs. Although there were other empty seats on the bus, it seemed that they deliberately pinpointed this black man. They began by speaking loudly in a fake African accent, what I believe was a deliberate attempt at getting his attention. However, the man carried on reading his book whether he was oblivious or choose to ignore these comment, I’m unsure. The man remained quiet and was clearly uncomfortable. They began using strong language and telling him ‘to go home to his own country’. I didn’t know what to do, I glanced over at a woman beside who looked equally as uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure whether to say something and risk the abuse being directed at me or just put my earphones in and distract myself. I’m ashamed to say I chose the latter. I was conflicted by the whole situation, part of me wanted to do the right thing and stand up for the young man but I felt that this might fuel their anger. The three youths got off at the next stop and I asked the young man ‘Is he was ok?’. I felt I should apologise for their behaviour as it gave a negative impression of Irish people. However, I didn’t say this as I didn’t want to draw more attention to him. The man carried on reading his book and looked completely un-phased by the incident. I was left with a horrible sick feeling in my heart. It was difficult to watch a group of people who believed they had the right and responsibility to say hateful things to a stranger, based on race.            

As I compare my grandfather’s experience in the early 1990’s to the incident within the last few weeks, it is my belief that racism still exists throughout Ireland. I found it worrying to discover that many of these incidents are often in daylight hours and unprovoked attacks. Why is it that these people feel that they have the right to attack a stranger? These attacks whether physically or verbally, are unjustified. Often the hard-hitting and most negative experiences come from blatant verbal abuse, but racism does not need to be overt. It is clear that these experiences leave a mark not only on the people they are targeting but the people who are watching. In my opinion, it’s difficult for Irish people to face the problem of racism as it isn’t a part of their everyday life. The sooner we begin to recognise it, the bigger the difference we can make.           

Ireland Against Racism : Breaking Past Pre-conceptions

by Flavia Woulfe

I was born in Wexford, Ireland where I grew up and my family still resides. My mother’s family is “Wexfordian” as far back as we can trace and my father’s family hails from a small town in Co. Cork. I received a Catholic education in both primary and secondary school, where I struggled with Irish grammar and faked foot injuries to avoid playing Camogie. I associate St. Patrick’s Day with bacon and cabbage and Good Friday with house parties. My skin is fair and littered with fading freckles and my hair, when undyed, is black. Although I don’t know all of the words to the Amhran na Bhfiann, the sense of patriotism when its sang, strikes me as much as the next Irish person. I can say with certainty that I am Irish, through and through.

My name, however, is another case. Flavia, my first name, translates as “blond” in Latin. My second name is Woulfe, which derives from Norman times and is popular in central European countries such as Germany. On introduction, the majority of people question where my name come from. I chalk it down to eccentric parents with good taste and although most agree, some remain dissatisfied with that answer. In some cases further explanation as to my Irish past fulfils their enquiry, but in other cases, an unfamiliar feeling of distrust is formed. It’s as though I’m hiding something, and this makes me sometimes feel as though I am. 

During my time as a waitress, it was mandatory for all staff to wear name badges. The hotel industry in Ireland is formed by an eclectic mix of staff from different nationalities so amongst colleagues, my name was “average” to many. The formally unfamiliar feeling of distrust that I experienced from time to time began to frequent my life more often while working with the public. “Why won’t you just tell us where you’re really from” “Are you embarrassed?” “But your name is definitely not Irish, so…?” were some of the questions that arose. Other times people would speak very sl-ow-ly and cl-ear-ly so I could understand what they were saying. And in one extreme case, one woman “preferred to wait for the Irish girl” to serve the table to “save time”. I vented my frustrations to my fellow staff. Their reactions ranged from empathy to laughter because, little did I know, this was an everyday occurrence for them. To be made feel like a piece of gum on somebody’s shoe was normal to my colleagues, but how could this be in little old Ireland? 

Us Irish, for the most part, tend to think of ourselves as an accepting bunch who value equality with those who choose to share our country with us. In terms of governance in Ireland, there is little tolerance for racism in that there are no discriminatory laws in place. There are also no representatives for people of colour serving in Parliament. Racism, many Irish believe, extends as far as having a laugh at the British under whom we were colonised for so many years. But it is the more subtle racism that is damaging to Ireland and impactful on its children. The off-hand comments about the “blacks” in the nightclub bathrooms or the “Pakis” that run the shop are the remarks that people view as OK to make. The normalisation of these terms, and worse, is rampant in Irish society. Many people know someone of an older generation who is notorious for making racist slurs, which are memorised and repeated by youth. Although some claim to repeat these derogatory terms in order to highlight the generation gap between “us” (the youth) and “them” (the old), the fact that the youth, with knowledge that times have changed in the past 50 or so years, choose to normalise this language is not acceptable.

A common discrepancy is that because somebody doesn’t understand your language, you are smarter than them. Language is just one of the foundations for communication but when two people can’t converse in the same phonetics, issues can arise. Frustration and a sense of hopelessness can form while trying to utilise broken language/ signals and the result can often be miscommunication. When I built relationships with the longer serving staff in the hotel that I previously mentioned, I soon realised that pre-conceptions are dangerous to forming relationships. Naively I believed that my fellow staff were mostly working in the hotel because of either a lack of qualifications or a passion for the hospitality industry. I would estimate that 70% of the foreign national staff working in the hotel had degrees that they obtained in their home country. Fields such as law, nursing and teaching were popular amongst the staff but, because of differing regulation and practices in the workplace, they couldn’t work in their area of qualification here. On speaking to these people further I gained great insight into a side of emigration that I had never previously thought about.

Although my experience with racism wasn’t actual “typical” racism, it was more presumed racism, the feeling of worthlessness and anger is still the same. To be judged by what you look like, your name or your job is unacceptable in the 21st century. The media plays a role in the way society perceives immigrants because the media is our language provider. Only covering immigration stories and negative news about non- Irish nationals leads the way for society to normalise discrimination and associate minority groups with negative news. It’s time the Irish media began to celebrate the growing diversity of Irish society. “To be” is an arbitrary state, and much like I am Irish, I would like to see multinationals joining me in being Irish too, by facing racist intolerance in solidarity.

Barriers to Communication

by Ciara Campbell

 

 

Ireland is celebrated as being quite a welcoming, inviting and open country, this is our national identity. Home is the foundation of many Irish people's lives and something that, when abroad, we love to acclaim. Our 'mammies' are the heart of the family and our red hair brings happiness to many of the tourists' faces, so the stereotypes say. However, what tourists do not see is the prejudice that some Irish people feel towards foreign nationals living in Ireland. It is not something that makes me proud to be Irish and is something that I witness on a weekly basis. Incidents that I have personally witnessed include foreign taxi men being openly ignored because of their race, Muslim girls being stared at and talked about in school because of their hijab and people under the influence shouting slurs at innocent foreign people passing them by. Although the majority of Irish people are open and welcoming, it is the people who continue to strive for marginalisation that hinder our positive multicultural attitudes.

 

An incident that I have witnessed that affected me greatly was when I was in secondary school. A new girl was brought into my class in second year that was originally from Poland. She had very little English and also suffered with autism. The majority of my class were around the age of thirteen and so we had not been informed about autism and what effect it has on a person. There was no special needs assistant or helper to guide the girl through the year at school which says a lot about Ireland's stance on special needs in schools, however that is an entirely different problem altogether. Due to our young age, we had very little education about multiculturalism, culture shock, adaptation and the many other things that this girl was going through because of her new home here in Ireland. Multiculturalism within Irish primary schools is a relatively new thing and when I attended primary school, there were few to none foreign kids in attendance. This and the lack of education about multiculturalism led to this girl having a very difficult time during her secondary school years. She was not given the assistance she needed to cope in this new school and she was bullied. I am certainly not using a lack of education as an excuse for the girls who bullied her because they did so out of ignorance and stupidity but it would have made a huge difference if we were taught about different cultures in primary school. Cultural diversity is something that is becoming more and more relative to daily life. Every day we are engaging with people from different origins and the education system needs to take this into account in order to keep up to date with Ireland's ever growing multicultural community.

 

There were huge barriers to communication for this girl. Firstly, she had very little English which meant that she now had to adopt a new culture and learn a new language. This would have been incredibly difficult for a girl at thirteen. The girls in my year had already spent first year together and the new girl had to figure out a new class with little English and her communication disorder. Upon reflection, I regret immensely not stepping in to help her through that year. I was not one of the people who bullied her but because of my lack of education on the matter, I also did not know how to communicate with her. Her ethnicity should have been celebrated and taught to us but instead highlighted her difference. Multiculturalism needs to be taught from a young age in order for Ireland to even begin to consider itself as a diverse country because what is the point in having a diverse range of nationalities if people are being marginalised. Our nature may be welcoming but with racist incidents continuing to rise, something needs to change.

 

My father has travelled around the world during his adulthood and he considers himself to be quite rounded and well educated on cultural diversity but my mother is the complete opposite. She would not understand the implications of being different, she is not naïve, but she was never in a situation that forced her to open her eyes to what other people go through due to their ethnicity. This comparison is the basis for many Irish people. Some people like to be oblivious to the harsh realities of foreign nationals living in Ireland but the high number of immigrants means that this attitude needs to change. Nationalism is a great thing to have but if it is being used as a way to block out different cultures, it may not be something to celebrate. The Polish girl that was in my year was dropped into a new school and forced to adapt straight away with no help at all. She was set up to fail when she should have been given the necessary tools to help her settle in. It takes effort to separate oneself from similarity and open oneself to difference but that is what many people in Ireland need to do. There is a lot of space for diversity in Ireland but the mind set of people who continue to marginalise needs to change. For the girl in my year, education about multiculturalism could have made her life a little bit easier but the acceptance of difference also needs to be encouraged.

 

Being different should not mean that you are open to being ridiculed; it should be something that is taught and celebrated. Ireland is a country that prides itself on nationality but we are also home to many different cultures. Education and understanding about these cultures is what needs to be promoted for marginalisation to stop. Barriers to communication could eventually disappear if people open their minds to difference. Not only would it prove that Ireland is the welcoming and open country that it seems to be but it would also encourage people to be more open about their ethnicity and culture.

We Want To Hear From You!

We revealed earlier this week that we would be doing a write up about various groups and organisations that are working hard to end racism and discrimination. There are so many wonderful groups/organisations out there and we would like to hear from you. If you are a member of a group or organisation that works towards creating equality and an integrated multicultural society please get in touch with us. Send us an email to roiarroisaysno@gmail.com We want to let people know what you do, and how they can help by getting involved.

We would also like to hear from our members on any of social networking pages. Have you been a victim of racism? Would be willing to share your experience with us, so we can bring awareness to what it's really like to face racism in today's world.

We are also on the look out for bloggers to join us. If you would like to write a blog for us relating to racism/discrimination please get in touch with us on any of our social networking pages, https://www.facebook.com/groups/roIar/ or on twitter  https://twitter.com/ROIsaysno or send us an email.

We look forward to hearing from you.

This Months Group/Organisation ; BlueFire

There are many groups and organisations that are working hard to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and tolerance. Some bring awareness to the issues faced by minority groups, others use the Arts to bring communities together. Every month ROiAR will catch up with one of these groups/organisations to find out what they are up to and how we can help.

This month we got chatting with the lovely people from BlueFire who are based in Dublin, Ireland.

Why and when was BlueFire set up?

BlueFire was set up in 2013 to facilitate social and intercultural integration through music and the arts.

 

BlueFire is a great name, is there a story behind the name?

 The heart behind it is that when we think of fire we think of the colour red/yellow, however blue fire is also fire, it is just a different type of fire.  And isn't this the same as people? We can range from white, to tan, to light brown to black, but we are all human, and should be treated as such.

 

What does BlueFire do?

An integral part of what we do at BlueFire is creating interactive intercultural events where people can engage with those from other communities and cultural backgrounds. Our main project is our annual festival, the BlueFire Street Fest.

You can also find more information here - http://www.bluefiredublin.ie/#!about/c1xva 

 

Do you have any upcoming events?

The BlueFire Street Fest 2014 takes place in the historic Smithfield Square in Dublin City Centre on 20th September and it's absolutely free. Through music and the arts, BlueFire Street Fest 2014 will showcase the diverse range of people and cultures that now call Dublin home. Suitable for all ages and nationalities, musicians and artists from across Ireland and the world will participate in this city centre extravaganza.  

 

How can people get involved?

People can get involved by volunteering with BlueFire at volunteer.ie. BlueFire is run completely by volunteers who donate their time to assist with the running, organising and promotion of events.

 

Is racism a problem in Ireland?

 Yes, it is, but I feel that only a small percentage of racism is driven by maliciousness. We at BlueFire believe that the majority of racism comes from a lack of understanding of one another, and from preconceived prejudices that we have been born into.  We feel strongly that by providing spaces in which we can learn the truths about other cultures, we will see a drop in racism in this country.

 

Can the Arts help bring communities together?

The arts offer a universal language which transcends social differences. Education doesn't only have to happen in the classroom, we can learn through sharing experiences and through shared experience.

 

If you are interested in learning more about BlueFire's Street Festival check out https://www.facebook.com/events/933347823349458/

You can also check them out @BlueFireDublin on twitter



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