Let’s imagine it’s 2027 and that instead of hosting refuges Ireland is invaded by Great Britain and we are the ones seeking refuge:
How did this happen, we keep asking ourselves. Perhaps the English never forgave us for getting independence in 1922, and of course many were not happy when Tony Blair apologised in 1997 on behalf of the British Government for An Gorta Mór.
However, ostensibly it was the election in Britain of a right-wing fascist politician called Nigella which was the catalyst for the invasion. Nigella wanted to be at the table with Trump and Putin as an imperial fascist leader and took electoral advantage of the worldwide rise in neo-fascism.
The new British government moved at lightning speed to re-establish Britain as an imperial power, starting with bringing semi-autonomous domains such as Bermuda and Montserrat under direct control, and establishing the Commonwealth as an economic and political power in opposition to the EU. The devolved governments in Scotland and Wales were disbanded, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were next to go.
The malfunctioning assembly was overshadowed by the British Government’s desire to follow Trump and a number of other right-wing regimes in rolling back years of progress on equality and human rights. The equality legislation which attempted to redress inequalities suffered by Catholics in Northern Ireland was criticised as being “woke”,” divisive “anti-Protestant and anti-union”, and the British government and loyalists in the assembly wanted to have it revoked.
The excuse for the invasion however was trade. The UK backtracked on the post-Brexit deal with Ireland and the EU and tore up the Windsor Framework. Protests and chaos at various ports, followed by loyalist violence in the North, led to with Irish nationalists rioting. The UK sent thousands of troops to the North and declared martial law. On February 20, we woke to news reports that thousands of British troops and tanks were now massed just north of the border.
Protection from Irish nazis
On February 24, 2027, British tanks and troops in armoured vehicles rolled across the border into Monaghan, Cavan and Meath meeting only ineffective resistance and they were soon camped outside Dublin. Resistance increased but ultimately lasted only weeks as Irish troops had to withdraw to hold the Midlands and Munster. Surely the world will come to our aid, we thought, as towns and villages were being taken over, men arrested and tortured and women raped.
Various countries pointed however to the fact that we are not in NATO or the new EU defence pact, so while we can purchase EU arms we have only our own troops on the ground. In fact, right-wing governments in the EU are calling for all military aid to Ireland to cease and are describing the invasion as “just another historical domestic squabble within Britain which has been going on for centuries”.
The majority of the world condemns this imperial thuggery, but the British prime minister insists the invasion was to protect British citizens from Irish nationalist nazis.
The British Prime Minister justifies this description by saying that Ireland didn’t support the allies during WW2 and that our president sent condolences on the death of Hitler.
The Taoiseach met Trump to ask for American aid and was humiliated with Trump directly backing Britain and saying:
“You know I have heard those mother and baby homes were like concentration camps, so maybe we need a fresh start there.”
Rewriting history and spreading lies until truth becomes a meaningless concept is part of the fascist playbook, and the best lies contain a kernel of truth.
Life as a refugee
Life in Germany: As a refugee I experience gratitude, incredible generosity, despair, uncertainly, prejudice, and lack of empathy and understanding. As a community worker I am a good communicator; it is one of my key weapons. However, I no longer have this as I am still learning German and feel that I come across as uneducated.
A lovely German family took in me and my wife and kids to stay in their large apartment for free which showed kindness beyond measure. The picture is complex however – the other day my wife was shopping and a local on hearing her speak said to her, “The UK are a great nation, they’re just trying to look after their own people and I don’t know why you are at war with them.”
I drive a BMW, I drove it here as the best means of escape and I need to it to drive to work, to the construction site outside Munich. On seeing it in the car park I was asked why I have an expensive car if I am a refugee? People don’t realise that what is a conceptual debate for some is very real for us and all these interactions are traumatic. There are stories in the media saying the Irish are loaded, they drink too much and are messy on the streets after bars close in city centres.
There are a number of Irish not working due to having to mind children, lack of German language proficiency or qualifications not recognised and the recent news that government payments have been cut to €38.80 means big stress on families and poverty, making is harder to integrate into society. It looks like the warm welcome is becoming a little colder.
Editor’s Note:
Ireland of course looks forward to continuing warm, friendly and co-operative relations with Britain. The scenario pictured here is about promoting empathy.
To suggest ideas or propose a submission as The Secret Community Development Worker, email: editor@changingireland.ie
