Bono & Geldof Cultural Cringe
Why do we hate Bono & Geldof?
I have mentioned before in my
blog that Ireland is suffering from National Stockholm syndrome and that there
is an inferiority complex issue, no one illustrates my point more adequately
than the much maligned and Irish hate figure Bob Geldof. Irish people get
outraged at Geldof; his continual revisionism is downright offensive to some
people. Geldof is an attention seeker, a side effect of dealing with a major
inferiority complex, paradoxically people who suffer with an inferiority
complex often times manifest symptoms of a superiority complex which would
explain his arrogance.
For me I think Bob Geldof
exemplifies perfectly the phenomena known as “Cultural Cringe”
Cultural Cringe is an internalised inferiority complex
which causes people to dismiss their own culture as inferior to the cultures of
other countries. Bob Geldof has certainly shown this in abundance.
His handing back the freedom of Dublin, due to his outrage
at sharing such an honour with Aung San Suu Kyi due to the ongoing Rohyinga
crisis and her handling of it, may to some seem more than hypocritical,
considering he is more than happy to be a an honorary knight of the British
Empire. The very notion of empire is offensive, The British Empire that was
built on the backs of slaves, occupation theft, murder and oppression and let
us not forget that it was the British Empire who introduced the concentration
camp – all this Bob Geldof is apparently OK with.
So aside from the obvious hypocritical nature of his
viewpoint what is it that makes it OK to turn down an Irish Honour, which let’s
be honest is nothing like an OBE, but accept with open arms and gratitude an
honour bestowed by the British Monarchy. It is cultural cringe! Geldof wouldn’t
want to offend the British, he views them as superior and worthy, whereas the
Irish can be insulted and ridiculed because we are thickos and sure he knows
better, he has been enlightened into our backward ways and thoughts by years
spent in England.
So ingrained into the British Culture that he has
adopted, he took a leading role in opposing Brexit, not for any of the reasons
Irish People may oppose it, but because he is number 1 Englishman these days,
who can forget the pathetic sight of Geldof and Nigel Farage sailing about on
the Thames trading insults to each other over the EU Referendum.
He was a no campaigner for Scottish Independence and
memorably likened the 1916 patriots to ISIS Jihadis, Geldof is a true Brit,
when talking about Westminster and British Politics he says “we” and has
declared “the United Kingdom is one of the greatest ideas for the modern age” and people wonder why the Irish hate him!
Now let’s not just be picking on poor oul hangover face
Bob Geldof, he is not alone in being a self-hating Irishman, his good mate Bono
joins him in the ranks.
Like Geldof he too has accepted an honorary knighthood
from the British Monarchy. Many will know the U2 song Bloody Sunday, a direct
reference to the murder of 14 innocent Irish Civilians in 1972 by the
British Army, when talking about it U2 cannot bring themselves to condemn the
murder or offer condolences, instead he focuses on the condemnation of all
violence and openly condemn the IRA!! Ignoring entirely the events from which
he takes the title of his song.
Of course when David Cameron gave an apology in the
House of Commons nearly 40 years later, self-appointed spokesperson Bono
sycophantically heaped praise on him, Bono has condemned many incidents in
Ireland, The Omagh Bomb, Enniskillen etc but not once have I heard him outright
condemn the British Army for their atrocities. His moral outrage is reserved
only for his fellow Countrymen and not those who have occupied us.
Only on Sunday Past, the once self described aggressive
Pacisift Bono, dedicated the song "in the name of love" to the
British Military. The admiration he has for the British Government and
Military does not allow for him to condemn them, it was all the stupid
paddies fault!
Of course in Bono and Geldof’s eyes us Irish need
looked after, we are not fit to run our own affairs, and we need the British to
come in and adult the situation. We don’t know what is good for us.
Now Geldof, Bono and the rest of this crew will put our
criticisms down to begrudgery, so self-assured are they in their righteousness,
we are all just jealous backward types. But it is far from this, for
centuries we have been oppressed, our culture driven underground in an attempt
to properly colonise and own us, it has worked to such an extent that even some
Irish people as evidenced by Geldof and Bono have bought into this notion that
we are inferior. Colonialism is successful when you can get the natives on
board with it and by God have they got two brilliant ones with Bono &
Geldof!
Cultural Cringe in Ireland is not a new phenomenon; it
is part of the colonial/slave mentality and goes back centuries. It has
affected many areas of Irish Culture from Irish Language, music and dress to
even some people modifying their accents!
While I use the term Cultural Cringe or slave
mentality, I think the good old fashioned “West Brit” sums it up perfectly.
Cáit
So many similarities with many Caribbean islands/ers...Well written
ReplyDeleteGreat read Cait, thanks.
ReplyDeletewell said from Scotland.
ReplyDelete