Mary Kenny
Dublin Airport
Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire And so it emerges, as I had suspected, that there is no substantial anti-immigrant vote in Ireland. Yes, there is some concern about proportions and numbers in some parts of the country, but there is evidently no traction for an anti-immigrant party – as exists in France, Germany and to some degree in Italy and Greece.
In Britain, Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party claims that they actually prevented a blatantly anti-immigrant party like the BNP (British National Party) from flourishing, by campaigning for ordered immigration controls and British sovereignty. That may be challenged by some, but let’s just park it there for the moment.
But in reference to Ireland, here’s an interesting point: could it be that the deposit of religious faith in Ireland has prevented an anti-immigrant or racist element emerging?
This is a thesis suggested in Ben Ryan’s fascinating survey of European attitudes, How the West Was Lost, published last year. Ryan [pictured below], head of research at the British think-tank, Theos, claims that, in general, Catholics are more favourable to European integration than those of other religions and thus more open to people not born in their own country.
He also writes that religion often “inoculates” voters against being anti-immigrant or racist: it anchors people in a faith identity which must acknowledge the common humanity of all.
Yes, far-right or racist political movements have sometimes tried to use Christianity as a badge for their own values, including the AfD in Germany, the Dutch Freedom Party, and in Belgium, the Flemish Vlaams Belang – as does Marine le Pen’s party in France.
But this, writes Ryan, whose book is underpinned by social and political studies, is more a fig leaf than a genuine Christian commitment.
The Catholic Church…can be thanked by the political class for the enlightened values it has contributed”
Church-going Christians generally tend not to vote for racist or anti-immigrant political parties.
If this is the case, then the Church, as the historic religion of the majority, can be thanked by the political class for the enlightened values it has contributed to the common weal. Will it be thanked? Not any time soon!
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Nature still rules
Storm Ciara certainly told us who was in charge: nature. Like many others – some much more seriously affected – we had a power cut and the heating and hot water has been banjaxed by Ciara.
My generation grew up in cold houses, so I can live with a cold house (for a while!) But two thoughts follow: (1) how stoical people used to be about the cold and (2) how totally and utterly dependent we are on electricity.
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Respect is the cornerstone of any person
Seeing the election posters around Dublin over the past few weeks, the candidate who struck me as the most beautiful to behold was Kate O’Connell [pictured]. She has been blessed with the gift of pulchritude, for sure: a striking face in the tradition of Vivien Leigh, from that classical movie Gone With the Wind.
But with what ugly manners she treated her opponents on the life issue. She’s on video, much-repeated on social media, screeching “We won! We’ll get our way! Ye can talk for as long as ye like – ye lost!” in a manner that suggests the spoilt brat in the playground.
Although a pharmacist by training, she also showed a poor grasp of biology when she said that a pregnant woman is not carrying a life, she is “carrying a pregnancy”. Every world expert on embryology affirms that where there is a conception, there is a life: she can use euphemisms as much as she likes, but this is the truth.
Yes, she was traumatised by a very difficult situation herself when she was told that her unborn son had a fatal defect (thankfully, he had a corrective operation and is now in primary school). That has evidently marked her emotionally, as it would anyone.
Yet now that she has lost her seat, she needs to ask herself whether she was insensitive to the feelings of others, and alienated voters by her language and attitudes.
She says she wants another chance at being a politician. But to merit a second chance, a person needs to show that they have learned from previous failures. That is – don’t insult your public, and show respect for your opponents whose beliefs and feelings are held just as sincerely as your own.