Okay... ... ...don't panic, but IT'S TRUE!!! PUBS ARE CLOSING DOWN! Whyyyyyyyyyy?
In all seriousness, this really is detrimental to society. As I discussed in a previous post, pub culture is such a big part of European (especially British) life, that its downfall would pretty much cause every individual to plummet into a deep depression. But wait, is that necessarily true? How are people really responding to this? What's causing the meltdown?
First, I'll answer the latter question. The problem is evident: Britain, like the rest of the world, is experiencing a recession. Not only are people being laid off right and left, but according to an article by Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondant, pubs are closing at a rate of 36 per week! Why? Drinkers are opting to buy cheaper alchohol for at-home consumption.
I, personally, can understand this. I went to a few pubs pretty routinely within the first two weeks of my arrival here in London, but after realizing that a) pub prices were breaking my bank account, and b) I could pay the same amount in a convenience store and stock my cabinet for weeks, I decided to ditch the pubs and opt for option B. I mean, it only makes sense, right?
With pubs closing at a rate 9 times faster than they did in 2006, you would think that Londoners would be concerned that their way of life is crashing before their eyes. However, I'd argue that this recession has made people feel as if only the most important aspects of life should be valued...what's the purpose of having a 'cultural activity' around if one can never afford to participate? I believe that more and more, people find themselves admiring the free parks and elaborate buildings contructed by Great Exhibition funds to gain a sense of culture and pride.
Are they wrong? Perhaps if people in America did what many Londoners are forced to do and quit driving the massive SUVs simply because it has become mainstream American pop-culture, we'd be in a better economic and eco-friendly state of affairs now.
Here's another idea: perhaps Londoners just aren't worried. I mean, there are over 8,000 pubs in London alone...what's 36 pubs a week for two years? Do the math, and you should have an approximate closing of about 3744 pubs. Now, that seems like a lot, but even if this trend continued every week for another two years (highly unlikely), London would STILL have over 4,000 pubs to choose from... ... ...
I wouldn't be worried, either.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Irish Nationalism
So we've discussed St. Patrick's Day and how the 'real meaning' has seemed to faded, especially in other cultures (outside Ireland). In that post, I also talked about how that meaning seems unimportant even in the land of the green. Upon pondering this a bit more, a few more questions arise. Is that nonchalant attitude representative of Ireland as a whole? If so, why do the Irish seems more relaxed about their seemingly 'global nationalism'?
Based upon the fact that the United Kingdom can only claim Northern Ireland as territory provides the obvious answer to that question: the concept isn't representative of Ireland as a whole (due to British possession of the north), but it does affect a big part of it. I've heard a lot about tensions between Ireland and Britain, and actually researched this issue. Follow along and hopefully you'll find it just as interesting as I did.
When you think of nationalism, you think of a social or political ideology that comprises a culture. Toss Ireland into the mix, and you get a strong sense of adoration out of it (at least from the Irish). Historically, this socio-political ideology stemmed from a desire to become (and remain) independent from Britain (which, as you can see, has prompted other very strong movements, as America resulted from one).
The 1916 Easter Rising all sparked this 'war of Independence'. I won't go into too much detail about why or how it began, for you can infer based upon reasons behind similar wars of Independence. Ireland not only had a great number of people who didn't agree with British rule, but who wanted their own culture to flourish in the way they believed it should. Thus, after this 'rising', 26 counties in Ireland became the Irish Free State in 1922, while 6 counties remained loyal to the British crown.
Tensions have pretty much ceased to exist since the end of the civil war, and there really isn't a question of whether or not Ireland's sovereignty is threatened. This is mainly because upon Ireland entering the European Union, they are less dependent on Britain politically and economically, since the EU operates with seperate currency and governance. Thus, there is no reason for petty 'quarrel' with Britain, since they are even less dependant on the superpower than before.
This is why one may detect more of a nonchalant attitude from Ireland as a whole: it stems from not having anything to fear. They've essentially won...their culture is now their own, and they are proud of it. Being secure allows for a more celebratory occasion, hence why Irish natinalism has spread to various other cultures (including parts of Britain) with little reaction from the home country itself.
I can't say that I blame them, either. Since when was a universal or global celebration over nationalism and independence ever discouraged? Ireland, like other nations, celebrates it all the time: just view how they live life.
Based upon the fact that the United Kingdom can only claim Northern Ireland as territory provides the obvious answer to that question: the concept isn't representative of Ireland as a whole (due to British possession of the north), but it does affect a big part of it. I've heard a lot about tensions between Ireland and Britain, and actually researched this issue. Follow along and hopefully you'll find it just as interesting as I did.
When you think of nationalism, you think of a social or political ideology that comprises a culture. Toss Ireland into the mix, and you get a strong sense of adoration out of it (at least from the Irish). Historically, this socio-political ideology stemmed from a desire to become (and remain) independent from Britain (which, as you can see, has prompted other very strong movements, as America resulted from one).
The 1916 Easter Rising all sparked this 'war of Independence'. I won't go into too much detail about why or how it began, for you can infer based upon reasons behind similar wars of Independence. Ireland not only had a great number of people who didn't agree with British rule, but who wanted their own culture to flourish in the way they believed it should. Thus, after this 'rising', 26 counties in Ireland became the Irish Free State in 1922, while 6 counties remained loyal to the British crown.
Tensions have pretty much ceased to exist since the end of the civil war, and there really isn't a question of whether or not Ireland's sovereignty is threatened. This is mainly because upon Ireland entering the European Union, they are less dependent on Britain politically and economically, since the EU operates with seperate currency and governance. Thus, there is no reason for petty 'quarrel' with Britain, since they are even less dependant on the superpower than before.
This is why one may detect more of a nonchalant attitude from Ireland as a whole: it stems from not having anything to fear. They've essentially won...their culture is now their own, and they are proud of it. Being secure allows for a more celebratory occasion, hence why Irish natinalism has spread to various other cultures (including parts of Britain) with little reaction from the home country itself.
I can't say that I blame them, either. Since when was a universal or global celebration over nationalism and independence ever discouraged? Ireland, like other nations, celebrates it all the time: just view how they live life.
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