A very interesting comment was made on the youtube page of the above video, that I think deserves a proper answer, by Mary Lawlor:
"Why does the question of racism always have to asked? It is maddening. People are literally being led into the I am not racist response which is exactly what they want to hear coming from your lips. The language of the enemy ought to be avoided, not propagated. They laugh every time someone is forced to say their labels. Stop posing this stupid question as you are playing right into the enemies hands."
Maybe I am a bit repetitive in asking that question but I do it for two reasons, that I think are still valid:
- I am asking the question that many potential protestors just watching this through social media would like answered. In otherwords they are brainwashed into thinking those who oppose IPAS centres are all raving mad fascist/racist/Nazi types and so in asking what they would like to ask, hopefully it grows the audience and potential protestor pool.
- Secondly it challenges people with an interesting question, otherwise sometimes its all the usual party spiel which can get boring very quickly. I don't know what other question could challenge people, because remember I don't know anything about them before interviewing them, usually.
But anyway the point is, and I think this is what the commentator is getting at, that the last few times the interviewees have been asked this they were exceptionally adamant that legal immigration is a great thing and they are not in favour of "Ireland for the Irish." But that surprises me, I didn't think they would be so much like that and I cannot put words in peoples mouths, these are authentic truthful interviews. So why are their answers like that recently, I will guess a few things:
a) It might be that they are at the beginning of this journey of political activism, and are just totally new to the whole thing. Maybe as time goes on and they think more about it they might change their view but right now they are naturally going to be influenced by RTE and what people are taught in schools and third level these days.
b) Unfortunately, since we live in a Communist country, you always have to worry that some protestors are not authentic. That its the usual Communist game of controlling the opposition by leading it, that is at play here.
Anyway I don't know what's the answer, but I do in fact agree with the commentator that its a little depressing sometimes what they reply to that question.
