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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 2000-05 > 0957315702


From: "Ulster Culture" <>
Subject: Re: Ethnicity or genealogy
Date: Wed, 03 May 2000 01:01:42 GMT



Brian

I know what your getting at, ethnicity though in the way I mean it is not
the same as constructing a nationalist politic, its not a political position
or a quasi socialist community.

To say there are no cultural boundaries though is a gross oversight. there
definiately is such things as communal character and cultural differences
and common outlook. Even on a basic level between the Ulster and the
English I dispair at the way they make their tea over here, and their foods
not cooked properly, its rotten! Stupid examples I know, but we dont live
in a world of MacDonalds for breakast lunch and dinner from Moscow to
Bejing. So what are the differences and why?

Certainly the Ulster-British believe they are a unique people with unique
historical expereinces. They believe they differ in outlook to the rest of
the United Kingdom as do the Scots Irish and Welsh. Of course their
British, they have that common idenitity but they are not universally
similar or equally different individuals. The Ulster people are the worst
at dragging up the old sterotypes of Jocks, Taffy's and Scousers. We all
live under the Union Jack but thats composed of the St Andrews, Patricks,
and George crosses, three different identifications. To deny the different
identity and historical experience is as much a construction as accentuating
them for political ends.

Its not political Brian but there is such a thing as community identity
shaped by unique experience. This historical experience and belief in it is
the essense of ethnicity.



Ulster Culture
Http://ulsterculture.freeservers.com

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