| James J. Gavan 2005-04-23, 3:55 am |
| Richard wrote:
>
>
> Being unaware of the 'N.Ireland problem' while being in New Zealand is
> _not_ a result of being 'insular'. In fact, I would assert that NZers
> are probably less insular than most, statistically they are more widely
> travelled than any other countrymen, but that is because they have to
> travel further to get _anywhere_ else.
>
> In NZ we have had both Northern and Southern Irish for many decades and
> they never have a problem with each other (or no more so than any other
> group) so the 'problem' is not apparent locally. As the British have
> had a policy of suppressing news about N.Ireland then there is no
> reason to think that it would be known.
>
Well from my days in Albion, I'm not immediately aware of a 'domestic
censorship' in UK but I think there is a kernel of truth in your
statement. You and I were both still there in Mau Mau times in Kenya.
Like me you probably recall that there was some brutalizing by British
troops. (Same goes for Palestine/Israel back in '47). But very
*recently*, a documentary, (possibly from ITV), was shown on either PBS
or a Canadian channel. There was much *MORE* brutalizing in Kenya than I
was aware of.
Having said that, surely censorship stopped at Dover. No independent NZ
reporters located in British Isles ? What about the American wire
services. You can bet anybody from Boston with a sprig of shamrock would
ensure it got coverage.
As regards the Northerners and Southerners living in peace in N.Z.
that's EXACTLY how it should be - leave your troubles at 'home'.
Contrary to that we have Tamils from N. Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan
communities. The Tamils are known to be collecting money locally to be
sent back home for what the Sri Lankans refer to as 'terrorism' - very
likely they are justified in using that word. (Would you believe - yet
another problem created by Britain from the glorious days of 'Empire' !)
Similarly, but it dates back to about 1830 and what was then called
Upper Canada, we have our Ulster Orangemen. Their history, activities,
no idea, but there are lodges, primarily in Ontario I think, still
active as I write.
Jimmy
|