Irish support for Palestinian rights stems partly from its own experience of colonialism and violence – but that’s not all, says Irish Times columnist Una Mullaly
  • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
    622·
    8 months ago

    Countries that suffered under colonialism, and apartheid, within living memory, are sympathetic to a group of people living under apartheid and colonialism…

    It’s almost like shared experienced against a common tragedy makes for sympathy and empathy.

    There’s no mystery here. The real mystery is why other countries lack this empathy…

    • Midnitte@kbin.social
      314·
      8 months ago

      Not that I know much about it, but I assume Ireland also knows much about two close areas attacking each other…

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    4·
    8 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    As videos of Irish politicians advocating for Palestinians and criticising the Israeli government continue to go viral on social media, the question asked by those new to Ireland’s position is simple: why?

    In 2010, Ireland ordered the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat from Dublin when it was revealed forged Irish passports had been used by suspects in the assassination of the Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.

    In recent years, both houses of the Irish parliament have passed a motion calling for the recognition of the state of Palestine, although this remains in legislative limbo.

    This sense of kinship can express itself in daily cultural life – take the 2023 away kit of a popular Dublin football club, a partnership with a Palestinian non-profit sports organisation.

    The Irish president, Michael D Higgins, who occasionally raises eyebrows for speaking out despite his independent role, was firm in his response to Israel’s actions.

    Ursula von der Leyen’s strident expressions of support for Israel have jarred with Ireland – which still remains a militarily neutral country.

    The original article contains 954 words, the summary contains 171 words. Saved 82%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

        • Deceptichum@kbin.social
          292·
          8 months ago

          Prejudice on grounds of race against an individual or group is quite literally the definition of racism.

          You yourself do not have to be a state to be racist.

          That’s a pretty seppo take on racism.

          • darq@kbin.social
            418·
            8 months ago

            There is a difference between simple prejudice, and prejudice that is backed by systemic power.

            Both are bad of course. But one has the ability to ruin your day, while the other has the ability to ruin your life.

            In most progressive theory, racism is explicitly about power, not merely individual prejudice. That isn’t a new definition of racism, but it is a different definition than most of us learn when we are younger.

        • Zellith@kbin.social
          223·
          8 months ago

          can’t be racist to white people, that’s not how racism works.

          Wat.

          You’re white. You break down on a highway at night. You flag a car down for help. The guy rolls down his window. He is black. “I’m not gonna help you because you are white”. He drives off. Is this racist?

          You’re black. You break down on a highway at night. You flag a car down for help. The guy rolls down his window. He is white. “I’m not gonna help you because you are black”. He drives off. Is this racist?