Hi,
People fear what is different. That fear becomes reflected as hate. In many primitive languages, there is only one word meaning both "not of the tribe" and "enemy". And, often, the name the tribe has for itself has the connotation of "human" -- implying that those not of the tribe are animals.
I am told there is an Arab proverb that goes, "Me and my brothers against my cousins. Me and my cousins against the world." The proverb may be Arab, the sentiment is, it seems, universal.
Throughout the history of mankind, almost every group has had its turn at being persecuted or persecutor. The Celts no more or less than any other. Anyone making a big deal of how their ancestors of years ago were treated obviously needs a life in the present, for they are living too much in the past. Yes, it is interesting to read the histories, to ponder what has happened, to learn to avoid the mistakes of the past. When it goes beyond that, to the point of focusing on those mistakes, taking one's identity from them, even attempting to "right" them, then one has crossed the line from scholar to self styled victim. A poor place to be.
And, BTW, although the Romans had contempt for everyone not Roman is a crock two ways. First, the people of Rome considered anything Greek to be superior. They imported Greek artifacts, Greek artisans, Greek tutors. They even imported the Greek religion, keeping little more than the names of the old Roman gods. Second, anyone freeborn anywhere within the empire was a Roman. AFAIK, Rome was the first conquering nation that gave citizenship to the conquered people (at least, in the second generation). Hardly the behavior of a group that had contempt for everyone else. Not the only, just the most glaring, of the errors in your "facts". Perhaps actually reading the books would be indicated?
--Pete
People fear what is different. That fear becomes reflected as hate. In many primitive languages, there is only one word meaning both "not of the tribe" and "enemy". And, often, the name the tribe has for itself has the connotation of "human" -- implying that those not of the tribe are animals.
I am told there is an Arab proverb that goes, "Me and my brothers against my cousins. Me and my cousins against the world." The proverb may be Arab, the sentiment is, it seems, universal.
Throughout the history of mankind, almost every group has had its turn at being persecuted or persecutor. The Celts no more or less than any other. Anyone making a big deal of how their ancestors of years ago were treated obviously needs a life in the present, for they are living too much in the past. Yes, it is interesting to read the histories, to ponder what has happened, to learn to avoid the mistakes of the past. When it goes beyond that, to the point of focusing on those mistakes, taking one's identity from them, even attempting to "right" them, then one has crossed the line from scholar to self styled victim. A poor place to be.
And, BTW, although the Romans had contempt for everyone not Roman is a crock two ways. First, the people of Rome considered anything Greek to be superior. They imported Greek artifacts, Greek artisans, Greek tutors. They even imported the Greek religion, keeping little more than the names of the old Roman gods. Second, anyone freeborn anywhere within the empire was a Roman. AFAIK, Rome was the first conquering nation that gave citizenship to the conquered people (at least, in the second generation). Hardly the behavior of a group that had contempt for everyone else. Not the only, just the most glaring, of the errors in your "facts". Perhaps actually reading the books would be indicated?
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?