I think - regarding the historical context - we are broadly in agreement on this even if we may have mild disagreement of the details. It would have been nicer if that section of history was more like our caribbean family (in the form of planned independance, handover, equal partnership through the commonwealth) - but as I said that was British fault (but not mine!!).
However I do not agree or believe the EU has helped UK/Ireland relationships. I believe that it is time that has helped grow our relationship and our common hatred of all extremists in the North (that extreme minority shows how tolerant ordinary Brits and Irish are). Geographic and historic ties also help us out. I actually think that the EU could have easily diluted our friendship which is very different to all other bordering european countries and nations. When I am in Ireland I 'feel' something that I also notice back home in Britain (in England and in Wales) that I defnitely do not 'feel' in France, or Germany, or etc.. I'm not sure, if I were Irish, that I would want to be out of the EU (as I definitely do as a Brit) because Ireland was a net benefactor country. However you can easily see what is happening now that Ireland is on a par with the wealthiest. The best examples are repeated referenda when "the answer is wrong", if you get my gist. Funnily enough I was talking about the very same subject to that Irish 'chap' I mentioned before over a pub lunch. He's annoyed at the remoulding plasticine that used to be Irish democracy. I have to say, though, that he has never mentioned anything about metrication and -if I were to predict- it probably ranks very lowly on his list of concerns. I note that he uses imperial in common speech though (as with the avg Brit) and - to retain topicness - was talking about a man who "drove his car 500 yards" literally moments ago in conversation. Old habits I guess (even if you're young). > Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 10:31:22 +0000 > From: [email protected] > Subject: [USMA:46835] Ireland and UK > To: [email protected] > > > > The use of 'UK' is deliberate and refers to the timescale I was talking > > about. At one point the most loyal royalist area of the UK was Ireland > > when Mr Cromwell came along. > > Even before this particular unhinged religious maniac arrived to conduct his > murderous war crimes, > loyalty to the crown in Ireland was limited to the area around Dublin known > as The Pale. It was the > fact that British control outside this area was largely illusiory that he > came over in the first place. > > Sorry, the history of the British occupation was punctuated by frequent > rebellions and upheavals. > > > But more recently the fact London totally > > buggered it up by shooting a few 'rogues' like they were legally > > unimportant is why a nation that didn't specifically have very strong > > goals of independance from the union suddenly found a voice based on > > repulsion. > > The shooting of the 1916 leaders was the incident that tipped it over the > edge certainly, but if not > that, something would have triggered it eventually. > > > P.S. There is more that links us than divides us - and even when I visit > > Dublin the place looks like another great British city > > You are right there. Relations between our countries have never been better, > and long may they > improve. I believe much of that (and much of the good relationships between > other former foes in > Europe) is due to the European Union, which has focussed European peoples on > what they have in > common, and the fact that our way of life through the Union is broadly > similar. > > As for metrication, it is ironic that in both our countries, it is seen as > inextricably linked to > the EU (which as you know is not correct for the UK anyway, as its decision > to metricate was made > before joining the Common Market as part of a British Commonwealth decision). > Whereas the largely > positive attitude towards the EU here has helped metrication, the > irresponsible use of the natural > resistance to change by Eurosceptics to link the two has denied British > citizens the benefits of > enjoying an easier way to manage weights and measures. > > Tom Wade > _________________________________________________________________ We want to hear all your funny, exciting and crazy Hotmail stories. Tell us now http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/
