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Higgins spoke at today's seminar via Zoom. Youtube/IIEA

President Higgins says Ireland and Africa have each experienced racism and 'a suppressed culture'

The President’s comments come at a time when there is is a global focus on the history of colonialism.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins has said that Ireland can help shift Europe’s relationship with Africa because its people have also suffered racism and “a suppressed culture”. 

Speaking remotely at a webinar held by the Institute of International and European Affairs, Higgins also said that Ireland has a “special connection” with African nations because of a history of missionary work and international aid. 

The president’s address was entitled ‘Europe and Africa: Towards a New Relationship’ and comes at a time when there is a global focus on the history of slavery and colonialism as a result of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

In the UK, statues of several former slave owners and traders have been taken down and in Belgium a statue of former colonial king Leopold II was also removed.  

During his speech, Higgins said that any “fruitful dialogue” between the European Union and African nations must not forget “the brutal colonisation of previous times”. 

“While Europeans choose to forget, Africans rightly remember,” Higgins said. 

The president went on to state that racism was “central to colonisation”. 

“The European imperialist push into Africa was motivated by factors that were not just economic, but also political, social, cultural and racist,” he said.

The colonial drive followed the collapse of the profitability of the slave trade, its abolition and suppression, as well as the expansion of the European industrial revolution. 

“Central to colonisation was indirect rule and assimilation, and a consistent theme propagated by the imperialists was the portrayal of the indigenous Africans as uncivilised and uneducated. This racist notion, widely promulgated, legitimised the ill-treatment and exploitation of those who were colonised, including their relegation to the status of second-class citizens in their own countries.”

Higgins went on to describe Ireland’s relationship with Africa as a “unique one” stemming from “the work of Roger Casement to contemporary non-governmental organisations”. 

The president said that Ireland also identifies with “the aspirations of Africans for lives of freedom from hunger, access to education, and achievement of inclusive rights”.

Higgins cited the writings of 18th century Scottish philosopher David Hume and his essay Of National Characters which used “racist language” and was ” a distortion of African realities”.

IIEA / YouTube

Higgins said Irish people have been similarly portrayed as ‘uncivilised’ throughout history. 

Ireland brings to the African table its own experience, not only of an economic, social, political domination, but also the experience of a suppressed culture, exile and, frankly, of racism, as Hume put it in the case of the Irish, they having missed out on the civilisation that he thought a Roman occupation might have brought us, thus leaving us ‘uncivilised’, but, above all else, ‘lesser’.

“Ireland welcomes the centrality of African agency in the new work on the transformation of Africa, and sees it as having an immensely valuable contribution, having a global consequence as we re-define economics and its connection to ecology and culture,” he added. 

The president said that Europe must now “move beyond our prescriptive approach to dealing with African challenges” instead understand “the crucial need for African agency”.

“Our challenge as Europeans must, therefore, be to forge a new relationship with Africa, by arriving at a new place founded on real multilateralism and solidarity, so that we can be ethical partners in the necessary structural change that can deliver universal basic services and transformational prosperity in Africa, and an enduring, sustainable future for the continent of the young, on which those of us who believe in global social justice and solidarity place so much collective hope,” he said. 

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:24 PM

    As each day goes by ,this man still considers his thoughts ground breaking yet all those years as a TD he sat on his bum drinking from the trough.

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    Mute The Quare Fella
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:06 PM

    @Paul Mc:
    What do you expect from the richest Communist in Ireland

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    Mute Anthony Ryan Dunne
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:14 PM

    @The Quare Fella: is he being a little bit racist!

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    Mute WESTY
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:29 PM

    As yes the two countries “Africa” and Ireland haha bit of a broad stroke like.

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    Mute Victor Feldman
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    Jun 10th 2020, 5:53 PM

    @WESTY: he really is incredibly thick.. He’s insulting Africa by comparing their injustices with Ireland’s past.. Give us a break mate!

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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:05 PM

    “Most people still have the so-called Transatlantic [slave] trade by Europeans into the New World in mind. But in reality the Arab-Muslim slavery was much greater,” so wrote Senegalese author Tidiane N’Diaye. The arabs used religion (as the often Europeans did) to justify slavery. Will President Higgins condemn arabs and their religion?

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    Mute Craic_a_tower
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:24 PM

    @Earth Traveller: different impacts and different when you consider the forced movement. Culturally the Europeans took advantage. Many people selling their own family into slavery as was common in their own cultures. They however didn’t treat people as slaves their entire lives and saw it more like a dowry not knowing how they would be treated. Of course time went on and overseers were also black and knew what was happening but were happy with the arrangements. Nothing is clear cut

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Jun 10th 2020, 2:03 PM

    @Earth Traveller: The quote is from the White Supremacist website Stormfront:

    https://i.imgur.com/pveEHdl.png

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    Mute Marg FitzGerald
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    Jun 10th 2020, 4:09 PM

    @Earth Traveller: Aah no, that is not on the agenda.

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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Jun 10th 2020, 4:33 PM

    @David Jordan: I’ve never heard of Stormfront. The quote used is from DW (Deutsche Welle), a German government-owned news agency: https://www.dw.com/en/east-africas-forgotten-slave-trade/a-50126759
    Tidiane N’Diaye is a Franco-Senegalese anthropologist and writer whose essays have been nominated for the Prix Renaudot. I don’t think he is a white supremacist.

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    Mute Darren Byrne
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    Jun 10th 2020, 5:46 PM

    @Earth Traveller: its used by white supremacists as what aboutery. Its like someone rocking up to court charge with murder and their defense yeah but what Charles Manson.

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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Jun 10th 2020, 6:48 PM

    @Darren Byrne: Ah I see – what aboutery – so it’s a bit like the way the comments sections can be here sometimes.

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:46 PM

    @Earth Traveller: Yea, the comments section often uses the breakup rodeo clown defense:

    https://youtu.be/2pNhtiTjM4I?t=3

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    Mute Virgil
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:21 PM

    Was watching a documentary about Bruce Lee this morning and the Irish-Americans were the movers behind the exclusion act against Chinese immigrants in the late nineteenth century which was the first act to exclude foreigners in the USA. Irish-Americans are all over the Trump administration as well. We have a long history of racism in the USA and here as well. Michael D should stop this codolgy

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    Mute alphasully
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:25 PM

    @Virgil: the most important word there is ‘American’

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    Mute TESSERACT2020
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:26 PM

    @Virgil: this is like blaming Denmark for Tucker Carlsen. Absolute utter NONSENSE

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    Mute Kev
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:43 PM

    @Virgil: Is that the 30 for 30 doc? Plan on watching it tonight.

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    Mute Virgil
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:47 PM

    @Kev: Yep, it’s really good

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:49 PM

    @alphasully: perhaps, but go back to the 18th and 19th century and the irish, if they managed to drag themselves out of the slums themselves, had no compunction about abusing or racially discriminating against those below them in society. There would not have been a British Empire without Irish soldiers in the british army or Irish generals, administrators or Governors to enforce the wishes of the Crown.

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    Mute Coimeádach na hÉireann
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:50 PM

    @alphasully: wow now we are turning on what most would consider our own (nieces and nephews, grandchildren etc.). But ohh no not the self-righteous. That juggernaut steams on.

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    Mute windbag
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:51 PM

    @Virgil: They have just pulled Gone with the wind of the networks….. WGM….

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:00 PM

    @Connoroconner: Shh, You’re not supposed to say that, it’s only acceptable to use the” properly authorised” version of Irish history.

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    Mute Craic_a_tower
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:11 PM

    @Connoroconner: the same could be said about Indian soldiers too. It is how empires work. Take over an area and then use the locals to police themselves under governance from the empire. Romans did it, Ganges Khan, Alexander etc… nothing is clear cut

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    Mute padr4
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    Jun 10th 2020, 2:07 PM

    Higgin`s every utterance is treated with the reverence usually reserved for the Dalai Lama, by the Irish media & political establishment, but the populace just roll their eyes, `Higgin`s the unrepentant marxist`.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:57 PM

    He says “Ireland can help shift Europe’s relationship with Africa’ as I see it Europe does more than any other continent to send aid to Africa….

    We cannot change the past but we do more to help……

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    Mute Craic_a_tower
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:12 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: mainly because they were the countries that created the mess and still exploit the continent.

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    Mute Deulleona
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:36 PM

    @Craic_a_tower: As a country whos natrural resources include diamonds, sugar, salt, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum,cocoa beans, fruit and wood there’s no one better at exploitation than the African elite, this country should use their resources to help their people instead of lining their own pockets.

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    Mute Craic_a_tower
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:44 PM

    @Deulleona: all controlled by large corporations from historical backgrounds that aren’t African. They are still being exploited and corruption is aided by these companies. Are you responsible for all the government does? Can you truly change the system in place? It is a cop out to blame their own politicians and ignore the roles companies play. East Indian Tea company was used to take control over India

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    Mute Deulleona
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    Jun 10th 2020, 2:10 PM

    @Craic_a_tower: they have a vote like we do, change does happen, albeit slowly.

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    Mute James Walsh
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    Jun 10th 2020, 3:02 PM

    @Deulleona: Some African countries are democracies but by no means all are.

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    Mute Longlin
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    Jun 10th 2020, 12:23 PM

    This won’t go down well with some I’m afraid. Wait for it..

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    Mute Marg FitzGerald
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    Jun 10th 2020, 4:08 PM

    When will African countries take responsibility for themselves and their people?

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    Mute Jon Shannow
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:00 PM

    I often agree with Michael D.. but to compare the level of racism directed at Irish people historically with what African people have endured is nonsense.. irish people had it very hard in the past but no where the same level..and once Irish people sne to a position of power in America they generally did not have a problem ‘punching down’…

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    Mute Coimeádach na hÉireann
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:13 PM

    @Jon Shannow: thank you for the enlightenment. You are so correct historical years of famine, oppression, penal transport, executions, Conscription, disease, poverty, death, etc. And then moving forward partition, economic and social suppression. All minor In comparison to today’s modern injustices. Thank you!

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    Mute Craic_a_tower
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:20 PM

    @Jon Shannow: when the Irish went to the states they were below the skilled black labourers. Mostly coming from the west of Ireland they ended up in cities with no skills other than farming which they weren’t able to do because of who owned the land. There were large amounts of interracial children as the Irish and Blacks lived in the same areas. With many Irish prostitutes the issue was quite large, hence lots of Irish surnames within black families. However that was America, many other areas the Irish and the blacks lived together fine and even revolted against oppressors together. The issue is American society at the time and now

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    Mute Damon16
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:59 PM

    @Craic_a_tower: The Irish in America in the early 20th century were renowned for being anti-black. They competed with Blacks from the American south for low skilled jobs and used their union and political affiliations to discriminate against Blacks in jobs, housing etc. The cops that historically were so hostile to blacks were mainly Irish and Italian American. Lets not delude ourselves, Irish people are as bigoted and racist as anyone. What I find amusing is how Irish people accuse say Australians of being racist against Aborigines, White Americans against Blacks etc but just look at the very open bigotry directed against Irish travelers and some of the rhetoric you hear around that. Its the exact same thing.

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    Mute Jon Shannow
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    Jun 10th 2020, 2:18 PM

    @Coimeádach na hÉireann: you are comparing historical Irish discrimination with modern Black discrimination? Well in that limited context, yes we come off worse.. I was talking about all time, at most times in history it was much easier to be Irish than Black in a white dominated ‘western world’ was my point..

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    Mute Jon Shannow
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    Jun 10th 2020, 2:22 PM

    @Craic_a_tower: as in my earlier response to another.. I am saying that at all times in history it has been easier to be a white Irish person in America than Black or Brown person.. btw I am so Irish we have never found a non historically irish person in my family tree..and from the rest of Ireland originally..

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    Mute GFMacCuimín
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    Jun 10th 2020, 2:57 PM

    Writes he from the “ Viceregal Lodge”

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    Mute Billy
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:59 PM

    You recently published a story about the protest in Dublin which included a photo of an idiot holding up a sign which read “burn all police stations”. Why isn’t anyone asking the likes of her to apologise?

    And why are vandals deciding what statues should be torn town? Will we decide that castles across the country, where battles were fought and people died, are offensive next?

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    Mute Pat Coyne
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    Jun 10th 2020, 3:40 PM

    Will he not fit back in his box is the spring broken, he is an embarrassment.

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    Mute Anthony Ryan Dunne
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    Jun 10th 2020, 7:54 PM

    @Pat Coyne: he’s a pure as s holes

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    Mute Des Groome
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:25 PM

    Codology.
    A large number of those red neck Trump supporting racists have Scots- irish heritage. That’s where the term hill Billy came from. Plenty of irish served in colonial armies and perpetrated acts of genocide against aboriginals, native Americans, Africans, arabs.
    MDH needs to quit the politically correct virtue signalling and simply say yes we were all part of it and let’s try to be better people today all of us.

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    Mute Writeon
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    Jun 10th 2020, 1:39 PM

    @Des Groome: Not sure what your point is? African leaders were a key component in slave trade. Does this mean Africans weren’t, as a whole, largely subjugated and cannot comment on this part of their history? Of course not. The Irish and Africans were both a victim of large scale subjugation and exploitation. No amount of “what aboutery”, or revisionism can alter that. The Irish are in a great position to talk about this and I don’t find anything inherently wrong in what MDH said

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    Mute London Gerry
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    Jun 10th 2020, 2:36 PM

    @Des Groome: They refer to themselves as Ulster Scots, not Scots-Irish.
    They were Presbyterian generally.

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    Mute Tom kenny
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    Jun 10th 2020, 3:02 PM

    @London Gerry: thank you.

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    Mute Des Groome
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    Jun 10th 2020, 5:01 PM

    @Writeon: it stretches credulity to say that the Irish are in any position to understand the historical enslavement of africans

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    Mute Darren Byrne
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    Jun 10th 2020, 5:38 PM

    @London Gerry: Ulster Scots in the north but Scots Irish in America. Both descendants of planters basically.

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    Mute Valthebear
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    Jun 10th 2020, 6:04 PM

    Michael D pontificating from the Aras and the daughter spouting from the Senate. Two of Ireland’s elite blathering on about injustice. You couldn’t make it up.

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    Mute James Walsh
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    Jun 10th 2020, 2:58 PM

    I’m not sure it makes sense to compare one country to a whole continent, do Tunisians and South Africans have any more of a shared experience than us and the Bulgarians?

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    Mute tuco
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    Jun 10th 2020, 4:08 PM

    We were the blacks of Europe,the Irish blacks.we were used as slaves in the sugar plantations in the carribeen and scattered to the four corners of the world thanks to the tyranny of the British empire

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    Mute the-baldie-lad
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    Jun 10th 2020, 10:18 PM

    I like him. Feck you begrudgers, shower of whiners, worse than the vegans.

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    Mute Patrick Lynch
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    Jun 11th 2020, 9:43 AM

    @the-baldie-lad: likewise

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Jun 11th 2020, 1:10 PM

    It would be disgraceful if the cultural practice of .FG.M. weas to be suppressed, wouldn’t it, Mr President?

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