The Gaelic Option

THERE has been much debate on this page about the pros and cons of the Gaelic language, most of it staunchly in favor of keeping Gaelic as a mandatory subject in Irish schools in order to keep the tradition alive.

I enjoyed a holiday in Ireland this summer with my wife and child. It was my third time in the country where my grandparents were born. They came here at the turn of the century, and managed to create a good life for themselves in spite of having nothing to start with.

We grew up with many traditions in my staunchly Irish American house, but the Gaelic language wasn’t one of them. We kept our heritage strong by taking Irish dance and music lessons, attending parades around St. Patrick’s Day, and so forth.

Ireland is a changing nation for sure, and it seems to be that holding on to Gaelic just because it’s the national language is a bit of a waste. Ireland, thanks to the Celtic Tiger, is a multi-national nation competing on a global scale, and Gaelic just isn’t a language that can be useful in this type of environment.

I have several cousins in various parts of the country, some with kids, and not one of them appreciates having to study Gaelic for years as part of the school curriculum. Wouldn’t Spanish or Italian or French be so much more useful to them as they carry on in the world in the years to come?

I am not saying that Gaelic should be shelved, but it should be an elective language subject, just as we have electives in our schools here. Students should be given the opportunity to choose between Gaelic or French or some other language, which would weed out the serious students from those who are just studying to make a grade.

I think the language would continue to thrive in such a circumstance, as those who would be studying it would be serious about keeping the language alive. And instead of force feeding Gaelic to those who have no appreciation, they too could learn something that would enrich their educational experience.

It’s just a thought, but I think it’s a good one. Though the Celtic Tiger is thriving, it can still learn a few lessons from its old American cousin!

Michael Molloy
Poughkeepsie, New York

Irish Are Alive!

I ATTENDED the FAS exhibition on Friday night with my husband and went to Boston on Sunday to see the Ulster hurling final between New York and Antrim.

In all it seems to me that over 10,000 people attended both those Irish events over the weekend, an astonishing number if you think about it.

I know there was some crossover, but very little I would say. Those who say the Irish scene in America is dying out should have been at one or both events last weekend. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Angela Cummins
East Rockaway, New York

Prehistoric Paisley

DOES it ever occur to Ian Paisley that he has made his own worst nightmare occur? For years he stopped the SDLP sharing power with Unionists, and he single-handedly destroyed the Anglo Irish Agreement in 1985 which would have led to a moderate coalition in government.

Now he has Sinn Fein as his partner, whereas years ago he could have excluded them. It is sad to see so many people pay homage to a man, who has proven to be an enemy of his own people.

Michael O’Connor
Litchfield, Connecticut

Always Remember the Dead

LETTER writer Robert Schauder’s crack about me “using the dead” for my agenda says that it makes him sick. (September 27-October 3).

Well, let me mention a few things that will no doubt make him sicker.

Remembering the dead is not using the dead.

Are the memorials across the world to the innocent victims of the Holocaust using the dead for an agenda?

It is very obvious that Mr. Schauder is not well versed in Irish culture or tradition. The Irish above all remember their dead religiously, especially those who have fallen in battle or were murdered in cold blood at places like the Twin Towers in the name of some evil ideology. Not only do we not forget them, we reinforce our memories in song and story.

Does it surprise me that a leftie, who is glued to his hatred of President Bush like the fly to the fly paper, would say such a thing? No.

His leftie mentors already tried in vain to create a theme at the Twin Towers memorial which would ignore the 3,000 murdered innocent and emphasize American self -incrimination — we brought it on ourselves so to speak.

We can never forget the Twin Towers innocent victims. Let them be an ever fixed beacon that will spur us on to be resourceful, cunning and ever vigilant until we see the death of this evil Islamic movement.

There is no doubt that they themselves, emancipated now in their heavenly abode, are cheering us on. Alleluia!

John Rogers
Voorhees, New Jersey

Wowed by Exhibit

I HAVE just attended the Living and Working in Ireland expo in Manhattan and all I can say is, wow!

I expected it would be all Irish-born people and that an American like myself would be in the minority. However, it was great to see so many Americans like myself who have caught the Irish bug over the past few years.

My roots are in Monaghan and Down and they are fairly distant, but it would make a great difference to me if I emigrated to Ireland and knew that it was possible to keep in touch with other Americans who were moving back there as well.

After all, the Irish stuck together when they came to America, so why shouldn’t we in an informal way if we moved back?

Congratulations to the organizers of the Living and Working in Ireland expo. It really opened my eyes to Ireland’s popularity. Seeing the line stretch the length of the block was really something.

James Barrett
Montclair, New Jersey

Big Bad Brother

WITH regard to Joseph Dillon’s letter “Senators Are Bozos,” (October 11-17), it is really scary, but what else can you expect? As Lou Dobbs from CNN says, the people get the government they deserve.

Most Irish Americans here in Riverdale in the Bronx don’t even vote. We are in the process of beginning a police state.

Big brother government dances to the tune of the English government, as evidenced by passage of the recent extradition treaty. We are a free country, but we are losing our freedoms, and most people don’t like it.

Hold onto your hats. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. We’re in big trouble.

Welcome to the New World Order – Big Brother government.

Tom McTigue
Riverdale, New York

Paisley Is Good

I WOULD like to add my praise to letter writer Jane Melville in last week’s issue, as she congratulated Ian Paisley for taking steps for permanent peace like he’s never taken before.

Yes, he’s an old bigot, but Paisley must be congratulated for tentatively signing on to the St. Andrew’s Agreement. It couldn’t have been easy for him to accept that, all going well, his deputy in government will be Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness.

I think Irish Americans should make their appreciation known to Paisley. He’s received much criticism down the years – rightfully so – but when he does something good we should let him know it. And he’s definitely done good this time.

John O’Connell
Bay Ridge, New York