Reply #19: This sort of thing has been going on forever.

[demigoddess]

The British tried to annihilate the Irish way back when. I think starting in the 1100's or so the British/English invaded Ireland about every 25 years trying to conquer and finish off the 'savage' tribes. Continuing into the 1800's with laws that prevented the Irish from owning anything, especially land, not allowing a catholic custody of children etc. In Scotland what the English did was called the Clearances. I imagine the same thing could be said for the ancient Romans. History spends more time covering wars and personalities than on general underlying trends.