Below is a summary of the talks given by the two speakers, Sean Love, Executive Director, Amnesty International (Irish section), and Chinedu Dibor from Nigeria. Some of the issues raised at a Q and A after the talks are also outlined. The meeting was introduced by Rev. Bill Darlison and chaired by Dennis Alymer.
Sean Love pointed out that simply tolerating other people is not enough. Collins dictionary gives the primary meaning of tolerance to be the “capacity to endure something”. Living with diversity must mean more.
Marginalised groups feel the importance of being accepted in Irish society. Amnesty has found through research that migrant communities see integration as intermingling with people in ordinary life activities. For many this is not the case.
Travellers feel the same lack of integration. They are despised by many people and tolerated by others. But they feel excluded by, marginalised and treated differently by society and state.
We also tolerate a lot of objectionable acts and activities here. For example we tolerate the detaining of people with intellectual disability in psychiatric institutions. Children with mental illness are detained in adult psychiatric institutions. We tolerate the high levels of domestic and sexual violence experienced by women in the state. We tolerate ‘extraordinary rendition’ by the CIA through Shannon airport rather than offend our “friend” the US.
What should we be aspiring to if tolerance is not an ideal goal?
The UN Human Development Report of 2000, a landmark statement on Human Rights, saw poverty eradication as the major human rights challenge of the 21st century. Poverty is the common denominator among groups likely to be discriminated against in Ireland and is a central problem of Irish society despite our economic revival. We have the most unequal distribution of income in the EU. Despite being ranked the second wealthiest country in the world we have the third highest level of human poverty in 18 industrialised OECD countries as well as having one of the highest rates of child poverty in Europe.
The State in all its manifestations has an obligation to protect the human rights of those in its territory under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Everyone needs to feel accepted and this must embrace diversity. While major strides have been taken to address some forms of discrimination, such as discrimination against women or against people based on their sexual orientations, it is not enough just to change the law the State must also introduce positive measure to make the law meaningful for those not as well placed as others to benefit from Irish society.
Communities and individuals also have responsibility to reach out to marginalised groups and individuals. It is particularly important that we do not confuse ‘equality’ and ‘inclusion’ with the promotion of a mono-culture. The diversity on the streets must be reflected in all levels of public service and government itself. Currently Irish public life does not reflect this diversity. People with disability or from ethnic minorities are not found in the Oireachtas, the judiciary etc. They do not share in media discussion on general matters and are only included when there is a problem specific to their grouping.
We can address this through education, by ensuring that minority cultures and values find their place in school curricula. The ‘Educate Together’ philosophy is addressing this at primary school level by allowing children and parents of all faiths, and none, equal respect in the operating and governing of education. They also have a culturally inclusive and democratic ethos, while promoting the values of cultural diversity.
We have to acknowledge the challenges presented by diversity. Incitement to hatred is a crime regardless of its source, no matter what cultural excuses are made for it. Female genital mutilation is illegal regardless of the cultural claims made for it. Tolerance will also be challenged by extreme circumstances e.g. the London bombings last June. A downturn in our economic circumstances could easily result in problems for immigrant communities.
Why do we tolerate vital service providers such as the Hospice Foundation, children’s hospitals etc. having to fundraise to maintain services? Why do we not demand an end to a system of clientilism etc.?
A human rights based approach to policy would eliminate such behaviour. Essential services would be available to all on the basis of equality. A system genuinely based on human rights – equality, participation and empowerment - would be best placed to deal with any challenges that lie ahead.
Chinedu Dibor from Nigeria (who considers himself Biafran) has been in Ireland for four months. He quoted the Collins dictionary definition of tolerance as saying that tolerance is allowing other people to say and do what they like, even if you do not agree or approve of it. It also says that if someone or something has a tolerance to a substance, they are exposed to it so often that it does not have very much effect on them.
For Irish people it is a new experience to have foreigners living among them, but we need to learn to tolerate one another and live in harmony.
Nelson Mandela said if you speak to a man in a language he understands it gets to his head, but if you speak in his language, it gets to his heart. Is mise Chinedu Dibor. Tá me im mo chonaí i Bhaile Atha Cliath.
I am Chinedu Dibor from Awka in Eastern Nigeria, noted for its speciality in blacksmithing. It manufactures mostly farm tools, musical instruments and many other metal products. It manufactured many of the guns and ammunitions used by Biafrans during the civil war in the late 1960s.
Would the Nigerian government give Irish migrants houses, food and money if the situation was reversed? There would be local opposition unless the government made a deliberate effort to communicate, educate and enlighten people on the reasons why these Irish people migrated to Nigeria. If this was not done, it would be a time bomb, waiting to explode.
The Irish government has a responsibility to communicate to the Irish people why there are immigrants around them and how unsafe it is for some of these people to remain in their own countries. Irish people need to understand that there is an international obligation and responsibility to care for people fleeing from persecution.
Irish people too had to migrate. Once upon a time in some countries there were dehumanising signs that read “No dogs, No Blacks, No Irish… Let us do unto others as we would love it done unto us.
A woman in her 50s spoke to me in Dublin city centre – “You Africans go back to your countries and leave us to ourselves”. I asked her if she could, would she push a button to turn Ireland back to the way it was 30 years ago. She did not answer.
When we blame the government we should also look at ourselves and remember our own responsibilities. We need to find tolerance within ourselves first and then try to enlighten, encourage and influence the people around us to love and tolerate one another regardless of race, religion, colour or creed.
People migrate for safety mainly, in search of peace and justice, and then face racial abuse and deportation back to danger. Africans here feel like Julius Caesar who was stabbed by his friend Brutus.
As a boy growing up in Nigeria, I knew Irish Catholic priests who were caring, kind and friendly. These priests stayed back during the Civil War to support the oppressed and dying Biafrans with food and medical aid. These priests were deported after the war by the same government that is in power today.
Migrants should be allowed to contribute to Irish society just as Irish people did in the countries they migrated to.
A dualistic vision divides humanity into “we” and “they”. “Good” and “bad”. Where “we” are naturally seen as good, and “they” as bad. Race and religion play a part in this demonising of others. Often manipulated by politics race and religion have become the motivating force behind some of the world’s atrocities. The need for dialogue has therefore grown.
The rise of fundamentalism and a misreading of scriptures have led to terrible crimes against humanity. Racism, nationalism, tribalism and xenophobia often speak louder than the gospel values. Fanaticism can find an echo deep within many people who consider themselves religious.
People today need to break out of the cocoon of ethnocentricity and make diversity a source of richness not disunity. As Christians it is important that our dialogue is rooted in God’s word. In the holy bible God is never a “God of Himself”, but a “God in Relationship with”. We can only be fulfilled to the extent that we can create communities of dialogue and life giving relationships. Isolation, individualism and egotism lead to frustration as we deny our own nature.
‘What ever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters – you do unto me’.

Go raibh maith agat
Slán Libh Thank You

Can we all stand up and hold hands and sing along with ‘Lean on Me’… Let us be that shoulder our brothers and sisters can lean on when they are not strong, so they can someday be that shoulder we can lean on when we need one……

Q and A Discussion
Floor: There is great potential for trouble if the Government does not get it together. I am horrified to the extent to which poor people in particular are afraid, or racist. It is up to all of us to reach out our hands.
Chair: It is fine now that the economic situation is good.
Floor: The Herald newspaper highlights divisive cases. Such publicity divides issue into ‘for’ and ‘against’.
Chair: Does Amnesty find ‘bad publicity’ a factor?
Sean Love: Leadership is negative. The media is negative towards marginalised groups including migrants and travellers. There is an absence of leadership. We should be dealing with the situation in a holistic way. It should be part of our school curriculum. We need strong political leadership.
Floor: We are nominally a democracy. However the lower turnout at elections is dangerous. It is worrying that politicians are often seen as ‘all the same’. There is a need for work at local levels. People are feeling disempowered. We need to value and use democracy for all those in trouble.
Floor: We tolerate too many things. There are many events we should refuse to tolerate.
Floor: Irish society is a hundred times better than the society I come from (Russia). In Russia, Africans need to carry passports as they are stopped all the time. We should not let this happen here.
Floor: I am not optimistic about the changes needed happening here. The rate of change will be slow. Education is wonderful, but it will take our children to become parents to pass on a fair mind set.
Sean Love: My view is not so pessimistic. We have a lot to be positive about. The answer lies in approaching difficulties through a human rights framework. It is worth referring to “Our Rights, Our Future” an Amnesty report, available through our office in Fleet Street.
Chair: It is perhaps easier to be a ‘white’migrant here. Wondered if street abuse is more prominent here or is there progress happening?
Chinedu: I am not here long enough to know if there is an improvement. Irish people, the majority, are not racist. The minority who are express themselves.
Floor: The problem is not necessarily racism, it is ignorance. We also have institutionalised racism, witness the current judicial review of the case of the sick Irish child, whose African mother was signed for deportation. People are now being rounded up for deportation to the Sudan and Congo. The media silence is deafening. There is a protest today at the Garda National Immigration Bureau at Burgh Quay. There will be good cross party support for the case being made by Residents Against Racism.
Racism crosses political boundaries. We need support from all ‘right-thinking people’. We need a fair press. We need an independent commissioner to deal with asylum cases. It needs to be taken out of the political arena.
Carmel White