FREE ESSAY ON IRISH RESEARCH PAPER

IRISH RESEARCH PAPER

Shawn Fernandez
3/05/01
ICS 7
Research Paper
Irish Culture in America
I. Introduction
The history of Ireland is diverse and fact is mixed with fiction. Through the years in
which Ireland had a famine, many people migrated over to the United States in order to
have a better life and gain some prosperity. When they arrived they were met with less
than open arms, but rather a whole new world of discrimination. I will be discussing the
summary I have done on the discrimination of Irish in America today, followed by my
reactions, two other Irish blooded reactions, the history, identities, and transitions,
of these people of which I learned through doing this research. 
II. Research Summary
The readings on Irish immigrants in America led me to understand the racism and culture
that is new to them from where they used to live and also showed me their personal views
of their treatment by the American society. The article in West Magazine is very good,
covering many factors relating to the perception of Irish immigrants and their
descendents living in the Santa Clara Valley. The article discussed the racism Irish
Americans endured, the religion, and the culture that is celebrated. The article is very
relevant to the values and communication of Irish Americans and other cultures. 
The Irish throughout time have been stereotyped as a very low-culture people. Many people
have characterized the Irish as "fighters and drinkers," (Krim & Early, 1995, p.31) which
is not true, because many Irish who are normal working, non-drinking or non-fighting
individuals. However, when the holiday called St. Patrick's Day comes around, it is
celebrated with drinking and eventually fighting. The reality is that no matter what bar
you go into, you can find a drunk fighting about something, and the drunks are people of
all nationalities and cultures. "Me and my father have been sober for more than 5 years,"
(Krim & Early, 1995, p.31). Not all the Irish drink and the stereotype is false in many
cases pertaining to Irish Americans.
Another value of the Irish is uncertainty avoidance, "which concerns the degree to which
people who feel threatened by ambiguous situations respond by avoiding them" (Martin &
Nakayama, 2000, 70). This leads the Irish to "prefer to reduce rules, accept dissent, and
take risks" (Martin & Nakayama, 2000, 70). This can be supported by the massive
immigration to the United States during the Potato Famine. Many Irish took to the seas
during this period, and it was a great risk for so many to cross a sea and enter a world
new to them, breaking away from the British power that controlled their lives. This
emigration also demonstrates a sense of free will, which encompasses the need for change
and to continue trying even if you fail. I noticed that the Irish are perceived as a
group that works hard for what it wants and doesn't seem to give in to the norms of
society. 
The new vision of Irish immigrants seems to be much healthier than that of previous
generalizations. The action and doing value, which is entangled in the values, seems to
be present in the lives of Irish immigrants, "The young Irish coming over here today are
much more sophisticated, more educated, and more ambitious " (Krim & Early, 1995, p.33).

There is a definite sense of the contact hypothesis in the Santa Clara Valley, where
cultures seem to communicate better than if they were separated by culture. "The big
melting pot of this city (San Jose) brings cultures together, where in other areas of the
country, are still segregated based on race" (Morgan, 2001). This is relevant because it
means that the chances of group members being of equal status are higher. Therefore,
communication can exist between cultures without the dominance issue, being the lower
class in job or race. The Santa Clara Valley race issue is not a factor or a prerequisite
to be dominant. The Irish can integrate into any conversation and almost any culture
without being seen as a threat to the other culture. They even relate to being a minority
in some cases, "We hide feelings, " "Irish have a distrust for authority," "Some think we
are stupid or uncultured," "I've even been called a paddy or mink"(Krim & Early, 1995,
p.33) basically a norm for most minorities in societies carrying a dominant culture or
race. Whenever a group has a separate identity compared with the rest of the surrounding
groups or cultures, the chances of discrimination or racism increase tremendously.
III. Reactions & Analysis
My own reactions to the readings were mixed. The books, which I read, had contrasting
views based on people and culture. It seems to me that many people are very judgmental
and take things to heart, where others seem to be more comfortable with their identity
and proud rather than easily affected by discriminatory words. The West article told
about both sides of Irish Americans living in this county. The bad experiences were
blatant and quoted with as much emphasis as possible for greatest impact to the reader.
The good side was directly contrasted. The author could have included a gray area to show
the common ground for Irish Americans in the Silicon Valley, but chose to make the issues
more controversial. 
The generalization that Irish drink and fight may or may not relate to me. Since I turned
20, I have been drinking heavily at least every other day. So I have no premise to say
that Irish don't drink, except that I think this is just a phase in my life right now. My
father, who is also Irish, drinks a lot, and has been doing so for quite a while. So,
based on my experience I have no evidence that Irish do not like to drink.
As for the fighting, I have not been in a fight for 3 years, so I am not completely able
to fend off that stereotype based on my own experience. As for my father, well, let's
just say he doesn't back down from confrontations very easily. Therefore, I must agree
with these generalizations.
The one which I must disagree with is that the Irish are discriminated against. I see
discrimination everyday, and rarely do I see an Irish as the one being harassed or taken
down because of the way they talk, where they are from, or because of their history. 
The values continua: 
Control ?---------------------------a Free Will
The Irish are much more on the side of Free Will rather than control, because they are
open to change and freed themselves from the clutches of famine to better their
situation.
Single Focused ?--------------------------------a Multi-Focused
Slow Paced ?-----------------------------a Fast Paced
The Irish seem to be very single focused based on the books I read, although I feel that
based on the environment in these days and place, they tend to be multi-focused and fast
paced, especially in the Silicon Valley.
Doing ?--------------Being----------------a Becoming
Past ?----------------Present------------a Future
I feel that the Irish get things done, but the "being" value is very highly stressed in
the books. The past is also very valued in Ireland, and traditions are respected. I would
agree that history is very important with the readings I have done and my experiences.
Low Context ?--------------------a High Context
Informal ?-----------------------a Formal
Emotional Expression ?-----------------------------a Emotional Restraint
The readings emphasize that the Irish are informal and indirect. They don't always say
everything that they want to say, and can be informal in manners at times because of
family orientation. They were also tainted as being emotionally restrained mostly in part
to British rule and the inferiority of Irish in their homeland.
Public ?------------------------a Private
The reading drifts toward privacy, and the security within family. I tend to agree with
the readings here as well.
Hierarchy ?-------------------a Equality
There tend to be equality as much as possible, besides the history of Ireland, the Irish
have always wanted equality and to escape British rule.
Individualistic ?----------------------a Collectivist
High Profile ?-------------------------a Low Profile
The readings demonstrate high individualism in groups, as an organization or club, which
can be different than a big congregation in order to promote change. The profile of the
Irish was different in many articles, and therefore I would base the mark on middle
profile. It varies depending on whom you talk to.
Highly Competitive ?-----------------------------a Cooperative
Task ?-----------------------a Relationship
Achievement ?--------------------------a Character
Aggressive?--------------------------a Harmonious
Through the readings, I found that many Irish are cooperative, stemming from their
upbringing within families where people helped each other with what they needed done. I
also found that relationship was important for the same reasons, family. Character and
aggressiveness were the traits most impeding in the reading. 
Flexibility ?-------------------------a Order/Structure
There is much order, because things need to be done, and if there is no order, and
structure, there tends to be chaos and instability. 
Linear ?------------------------a Holistic
The tendency of Irish is to be very holistic, and look for more than one way to figure
out a problem. This was true though the readings and in my own experience. 
IV. Interviews:
The generalizations were somewhat true. That is how they become generalizations in the
first place. The interviewees both agreed that they were somewhat true. If you go back to
Ireland you will find the bars full at dusk, and fights are commonplace at these pubs.
The point being made about being a minority in places was not really true for them,
unless you go to a black dominated are or Asian dominated area, where any white person
would feel like a minority. 
Constance Wallace Morgan Newberg, 1st generation Irish American, Female 70's
a) What made your parents decide to immigrate to the U.S.? Do many Irish come here for
the same reasons? "Parents were looking for a new opportunity and wealth."
b) If you have children: What Irish values, behaviors, and customs do you want your
children to learn and remember? "The Irish Jig and Catholicism."
c) Can you give some examples of some things some Americans do that you find frustrating
or annoying or disrespectful? "No not really, it would be racist to say anything
annoying."
d) Are there American behaviors you don't want your children to adopt? "Rap music,
tattoos, and guns."
e) What Irish values or behaviors will you never give up, even though some Americans
don't seem to understand or value them? "Corn beef and cabbage as my Sunday meal. I am
not sure if it is a tradition, rather something I have grown up doing and will continue
for the rest of my life."
f) Do you find that you use different styles to talk to different people? For example,
when you talk to other Irish, or Irish Americans, are there some things you do or say
that you would not do or say when talking to other Americans? " I would not make any
derogatory language to the group I talk about with my family. I also speak slower to
those with heavy accents, it seems to be more effective in communicating."
g) What is most important to you about being an Irish-American? "St. Patrick's Day, the
only celebration of an Irish person we have in America is held dear to me." I
h) What are the 2 or 3 most important events in the Irish immigrant experience here in
the U.S.? "Religion, the importance of Protestant Catholicism in the U.S. and the
acceptance of Irish in the American community."
Patrick O'Toole, Irish American, late 40's
a) What made your descendants decide to immigrate to the U.S.? Do many Irish come here
for the same reasons? "They came during the Potato Famine in the 1850's, along with
thousands of other immigrants."
b) If you have children: What Irish values, behaviors, and customs do you want your
children to learn and remember? "I have been in America for my whole life, and my parents
were born here as well, the only tradition I can think of is celebrating St. Patrick's
Day with family."
c) Can you give some examples of some things some Americans do that you find frustrating
or annoying or disrespectful? "I think that Americans are in too much of a rush, you
rarely see anybody go to a bar after work and relax, the work days seem to last until
midnight."
d) Are there American behaviors you don't want your children to adopt? "The fast paced
lifestyle and no time for family, which I continue to see in society, also I want my
children to marry one person they love and not go through marriage after marriage."
e) What Irish values or behaviors will you never give up, even though some Americans
don't seem to understand or value them? "I will never give up going to church on Sunday,
although it is not just from my culture, I feel a good moral background and appreciation
for God is important."
f) Do you find that you use different styles to talk to different people? For example,
when you talk to other Irish, or Irish Americans, are there some things you do or say
that you would not do or say when talking to other Americans? "I use shorter words for
many Asians I talk to, because I am not sure how much they understand."
g) What is most important to you about being an Irish-American? "I am just proud of being
successful, because that was the whole idea of my ancestors who traveled over the ocean,
and I have healthy children, and a beautiful wife."
h) What are the 2 or 3 most important events in the Irish immigrant experience here in
the U.S.? "The acceptance of Americans at Ellis Island when the immigrants came here to
seek refuge from the famine. I can't think of anything else."
I found that when asking about how they speak to people of other nationalities they both
had a nervous twitch or motion, because it seemed as though the question made them a
little uncomfortable. It was hard for both of them to answer the last question about the
immigrant experience, due to the nature of their own arrival to the country.
V. Histories, Identities, & Transitions
Some of the Irish history in America was shaped during the Mexican-American War, when the
Irish defected and went to the aide of Mexico, which brought out the power of authority
for the Irish living in the United States, giving them a step down in American society.
"The U.S. anti-immigrant press of the time caricatured the Irish with simian features,
portraying them as unintelligent and drunk and charging that they were seditously loyal
to the Pope" (Martin & Nakayama, 2000, 95). 
Another part of their history was "Ireland's Great Hunger" in 1845 through 1850, where 2
million people died of starvation. The part of this history which is the most important
and why Ireland has so much resentment for Britain, is because the "British landowners
exported 25 million bushels of corn and more than 250,000 sheep to England" (Krim &
Early, 1995, p.31) over the same period when all these Irish died. The history based on
these, has shaped how the Irish react, live, and work in Ireland even today. However,
resentment is not as harsh among Irish immigrants in America. Many have moved on with
their lives and jobs, looking to the future. 
The identity of Irish was not destroyed because of people leaving the homeland, instead
of staying and attempting to win back what was lost. "The Irish tend not to look down on
Irish Americans or Irish Canadians" (Krim & Early, 1995, p.98) for this reason. The
identity which Irish-immigrants brought was a truly American one. The culture of free
speech, press and religion fit perfectly for a group that had escaped from British rule,
as it was for Americans here before the American Revolution. In order to describe the
Irish identity, we can look at pre-Revolutionary Americans. The Irish found the ability
to own land and prosper, although some were poor and suffered a hard life; the idea of
manifest destiny was present for all Irish immigrants coming to America. 
The transition of Irish to American culture was somewhat hard. The difference from being
under British rule to living in American society where freedom and democracy is praised
could be overwhelming, even making some confused at times. The beginning of the big
migration to the U.S. put many Irish immigrants to work in mills and plants at low wages
and bad conditions. As time progressed equality was a more common way for Irish
immigrants. Many moved out west and developed a new way of life. Transition at this age,
in the year 2001, is much easier because the young immigrants coming over know that the
ways of freedom and the fast paced lifestyle are being picked up worldwide. 
VI. Conclusion --- Key Learning's
The key learnings from this paper which I personally experienced were not too dramatic. I
learned that many immigrants who came over in the 1800's were at the bottom of the social
and economic ladder. I also learned that a big majority of Irish Immigrants live right
here in the Santa Clara Valley. The other interesting fact from the readings were that
some Irish felt as though they were not distinguished enough, and put into the big
melting pot of "Caucasian". I thought that it was very common for white people to be put
into the pot, and found no offense to this myself. It was also new to me that Irish are
still immigrating, as business people, to find new jobs and become wealthy in America.
Bibliography
VII.
Bibliography
Collier, James. (2000). A Century of Immigration 1820-1924. New York, NY: Benchmark
Books. (pp.16-26).
Krim, J. & Early, D. (Eds.) (1995, December 10). Voices of Diversity: Irish. West
Magazine, San Jose Mercury News. (pp.31-40).
Martin. J. and Nakayama, T. (2000). Intercultural communication in contexts, (2nd ed.).
Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.
Newberg, C. (2001). Irish American. In her 70's. Interviewed 3/5/01.
O'Connor, Anne-Marie. (1997, September 18). "Mexico, Ireland Recall Immigrant Tale of
Divided Loyalties." Mountain View, CA: Mayfield. (p.A17).
O'Toole, Patrick. (2001). Irish American. Late 40's. Interviewed 3/5/01.