[John H K]

Arabs are NOT the Irish of the world.
Apologies are due to Celts everywhere

Had there been a Free Republic in, say, 1850 to 1900, I strongly suspect the opinion of the Irish on it would be some combination of the opinion of Arabs and Mexican immigrants on the FR today.

[ffusco]

Doubtful, as Irish were despised by previous immigrant populations who saw them as a threat to their economic survival. No one thought the Irish were trying to destroy western civilization with a death cult. And as we are no longer a growing industrial nation we are no longer able to assimilate the great unwashed from Mexico, so it is not racism but pragmatism.