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> There's also the issue where history has basically never been kind to groups of people who felt they could live a stable, boring existence while clinging to o
by Alex3917 9y ago
> There's also the issue where history has basically never been kind to groups of people who felt they could live a stable, boring existence while clinging to old ways and enjoying a high standard of living.
As an interesting counter example, iirc one of the main groups of people who survived the Irish potato famine were the Celts, because they refused to give up the old ways of eating wild Clover and switch to growing potatoes.
Generally I agree though.
EDIT:
source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1UJvl4JeCo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1UJvl4JeCo
- coldtea 9y ago>As an interesting counter example, iirc one of the main groups of people who survived the Irish potato famine were the Celts, because they refused to give up the old ways of eating wild Clover and switch to growing potatoes. Does that mean that those dying of famine could just go eat some wild clover, but they didn't? Doesn't sound right.
- tclancy 9y agoI think you've read a myth: grass isn't particularly nutritious for humans[0] and I doubt the Celts were regularly eating clover. It's an interesting example you raise though, given the famine was caused by rich people ignoring the needs of the poor. [0] http://www.health24.com/Natural/News/Can-humans-eat-grass-20140113 http://www.health24.com/Natural/News/Can-humans-eat-grass-20...
- Alex3917 9y agoIgnoring the fact that Americans get most of their calories from grass, clover is a legume, not a grass. It has a lot of protein, which makes it different than most other wild vegetables.
- Spooky23 9y agoTenant farmers were subsisting on potatoes almost exclusively. They were 19th century serfs. They didn’t have access to expensive grains or meat.
- rorykoehler 9y agoWho are the Celts? I'm Irish and I have never heard of this or heard of the Celts as a separate group of people from Irish people.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- wavefunction 9y agoThe English forced the Irish to grow potatoes and then withheld grain shipments during the famine from their abundant surplussed stores. It's a situation the English have repeated in numerous countries and eras and one of the reasons I think England has a lot to answer for.
- Spooky23 9y agoThe Lord wouldn’t have allowed some lazy Irish wretch eat his horse’s clover. During the famine, Ireland was exporting bumper crops of oats and wheat and other things. It was a completely avoidable tragedy. Starving people would eat whatever they could to survive. There was limited aid that was privately funded and slowest to a trickle as tenants were unable to pay rents. 40% of the population died or emigrated, which reduced demand.