|
[Photo Galleries ][Polls Discussion ] [ Go to Castlebar ] [ The BB Index ] [ Disclaimer ] [Nostalgia Board ] [Roots ] [NB Refresh for current version and all follow-ups] Posted by Why ? on July 29, 2004 at 20:55:14: In Reply to: Re: New Halting Site posted by Mogli on July 29, 2004 at 19:55:43:
RE: 80% illiteracy among travellers As for the other statistics (life expectancy, no flush toilets, no electricity, no bath or showers, no refuse collection no water no public phone,) I suspect that if as a settled person were effectively rendered unemployable (and therfore unable/unwilling to pay for these services) by only having attended school for a few days each year and adhering to a semi-nomadic lifestyle which is unhealthy and incompatable with the realities of the modern world then they too would find themselves in the exact same position and would only have themselves and/or their parents to blame for it Yes there is a lot of prejudice in Irish society against travellers but on the other hand It is ridiculous to suggest that this is the cause of ALL the problems experienced by the travelling community and that none of it is self inflicted. Out of not wanting to be seen as prejudiced we can bury our hands in the sand and deny this reality but we dont do an favours to ourselves (or indeed future generations of travellers) by refusing to face up to it. Half the settled community wont hear a good word about the travellers, the other half wont hear a good word about them and both halves are wrong !
|