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I am English, and I agree that living in the past and complaining about it is pointless. We might as well blame the Italians for the Roman occupation of Britain. I just find it irksome to constantly view Ireland/Britain through the lens of oppressor/oppressed. It's surprising how little people recognise the Irish contribution to the army that built the Empire. Maybe that's why the whole Easter uprising and response to it leaves such a bitter taste. A few hundred Irishmen took the opportunity to try and cause a revolution when 100,000+ Irishmen were fighting on the western front, and the British response was acceptable for wartime, but as a political act it was insane - especially with the introduction of conscription.

It also bugs me that the incredibly slow aristo-lead political system in England was dragging its feet over the unification which would have rendered the whole Irish/British thing moot (comparatively). Britain's Empire was at a peak of power and prestige before WW1; if they had brought the Irish in as full partners rather than constantly trying to keep them as a 'the first colony' then all of the animosity would exist where it exists with the Scots and the Welsh - and the biggest argument we would've had over the last 30 years would've been devolution.

At least, that's how I see it.

Some interesing comments there. I've lived in London all my life and have known numerous Irish people and also many people who are of Irish parent-age or have Irish grand parents. I have noticed it is them, more than those who were actually raised in Ireland, who have such passion for a united Ireland. Quite ironic when you consider they have never lived there and never will. I've always thought the reason for this is because it gives them something Irish to get their teeth into, an ongoing discussion they can be involved in, in order to feel a bit more Irish because they don't feel as Irish as they would like to. It is largely a selfish thing - their lives won't be affected one bit if Ireland is united or stays partitioned, they have never asked the people who will be affected by this whether they want their input, but just give it anyway. I always suspected many of these people, who are often referred to by Irish people (people physically from Ireland) as 'plastic paddies', would feel very lost if and when things in Ireland started working out - and I was right. One guy I know, who has only ever been to Ireland on holiday, but wears an Ireland shirt every time he is out in London, follows Irish sports, and would bang on about how "I believe in a united Ireland" said something very interesting to me when things in northern Ireland started working out. He said to me "I've got nothing to talk about now". Says it all really, doesn't it?