Letters

Letters from Irish Voice readers

Letters

July 17, 2008

America the (Not) Beautiful

PATRICK O’Dea gives us the Darby O’Gill version of America’s so called “goodness,” with its arms outstretched to the huddled masses (“God Bless Both Nations,” July 2-8).

Cheez, will you people never learn that the U.S. is today the pariah of the world, with shameful foreign policies designed to intimidate and destroy. This is what you’re all about.

O’Dea’s notion that we’d be speaking German in Ireland but for the (late) Yanks coming ashore on D Day in Normandy, when the Russians had all but defeated the German forces in the previous three years, is an old chestnut, well worn and mildly amusing. There are more speaking German in the U.S. than in Ireland or anywhere else outside of Germany, so that “argument” goes nowhere.

Patrick is also totally out of touch with the reality of the Korean issue. The fact is North and South Korea would like nothing more than to be reunited, but it is the Americans who are determined to keep them apart, thereby maintaining their unwanted presence on the peninsula.

He might also be not be aware of the atrocities carried out by the U.S. during that unnecessary slaughter of 1950-’52. For example, it’s come to light within recent years that hundreds of refugees fleeing to the southern part of the country because of the fighting were deliberately mown down by U.S. jet fighters.

This was on the direct orders of Washington. This was done to make it look as if it was the Chinese who were guilty.

The aim? To make China look bad to the rest of the world. How stupid.

It was U.S. pilots who could no longer live with their own guilt who blew the whistle on that one. The UN’s involvement in the U.S. aggression against the Korean people is indeed the most shameful episode of its history, but that is a separate story.

So what is the next wonderful U.S. “proud” adventure to crop up in the letters page, one wonders?

I have no doubt as to the decency of Patrick’s parents and their haunting stories of Ireland. The Biddy Early one is widely known.

It is of a woman who married her stepson after her husband had died of drink, and she spoke to fairies and was credited with the faith healing of people and animals. Her second husband also died of the booze, so the saga of Biddy is a very edifying one, we suppose.

The story of the Black and Tans was of a more serious issue to have learned as youngsters. My father, his two brothers and my grandfather on my mother’s side were in that War of Independence. Nothing romantic about that time or the horror of the Civil War that followed.

As I said before, having opinions which are not America-friendly is not a crime. Patrick and his ilk could do themselves great service by informing themselves as to the real truth about the U.S., which like all nations has some good qualities and ideas too.

The problem is that the U.S. sees only itself as “the world,” and anything outside of its own territory(much of it stolen from Mexico) is fair game for abuse and invasion.

On the whole, the behavior of America in world affairs over the past 50 years has been questionable and often diabolical.

Robert O’Sullivan
Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland

Great Irish Americans

MARY O’Brien’s rather silly article on dating may have seemed harmless to some, but it was an unfair and inaccurate description of most Irish American males.

Her claim that these guys will talk about what she terms “The Troubles” as if they lived it is not something that I, a native of Belfast, have experienced with them. Certainly I have seen Irish Americans display a strong degree of passion and emotion relating to the struggle in the North.

This sort of thing usually manifests itself at concerts and rallies. I see it not as something to be made fun of, but rather as an example of their interest and concern for Nationalists in Northern Ireland.

I have always been impressed by the high level of knowledge many Irish Americans have in regard to the situation in the North. This is in stark contrast to the apathy displayed by my fellow countrymen in the 26 counties.

Instead of lampooning Irish Americans, Ms. O’Brien would do well to remember that if it wasn’t for the concern and energy of they have, there would be no Good Friday Agreement. The recent economic investment forum held in Belfast is further proof that the U.S. is still prepared to assist Ireland in whatever way possible.

Ironically, the Irish Voice is a big supporter of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and the plight of the undocumented Irish in America. Articles like the one penned by Ms. O’Brien will do little to endear Irish Americans to their situation. Instead of laughing at Irish Americans, she should try and encourage their support.

Myself and untold thousands of other Irish people are eternally grateful to Irish American Congressmen Brian Donnelly and Bruce Morrison. It was because of these two men, and many others, that we secured citizenship in this great country.

Far from making fun of them, I probably owe my life to them.

Anthony McCann
New York, New York

Facts About the Church

TO dear letter writer Tomas O’Liathain, who penned “History Lesson Needed” in last week’s issue, do not fear, for this is no “holier than thou” or “martyr for the Romish Church” writing.

Yes, I do go to Mass on Sundays and hold my faith in high regard. However, the apparent brainwashing has not manifested itself yet.

I was born and bred in the Bronx of parents who hail from Co. Cork and Glasgow, Scotland respectively.

Your reply to Mae Doyle Sullivan’s previous letter is rather powerful, quite vitriolic in fact with its anti-Catholic and anti-Irish sentiment. The stink you raise about Irish Catholic history is based on some questionable “facts.”

You go on quite a bit about the Celtic Church that existed a thousand years ago. Given Ireland’s outpost on the fringe of Western Europe and its geographical distance from Rome, there is no doubt that over the latter centuries of the first millennia the church in Ireland developed many of its own rituals and rites.

You say Rome “smashed the Celtic Church asunder and imposed itself upon Ireland centuries ago after the Dark Ages.” The “smashing” was done by none other than Henry II with the good will of Pope Adrian IV.

Pope Adrian, a/k/a Nicholas Breakspear, was an Englishman. Henry wanted to go to Ireland to make sure everything was going as things go in Rome.

Henry was not concerned about the religious practices of the native Irish at the time as he intended many to think. Pope Adrian certainly did not want to displease Henry at the time so he gave the green light for Henry to go to Ireland in any case under the pretense of straightening out those Irish.

At the end of the day “Mr. O’ Liathain” I think you would have been disappointed with the actual reality of Christianity practiced in Ireland at the time. It may have been a bit too “popish” for you even then.

I am not going to delve into 800 years of English-Irish history now. You have given us all a “history lesson” already and we should be the better off for it, apparently.

Centuries of Irish strength and courage, acquiescence and slavery in dealing with the neighbors across the Irish Sea have made the Irish a people and nation of faith — Catholic at that — and strength. So forgive my ancestors for not just accepting their “fate as being part of the Kingdom of Great Britain” by virtue of faith or politics.

I find it amusing that you sign off using the Irish spelling of your name. So in like fashion, I pray Long Live His Holiness Benedict XVI and the people and island of Ireland!

Nollaig O’Buochalla
Bronx, New York

Share this story: digg this | Add to del.icio.us

Print Save Discussions

Discuss

Email a friend