Americans, what are your feelings on the northern ireland troubles?

Question: Americans, what are your feelings on the northern ireland troubles!?

was just wondering how people over the pond view the problems in northern ireland, who they instinctively sympathise with, blame etc!.

cheers in advanceWww@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Being an Irish American one generation removed!.!.!.!.!. I can say that unless you are a one generation removed Irish American you DO NOT KNOW of any "troubles" in Northern Ireland!. Period!.

And this situation DOES go back to US government's official "toning down" of ANYTHING that looks bad on Great Britain that began as early as 1916, if not before!.

Americans are literally SHOCKED & STUNNED by documentaries and movies of the "Trouble Times" today!. They simply didn't KNOW!.

Great Britain, being the United States' number one ally, the US government thought it "prudent" NOT to bring a voice of any wrong doings perceived to be the fault of of the UK!. (In the past even news reporting of British/Irish conflicts were banned)

Unless there is a bombing, the US doesn't even really hear about it!.

The "Irish Troubles" are the reason my family is in the US, and why millions of other Irish families are now Americans, Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders!. Especially the more Northern Irish families, not just Northern Ireland collective, but historical border families, where border battles were especially bloody!. (You see MANY of these families today featured prominantly in the US, Australia/NZ, Canada that are barely "off the boat" in 1920!.!.!.many famous!.!.!.Monaghans, Ryans, O'Conners, Lawless, Moyes, Bryces, Dalys, Sullivans, Byrnes)

I was born and raised in the states, with little to no association to my Irish family!. But when I entered the US military, one of the FIRST questions I was asked when getting my security clearance was my relationship to my family in the Northern part of Ireland!. I was like "WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?"

Our animosity is towards the British, believing in total removal of all things British from Ireland's shores!.
Which is a bit archaic, I understand!.

I have since built more relationships WITH my Irish family and have been told!.!.!.!.in these words!.!.!."Jasus, ya people arr moore Irish than we are! It's 2008! Get over it!"

We still see ourselves AS Irish!.!.!.!.but a more "old fashion" type, without the benifit of growth and change In Ireland!. that is why you see answers that resemble the 1950s!. With strong animosity directed towards the British!.!.!. Ireland for the Irish!. And still pissed off about events from 90 years ago!. We know it's silly, but it gives us a connection TO Ireland, that connection that brought us to the US, and the other English speaking countries!.

BUT!.!.!.!.if you are not one of us pathetic <smile> foriegn Irish clinging to an Ireland long gone, you really don't know anything about the current "troubles" in Northern Ireland!.

It's not something that is considered newsworthy abroad by the US or the UK!.

We would only see it on the BBC and they aren't very forthcoming!.

Best of luck, cousin!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In the 1960s, most Irish-Americans that I knew were squarely for the Catholics and saw the British establishment as the bad guy!. Then came the bombings of school buses, and the in discriminative use of car bombs in the early 70s where children were being killed!. This did more to turn off the American public than anything else!.

Now, most Irish Americans see the Troubles as just so much more suffering and strife abroad, and they would rather watch "Dancing With the Stars!."Www@QuestionHome@Com

First of all I think the viciousness of the old IRA prolonged the whole problem!. British pride forbade the occupiers from giving in under such bloody & confrontational tactics!. Now that the Northern Irish are fighting the occupation with diplomacy things are getting better!. I don't know, tho, if N!.Ireland will ever be completely free of English rule!. It's a new world now & the fight is no longer about "occupation!." It's economic - & as advantageous for the Northern Irish as the Brits!.

Personally I think England should allow a vote ONLY in Northern Ireland - & ALL should live by the outcome of that vote!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Americans were the biggest supporters of the IRA
The weapon of choice was the American Armalite rifle and most of the funds for the terrorists were collected in the USA!.
The St Patrick's Day parade in New York was a big fund raising occasion for the IRA!.
This all changed after 9/11 for some strange reason!.
Now they have the war on terror!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Cheers to you too! I think religious wars are for idiots and control freaks!. The only religion that makes any sense at all is Buddhism!. Peace, love and caring, they mean it!. Buddhists care for all things, they practice peace!. It's the only religion that does not control, manipulate, imprison and kill!. Ever hear of a radical Buddhist or killing in the name of Buddha!? No, you haven't!.
CheersWww@QuestionHome@Com

i am studying the northern ireland trouble's now for my GCSE'S !.!.!.!.!.and i live in northern ireland [sorry couldn't resist]

i blame the U!.K as a whole !! even though they came over to do good!.!.!.they turned things from bad to worse !.!.!.and it it wasn't for them taking northern ireland away from ireland then we wouldn't of had the problem in the 1st place !!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's not something that's really known about over here!. I know a very little bit about it because of one of my old history teachers who mentioned it in passing, but it's never talked about!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Scouse, most Americans are probably not aware that there IS a Northern Ireland, let alone what The Troubles may have been!.

You do not register with them!. They don't look at maps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Sorry, but didn't even know that Northern Ireland is having trouble!.

I know they did way back when, but sorry again!. Can you mention what the troubles are!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

i hate to say this, but ive been watching the news, and i havent heard anything about ireland, i didnt know there was a problem!.!.!.im sorryWww@QuestionHome@Com

Lol, I'm American!.!.!.I wasn't aware that Northern Ireland was having troubles!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

I really cant decide!. I can see both sides!.

even those those m-fers killed Michael CollinsWww@QuestionHome@Com

go protestants

can't they just give'm seperate teams on the olympics!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Don't worry be happyWww@QuestionHome@Com