National Obsession
I heard someone comment recently that 'our problem is that the country is so young'. At the time, I thought what a load of self-indulgent rubbish. However, as is often the case, I find myself coming around to agreeing once I've thought a little more about the point.
It seems to me that as a nation we spent the early part of our existence in a subservient need-to-please mode like some little child whose greatest fear is separation anxiety. Then we became the crass, unruly teenager who thumbed its nose at those around us who (little did we realise) knew much more than we did.
The GSTQ/Corker thing is interesting cause we are now trying to convince ourselves that we've moved on. We're bigger than the childish ways of previous generations. But secretly our biggest fear now is that some dipstick will make a show of us on the international arena. And we'll end up being morto!
Of course there will come a time when we learn to care about our behaviour because we think it important rather than because of how it might seem to the outside world. But I suppose we're such a young nation and have so much more to learn!
Paige
It seems to me that as a nation we spent the early part of our existence in a subservient need-to-please mode like some little child whose greatest fear is separation anxiety. Then we became the crass, unruly teenager who thumbed its nose at those around us who (little did we realise) knew much more than we did.
The GSTQ/Corker thing is interesting cause we are now trying to convince ourselves that we've moved on. We're bigger than the childish ways of previous generations. But secretly our biggest fear now is that some dipstick will make a show of us on the international arena. And we'll end up being morto!
Of course there will come a time when we learn to care about our behaviour because we think it important rather than because of how it might seem to the outside world. But I suppose we're such a young nation and have so much more to learn!
Paige
Labels: growing up
posted by Paige A Harrison at 4:45 p.m.
4 Comments:
I agree with you Paige. We show our immaturity as a nation in many ways, but we are making many changes very quickly. We are a bit like a small company who can implement an accounts package in 1 week, where it takes a bigger company 1 year.
BTW - it was nice to see the crowd today behaving themselves and showing respect. And we showed a different type of maturity by winning big on the pitch! A great day. Also, how appropriate in Croke Park for a GAA style score by a great kick and catch and try involving O'Gara and Horgan!
Am still not sure what that "fuss" was about. It was a stonking game. You analysis of the country is spot-on. Of course we shouldn't forget; though neither should we allow the past to anchor us to age old enmities, but we are moving on, and that's what's really important.
I think you're on to something here: the application of a child development framework to the birth and maturing of a nation...
You have a doctoral thesis awaiting you...
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