LETTERS

Letters from Irish Voice readers

LETTERS

March 26, 2008

False Proclamation

EACH Easter the Proclamation is read with great solemnity at the 1916 commemoration. It is treated almost as a sacred document. I assert that in fact it is most seriously flawed in that it encapsulates and perpetuates the root causes of the conflict on this island. It says, “The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman.”

This is a belligerent threat to one million Unionists who had, by then, very forcefully proclaimed their right to self-determination.

Likewise, its statement that “ the difference carefully fostered by an alien government, which have divided a minority from the majority” is totally dishonest. The British always contemplated a single Home Rule Parliament for all of Ireland, and were surprised by the strength of Unionist opposition.

They tried every kind of persuasion, including a threat to send in the army to coerce Unionists into all-Ireland Home Rule. Only when the army effectively refused did the British government accept that Unionists could opt out.

The uncritical acclamation of the Proclamation only contributes to our self-delusion and double think in relation to the conflict on this island.

Dick Keane
Dublin, Ireland

The Book on Cormac

I TOTALLY agree with the recent letters from New York, New Jersey and Maine that appreciate the wonderful columns by Cormac MacConnell. A few weeks back, there was an issue that did not have a “West’s Awake” in it, and I felt cheated. I look forward to it so much.

Last year I was to be out of the country for several months and so suspended my subscription. Fortunately I was in Ireland for a semester of school, and a wonderful instructor told me that I could probably also find a column by Mr. MacConnell in The Clare People. I did and enjoyed his wisdom, compassion and insight there as well.

I would go letter writer Michael Hegarty one further and inquire if anyone has ever suggested a collection of past stories being compiled into a book? My notebook of clippings is getting out of hand.

Marie Vincent
Vanderbilt, Michigan

Dog Day Media

THE Pavlov’s dog experiment proved that if a bell is rang repeatedly every time a dog receives food the dog will salivate at the ringing of a bell at any time. It is known as the conditioned reflex, or better yet the knee jerk reaction. I believe that the left wing media today play us like Pavlov’s dog. They repeatedly ring the bell of doom and gloom, and we reflexively convulse with anxiety.

A singular good example of this is John O’Donnell’s letter “Obama Will Lead Us” in last week’s issue. Mr. O’Donnell gives us a litany of his anxieties about many bad things which when summed up says, America is a disaster at home and abroad and is on the brink of extinction.

I am sure Mr. O’Donnell gets his information from the media he chooses, and in my mind, having read his letter , there must have been a lot of bells of gloom and doom ringing in those media sources.

One thing is certain, though. These left wing media sources lack all perspective. Let us not forget that compared to most of the rest of the world, America is a paradise.

As far as I am concerned, America’s current problems are no greater than past generations. We had world wars, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, Lincoln’s Civil War where 600,000 Americans died, the No Irish Need Apply period, and a Great Depression.

Despite all this and much more America still stands tall and continues to solve her problems. Millions still want to emigrate here.

The next generation will have problems to solve also unless the story of the fall of Adam and Eve, which has stood the test of time, is divinely reversed. Of course Hillary or Obama could transcend and solve all problems forever — the unrealistic fantasy of the left wing materialists.

As for me, my greatest anxiety is to have to witness the media becoming more and more the message, and we becoming more and more like Pavlov’s dog.

John Rogers
Voorhees, New Jersey

Thanks for Hannity

I FOUND the St. Patrick’s issue featuring the Sean Hannity interview extremely informative. I wasn’t aware of the extent of his Irish roots. He certainly seems proud of them.
It’s good to see that the Irish Voice gives equal space to conservatives as well as liberals. Hannity and Hillary sharing the same cover was a sight to see. Thank you.

Robert A. Kelly
Chicago, Illinois

It’s Over, Hillary

IN the March 12-18 issue, Niall O’Dowd wrote that the Democratic nomination “is still anyone’s race.”

Like a plucky catfish several hours out of the water, O’Dowd struggles on, but in vain. Sorry, Bucko, it’s all over, and has been for several weeks. Your man Obama is the nominee.

But there’s serendipity in this for the Democrats. Because of those tapes of Obama’s long-time friend and pastor Reverend Wright enunciating the word of God, the Democrats have been handed an effective and pithy slogan for next fall which spells out precisely what they stand for: God damn America.

Thomas Mahoney
Buffalo Grove, Illinois

Hannity a Bad Choice

I AM dismayed by the Irish Voice’s decision to devote the centerfold of the St. Patrick’s Day supplement to a fluff article on Sean Hannity. Mr. Hannity’s personal philosophy that people should shape their own destinies free of government interference is the same philosophy that hastened the deaths of millions of Irish in the 1840s at the hands of the British government.

His attempt to portray himself in the article as being firm in his stance against illegal immigrants, but being empathetic toward their plight, is a far cry from the fear mongering against the undocumented he spews on the airwaves daily. He and his followers are the vanguard of the 21st century version of the Know Nothings.

With so many accomplished Irish Americans who have been a positive force in this world to pick from, why the Irish Voice would choose an anti-labor union, anti-immigrant, jingoistic, conservative radio entertainer to profile on St. Patrick’s Day is a puzzlement.

Jim O’Donnell
Point Pleasant, New Jersey

He’s a Hero

I WOULD like to respond to the letter “He’s No Hero” (March 5-11) authored by Robert O’Sullivan from Co. Cork. In his letter, O’Sullivan questions Senator John McCain’s status as a hero. I would like to ask Mr. O’Sullivan what he thinks qualifies him to be the expert on who is and isn’t a hero.

Has he ever served his country’s armed forces with honor? If he did, and he became a P.O.W., would he turn down the offer to be released because the men that he was imprisoned with were not given the same opportunity? I imagine not.

Mr. O’Sullivan, Senator McCain is a hero. Perhaps you should educate yourself on what the man has experienced and what he has accomplished.

Until you do that you are nothing more than an extremely ignorant person, and would be wise to keep your opinions to yourself as to not have your intelligence questioned.

Brendan O’Neill
Pleasantville, New York

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