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When Manx Nationalists gathered to commemorate the memory of Manx Martyr, Illiam Dhone, there was also reference to Irish 1916 patriot Thomas MacDonagh.
Delivering the English oration Angela Moffatt, a prominent Trade Unionist, opened with two quotes from MacDonagh and then weaved these into a contemporary message about todays Isle of Man.
She said:
"In An Island
'Mid an isle I stand, Under its only tree: The ocean around - Around life eternity: 'Mid my life I stand, Under the boughs of thee.
Quote; Thomas MacDonagh
"This country will be one entire slum unless we get into action, in spite of our literary movements and Gaelic Leagues it is going down and down. There is no life or heart left in the country."
Quote; Thomas MacDonagh
I've chosen to quote MacDonagh, as his life and beliefs encapsulate some of my own in relation to a sense of national identity.
He was an Irish Nationalist, not much older then me, who died in 1916. Like Illiam Dhone, a rebel, like Illiam Dhone taken out by British forces and executed by firing squad.
In speaking today, I wanted to address what it felt to be Manx today, what I felt my sense of national identity meant in the 21st century. In doing so, it seems strange that I would draw from an Irish nationalist who died nearly 100 years ago - but perhaps not so strange.
Why? Because we have always had a curious relationship with other peoples. I have often thought in the face of wave after wave of invasion and settlement we adopted our own flexible approach. Let them conquer. We will endure, assimilate the best of what is on offer and ultimately use it to our advantage. As such our culture and attitude is enduring, resourceful, inclusive and confident - we have little to be defensive about when we have opened our minds to what others can offer over thousands of years. We do not have a national identity characterised by fear and resulting violence and intolerance of others, although we can be forthright and tough when faced with attempts to belittle and marginalise us.
I think of these qualities, when I think of this island. I think primarily in terms of the landscape around me, and that is why MacDonagh's words have such resonance still.
I think of the sea, forever changing yet unchanging - unpredictable. I think of the trees you see as you climb the Injebreck hill towards Brandywell - weathered, beaten, twisted and worn. Yet still they stand, against all the elements, year after year - and in spring and summer they bud and break into leaf. For me, this is an obvious metaphor for the Manx people - that no matter what, we will thrive and prosper, through our own individual and collective determination.
You may wonder then why I have included the second quote - which seems completely out of place in these prosperous times.
I spoke at this event 15 years ago as a younger but no less passionate individual. I wanted to stress that a key part of national identity was the ability for that to find expression because of economic prosperity - and an economic prosperity fairly shared by all. This was and is the key to maintaining the inclusive and welcoming aspects of our culture. Where groups are excluded or marginalised, our culture, and its security, come under threat and mindless xenophobia emerges. This view was influenced by my very different memories of the Isle of Man from my childhood.
When I grew up, in the Isle of Man of the seventies, it was a fairly grim place. Everything was characterised by a dull, grey, cold sense of decay, made grimmer by a bizarre and increasingly forced cheap seaside merriment that entered our lives for part of the year. There was little money, little freedom of choice in most peoples' lives, attitudes that were intolerant and slow to change and a cultural landscape that was all but through - only kept alive by the dogged efforts of Manx nationalists. In this we were like much of the rest of the world - our practical everyday reality completely influenced by the lack of economic benefit for all sections of society.
I sometimes think that we take all we have now for granted when I think back to that time, and in that there is a warning for us all. I now have a child, and I never want a return for our island to those times, and my experience.
A time when prosperity was something experienced only by the few. A time when hard work produced poor wages and pitiful change in living standards. A time when the Manx language and culture was only saved and promoted by passionate individuals dedicated to saving and building on our unique cultural aspects. And that is again the words of MacDonagh still have resonance. Because we can never allow ourselves to go back, and because real economic and cultural change came when a small but dedicated group of individuals, much mocked at the time as I recall, fought for it. The real spirit of the Manx, the root of our national identity is that resistance to inequality and marginalisation.
Some far sighted individuals took a chance and built an island economy on what became known as 'the finance sector'. And some others took that and built an island economy where the average person was able to take a share in it - by fighting for socio-economic & legislative change, which meant we as an island are able to start to take our place in the world as a modern and truly democratic nation.
But we have a long way to go. Perhaps in 15 years time, we will have an island where the development of our young people is not under threat through potential cuts to training and educational opportunities, which will develop our children and our island. Perhaps in 15 years time, we will have a situation where we won't need trade unions, because we have a society that embraces fairness and equality in all aspects of working life. Perhaps in 15 years time, I will have a child that can listen to the Manx oration and actually understand her own language. All I know is that in 15 years time, those trees at Injebreck will still be there, and that gives me hope.
What is it to be Manx?
It is a national identity that is ALL embracing and progressive, in all areas of life and includes all the people who live here and come to this island and embrace its ways - and I believe in fighting for it.
That to me is the essence of what Illiam Dhone died for, what MacDonagh died for, and what I live for.
Angela Moffatt"
Radio news article and audio clip at:
For an English summary of the Manx oration by Greg Joughin at the Illiam Dhone Commemoration please see Celtic News article at:
In addition the Manx Gaelic address was recorded for Manx Radio and will probably be broadcast in full on this Sundays 'Claare ny Gael' (Sundays 20:00 - 21:00)
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
02/01/08
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