For many people the word community conjures up images of people the pulling together, working alongside people you know and who you have grown up with, who you know from childhood and who has lived next door to you "forever", and who would help you out of any bit of strife you may find yourself in, with a cup of tea and a chat. Real live people.
I was speaking to a friend about what community means to them recently and I thought I may put another side of the story out there too.
For many foreigners who find themselves living in small Irish communities, the experience may not always be so positive. You may have lived next to the same people for many years and your children may be in the same schools and you may even find yourself going to the same events that they do, you could even work in the same building, like the same sport or cultural events they do, but for many, this does not constitute belonging to the same community. You are somehow "tainted" because you may look different or your accent doesn't quite fit in, or even if you don't agree with the general opinion in the community. For these ostracised people living in these communities, it sometimes becomes more of a burden than a pleasure. They may feel isolated, not only from the people they left behind, but also from the people they choose to join.
As far as I can see it seems pointless to try and make everyone like each other, like one big happy family, because as I have said before, some people just don't like some other people that much, no matter who they are, but at least they have the privilege of getting to know them first before they make that decision.
