Irish the ‘forgotten white slaves’ says expert John Martin

The reason that the Irish are often treated as indentured servants is because, when the practice of enslaving them prevailed, slavery, for Irish and African alike, was forced indenturement; one was a slave only for a set period (usually 7 years) & then was set free. Slavery wasn't for life, nor were one's children automatically born into slavery. That why there was a small population of free African-Americans in the American South; the earliest African slaves were freed after their period of slavery, & some went on to become slave-owners themselves. By the time perpetual slavery was introduced towards the end of the 18th century, the slave trade had shifted exclusively to Africans; as the article points out, they commanded a higher price.

The Black death decimated the Normans in Ireland. The Dalcassian Tribes survived it because they did not trade with the Normans. What traces of Normans that remained after the Black Death mostly Joined the Irish. I dont see this as any different to what Cromwell pulled on the Irish. The Irish have adapted to it. The Irish Fought back and won most of the Irish Island back like it did against the Normans. Now it has the Highest birthrate in Europe and in Northern Ireland there could be a referendum triggered if Enough Irish Migrate North and the Birthrate stays on Track. The main problem though is that the British-Irish in the republic seem to be about 50000 and have a vote that could influence the referendum. What! I still think most of the people will vote in Favor of it once a majority rule is established in the Province. This is when the Likes of Oliver Cromwell will show up again in the History Books. It could be the same in Scotland. Nobody could stop the Anglo Sphere in Iraq or Afghanistan, so the Irish will have to adapt big time and be ready. Its a pity Defense is so GDP dependent. All those old British Empire links still remain and the Irish regularly get affected by this. Its still like Chess over there meanwhile we ponder Tsun Tzu and how it applies to us Dalcassians. We shall Return.

lwts not forget how the cath group christian brotehrs enslaved children in orphanages and reform schools. A good day was a day without a beating or ibeing molested is how a victim summarized it. No woner the church in ireland3is all but dead. Everyone should drop off a bag of those cadaver eating bugs at teh church.

Thanks, WK.

Curtisjohnson: Not for the first time, you have made an interesting point. I had never mentally compared the grievances of Ireland in the late 18th century with those of the American colonies. But now that I think of it you are quite right--we had very little to complain about--a few unfair taxes etc-- compared to what the Irish, especially the Irish Catholics, were suffering. Good post.

What is remarkable is the consensus among terror state “historians” (and self-hating native quislings) that the indigenous people had no justification for rebellions. It’s hard to imagine what additional atrocities the terror state could have perpetrated throughout the centuries to legitimize all forms of resistance – ethnic and cultural cleansing, slavery, manufactured famines, the most brutal forms of torture, the rape and breeding of children, etc. Compare these to the relatively mild grievances which are commonly used to justify the American revolution and one can see the master race psychosis at the root of the anglo view of Irish history.

There is one mistake. James VII/II was not born yet. The proclamation would have been signed by his great grandfather and namesake, James VI/I in 1625. Also the proclamation in question,, I believe was signed some years earlier. Irish were being shipped over to the New World as slaves as early as 1608 in the aftermath of the Flight of the Earls in November 1607and the beginning of the plantation system which systematically removed them from their property and given to English and Scottish Presbyterians. It was, nevertheless, another chapter in the long expanse of Ireland's ugly interaction with the English.

@DublinJoyrider. With all due respect Im not sure if your comment is sarcasm in comical terms. If its not, then your own words, fictional myth applies.Regarding Monserrat,its very disrespectful for any who apportion blame on the victims of British brutality.The white Irish slaves and their surrounding circumstances ,inflicted by Cromwell are not a myth.Britain have long tried to hide their shameful actions against all by censorship etc. Many of their atrocities against Ireland were blamed on the Irish or were justified as British working in our country,s best interest

Dublin - you are incoherent.

The anglo-british terror state should have to pay reparations like their nazi cousins – only the anglo crimes span generation after generation

“Comparing what might have been done in 600 or 700 A.D. with what The English did in Ireland in the 1600's” Anglo slavery was by most measures more barbaric and sadistic than slavery in antiquity – particularly in comparison to the average life expectancy and lifestyle of a Roman slave. In addition to its supremacist bent, anglo slavery was focused on routine and sadistic torture often performed for entertainment of the anglo-planter sickos. Moreover, anglo slavery was done under the auspices of a purportedly Christian outlook which prohibited slavery on its own mainland (while at the same time the Anglican “Church” actually owned, bred, and branded slaves) – therefore sophistic arguments about temporal relativism ring hollow.

Tom: Welll there you go again, always rationalizing it away. Comapring what might have been done in 600 or 700 A.D. with what The English did in Ireland in the 1600's. You point out one or two examples that may or may not have happened in those ancient times, and comapre it with Cromwell's attempts to wipe out the Irish people. Yep, you are Irish, but stil sniveling at the feet of the English.

Tom: Welll there you go again, always rationalizing it away. Comapring what might have been done in 600 or 700 A.D. with what The English did in Ireland in the 1600's. You point out one or two examples that may or may not have happened in those ancient times, and comapre it with Cromwell's attempts to wipe out the Irish people. Yep, you are Irish, but stil sniveling at the feet of the English.

Curtis, Bad as things are today, the past was even worse. I'm optimistic largely courtesy of that long arc of history bending toward justice. In the cosmic view of things, each individual who weathers the storm and manages to place even one grain of sand on the beach has won his/her part of the battle. Alone we are weak; together we can overcome. As Michael Moore is fond of reminding the world, there are far more of us than there are of them. The Occupy movement overall shows promise, especially OccupyMarines. Good grief, I even know lifelong diehard pacifists increasingly ready to pick up a stone. That's why I'm so in favor of political means when possible, because a conflagration once set is impossible to contain. Violent revolution, while historically almost inevitable at a certain tipping point, always 'eats its children'.

Sorry - accidental repost. I agree Meanolgrouch but I am less optimistic than you because some many are blind to the nature of the regimes they live in.