I am trying to trace my U.S. relatives. They would be the descendants of Margaret, Anne, Bridget and Ellen Moran (from Bofield, near Ballina, Co. Mayo), who emigrated to Pennsylvania (Scranton/Pottsville area) between 1880 and 1900.
Bridget (married name Mullen) had 10 children.
Anne (married name Weirich) had one daughter, named Margaret.
Any information would be gratefully received.
Kevin Mulderrig
68 The Green,
Coolroe Meadows,
Ballincollig,
Co. Cork,
Ireland
Friday, February 25, 2011
Martin Has Nerve
AS I listened to Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin attacking Sinn Fein with regards to corruption, I wondered had he heard of the adage, “People in glass houses . . . do naughty things in the basement.
The sheer effrontery of the party that gave us such selfless, frugal examples as Ray Burke, Liam Lawlor, the Flynns, Ivor Callelly, Charles Haughey and Bertie Ahern attacking others for corruption is breathtaking.
Are they trying to eradicate the memory of the last 14 years, or is it because the contest for the last seat in many areas is between Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein?
Dr. Sean Marlow
Dublin, Ireland
The sheer effrontery of the party that gave us such selfless, frugal examples as Ray Burke, Liam Lawlor, the Flynns, Ivor Callelly, Charles Haughey and Bertie Ahern attacking others for corruption is breathtaking.
Are they trying to eradicate the memory of the last 14 years, or is it because the contest for the last seat in many areas is between Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein?
Dr. Sean Marlow
Dublin, Ireland
Re-Launch Parade Book
IT is most disheartening to see the feigned hand-wringing, barrels of spilt ink and the general ruaille-buaille over one miserable man’s inane comments at an event on the Upper East Side overshadow the intent and purpose of that occasion, namely the launch of John T. Ridge’s new book, Celebrating 250 Years of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
While what has now become of the March 17 parade holds no interest for me whatsoever, its beginning and subsequent history is certainly fascinating.
Mr. Ridge is a brilliant New York historian, an engaging speaker and a fine writer with a real love and affection for his topic. I’ve no doubt that his latest contribution is just as irresistible as his earlier works and articles.
Perhaps Mr. Ridge might want to consider re-launching the book. Indeed, some books are just too good for merely one launch.
To this end, he would do well to consider the New York Irish Center in Long Island City as a venue. That way there would be no hazard of Mayor Michael Bloomberg marring the special occasion given that he has never shown even the slightest interest in the borough of Queens over the past nine years.
Daithí Mac Lochlainn
Woodside, New York
While what has now become of the March 17 parade holds no interest for me whatsoever, its beginning and subsequent history is certainly fascinating.
Mr. Ridge is a brilliant New York historian, an engaging speaker and a fine writer with a real love and affection for his topic. I’ve no doubt that his latest contribution is just as irresistible as his earlier works and articles.
Perhaps Mr. Ridge might want to consider re-launching the book. Indeed, some books are just too good for merely one launch.
To this end, he would do well to consider the New York Irish Center in Long Island City as a venue. That way there would be no hazard of Mayor Michael Bloomberg marring the special occasion given that he has never shown even the slightest interest in the borough of Queens over the past nine years.
Daithí Mac Lochlainn
Woodside, New York
Don’t Forget Independents
AS independents have shown in the U.S. electing Barack Obama president in 2008, independents will lead the way in Ireland in 2011.
Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, the Greens and Sinn Fein should reach out to all independents because not only will independents get you elected, but they will have a lot to say about Ireland and what needs to be done about the Irish political situation and the economic crisis effecting the Emerald Isle.
There are no solutions, just more questions and a listening ear. These questions have to be asked by the common people, not the political elite.
Most common people aren't featured in the Irish Voice, but they should be. This would really represent the breath of the Irish Voice, as your paper is called .
You could reach out and listen and learn their history and culture. The Irish Voice needs to hear from independents and Irish people of color, as Irish are the leaders of oppressed people the world over.
Be prepared for the next revolution. The people will be victorious. Cork and Kerry on my mother’s side are the warriors in waiting.
One of the people’s voices …
Charles Knapp
Brooklyn, New York
Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, the Greens and Sinn Fein should reach out to all independents because not only will independents get you elected, but they will have a lot to say about Ireland and what needs to be done about the Irish political situation and the economic crisis effecting the Emerald Isle.
There are no solutions, just more questions and a listening ear. These questions have to be asked by the common people, not the political elite.
Most common people aren't featured in the Irish Voice, but they should be. This would really represent the breath of the Irish Voice, as your paper is called .
You could reach out and listen and learn their history and culture. The Irish Voice needs to hear from independents and Irish people of color, as Irish are the leaders of oppressed people the world over.
Be prepared for the next revolution. The people will be victorious. Cork and Kerry on my mother’s side are the warriors in waiting.
One of the people’s voices …
Charles Knapp
Brooklyn, New York
Strip Search Horror
LAST week I received a letter from an Irish Republican imprisoned in Maghaberry Jail in Co. Antrim. As may of your readers know, there still are many Irish Republicans imprisoned on both sides of the border.
Copied below is one POW's letter, printed verbatim from the man himself. His words tell the story of life today for imprisoned Republicans. In memory of the 10 Irish Republicans who died on hunger strike 30 years ago, I hope you will print this letter.
“Hello everyone. I’m just back from the court. I was twice subjected to forced strip searches today. That was my 10th forced strip in the last 12 weeks.
“I’m also out to court next Tuesday so that will be another two. Today I was brought to the reception where the search team were waiting and forced into a three foot by three foot cubicle by two of them where I refused to strip. They laughed at me and said, ‘He’s ready for it!’
“I was then brought to a holding cell and kept in there for about 50 minutes with a governor coming in twice to tell me their so called prison rules. He could talk all day. I wasn’t for stripping and won’t be at any stage while I’m incarcerated in this place.
“Suddenly the cell door bursts open and in they come in full riot gear, helmets, shields, body protection, the works. They ram the shield into my face, two of them grab my arms, another grabs my head, I’m forced to the ground - arms forced up my back, two knees forced into my head to hold it down, two knees in the back of my legs.
“Then another one of them starts to force off my shoes, socks and trousers. I’m then moved into a forced position so that my boxers are ripped down and my frontal private parts can be seen by them.
I’m then forced back into a position where my boxers are completely forced off me and a hand held metal detector is ran over my backside.
“At this stage, it’s hard to breathe with their gloves covering my face and mouth. I’m still being held by four of them on the floor, my private parts exposed. Naked! Lying there! They then grab my boxers and jeans and force them up, hurting me, leaving my private parts still exposed.
“They then move me into another awkward position to take my t shirt off. I think my arms are about to break in two! It’s agony at this stage. My wrists are just numb.
“I’m lying now with both my arms forced up my back towards the roof while the riot squad run out of the cell. My arms just drop to the floor. I try my best to get onto my feet using my elbows, trousers hanging off me, boxers still below my private parts. I’m aching all over!
“I try to get dressed as the riot squad stand smirking at me. I just stare back at them.
“I think of the other things they have done to me in the past. Forced strips, cut my clothes off, broke my nose, stood on me, forced me into squat positions, forced my mouth open by trying to break my wrist… I could go on!
“Well, that’s me on the way to court! As soon as I get to Laganside (where I’m already an hour late because of the forced strip) I’m brought straight to the court, cuffed, and haven’t seen my solicitor.
“Adjourned again. That’s me down now to a six by six cell to wait for a few hours. Then I’m brought back to the gaol where I go through the whole strip search ordeal again.
ìOne image going through my head is the faces of my friends who were waiting patiently for me to come back -- Colly, Harry, Brendy, Gerard, Kevin. It’s hard to explain the look on their faces, but I can tell you that it’s one of the worst feelings in gaol seeing one of your friends coming back from a forced strip search, seeing them in pain!
“I would take all of their forced strip searches rather than see them in this agony, and I know they would do the same for me. That’s friendship that won’t be broken!
“Well, slan for now, from another Republican forcibly strip searched.”
Mary Brennan
Princeton, New Jersey
Copied below is one POW's letter, printed verbatim from the man himself. His words tell the story of life today for imprisoned Republicans. In memory of the 10 Irish Republicans who died on hunger strike 30 years ago, I hope you will print this letter.
“Hello everyone. I’m just back from the court. I was twice subjected to forced strip searches today. That was my 10th forced strip in the last 12 weeks.
“I’m also out to court next Tuesday so that will be another two. Today I was brought to the reception where the search team were waiting and forced into a three foot by three foot cubicle by two of them where I refused to strip. They laughed at me and said, ‘He’s ready for it!’
“I was then brought to a holding cell and kept in there for about 50 minutes with a governor coming in twice to tell me their so called prison rules. He could talk all day. I wasn’t for stripping and won’t be at any stage while I’m incarcerated in this place.
“Suddenly the cell door bursts open and in they come in full riot gear, helmets, shields, body protection, the works. They ram the shield into my face, two of them grab my arms, another grabs my head, I’m forced to the ground - arms forced up my back, two knees forced into my head to hold it down, two knees in the back of my legs.
“Then another one of them starts to force off my shoes, socks and trousers. I’m then moved into a forced position so that my boxers are ripped down and my frontal private parts can be seen by them.
I’m then forced back into a position where my boxers are completely forced off me and a hand held metal detector is ran over my backside.
“At this stage, it’s hard to breathe with their gloves covering my face and mouth. I’m still being held by four of them on the floor, my private parts exposed. Naked! Lying there! They then grab my boxers and jeans and force them up, hurting me, leaving my private parts still exposed.
“They then move me into another awkward position to take my t shirt off. I think my arms are about to break in two! It’s agony at this stage. My wrists are just numb.
“I’m lying now with both my arms forced up my back towards the roof while the riot squad run out of the cell. My arms just drop to the floor. I try my best to get onto my feet using my elbows, trousers hanging off me, boxers still below my private parts. I’m aching all over!
“I try to get dressed as the riot squad stand smirking at me. I just stare back at them.
“I think of the other things they have done to me in the past. Forced strips, cut my clothes off, broke my nose, stood on me, forced me into squat positions, forced my mouth open by trying to break my wrist… I could go on!
“Well, that’s me on the way to court! As soon as I get to Laganside (where I’m already an hour late because of the forced strip) I’m brought straight to the court, cuffed, and haven’t seen my solicitor.
“Adjourned again. That’s me down now to a six by six cell to wait for a few hours. Then I’m brought back to the gaol where I go through the whole strip search ordeal again.
ìOne image going through my head is the faces of my friends who were waiting patiently for me to come back -- Colly, Harry, Brendy, Gerard, Kevin. It’s hard to explain the look on their faces, but I can tell you that it’s one of the worst feelings in gaol seeing one of your friends coming back from a forced strip search, seeing them in pain!
“I would take all of their forced strip searches rather than see them in this agony, and I know they would do the same for me. That’s friendship that won’t be broken!
“Well, slan for now, from another Republican forcibly strip searched.”
Mary Brennan
Princeton, New Jersey
Friday, February 18, 2011
Advice for Emigrants
IT was a Sunday morning 50 years ago that I left Cobh, Co. Cork, bound for New York aboard a Cunard ship named Ivernia. I had a £20 note and a few bob in my pocket.
After a five day voyage and a stop in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I landed in New York and I still had eight or nine dollars in my pocket. All the Irish emigrants on board had one thing in common -- namely, nobody had money.
We had no internet, e-mail, laptops or social network outlets before we headed out to help us explore the new country. Yet, starting from scratch, we all made out very well in the new country.
Today, I see thousands of young Irish men and women hitting the road again to different countries around the world, because the financial depression hit Ireland and left it broke. As individuals leaving Ireland everyone should know what to expect when they “chance their arm” in seeking a new life abroad.
First, everyone must recognize that they have started their journey down the road to the places of hard knocks, where nothing is easy and nothing is free. The old axiom is still true -- before you take passage, take warning from me, fresh air in New York, is the only thing free. This is true of towns and cities in every country where emigrants must go in order to find work and make a living.
Some things may be hard to understand for people who have never seen hard times. All must understand that their families and loved ones will miss them and visa versa.
But that is normal. Communications have revolutionized in the past 50 years and nobody has to wait for snail mail letters anymore.
Beware of Irish politicians who are weeping crocodile tears to bemoan the departure of the young men and women of Ireland. To the contrary, they are delighted and consider the mass exodus to be a blessing in disguise.
Once the departures are confirmed the emigrants are no longer a burden on the Irish government. They are not entitled to receive benefits. Unemployment statistics drop.
To add insult to injury, the (emigrant) citizens of Ireland become disenfranchised, as well as being out of work and looking for jobs in foreign countries. They can no longer vote in Irish elections simply because they happen to be too far away from their “neighborhood” pooling places in Ireland.
This speaks volumes about how little value the Irish politicians place on their emigrated citizens. What an unscrupulous injustice to deprive the jobless of their right to vote in their homeland.
Disenfranchisement is typically a political response from cowardly government officials who are fearful that these emigrants could one day vent their anger and challenge the majesty and power of the Dublin government.
Government officials are not one bit ashamed that so many people have to pull up stakes and find work in other countries, because of their massive incompetence. These government officials in Dublin should hang their heads in shame.
Like all the other Irish generations who went down the road to hard knocks before the present group, Irish emigrants will do mighty well in their new countries, provided they keep their heads about themselves and are not afraid of hard work.
The old adage that “a fool and his money will soon part” still applies. If people give away their hard earned money to someone else, then someone else will own it.
The lousy position that Irish emigrants are in today is not the work of a tyrant’s hand. Their egregious predicament is the handy work of the arrogant, know-it-all leaders of the Dublin government, along with, the greedy banking establishment and the high notions of money drunken developers who wanted to build McMansions and create a new world order, without a penny in their pockets and nothing to back it up except more borrowing.
So hunker down friends, because the Dublin Debacle will not be over any time soon. Nobody is hitting the road now, for a four day weekend holiday. This is all long term.
Apply your brainpower to bettering yourselves and your new countries. Most emigrants will become life long members of what Irish politicians like to refer to as the “great Irish diaspora,” (that is, when they are looking for something from Irish emigrants and their descendants.)
So be alert, be cool, adjust, stay healthy and out of trouble. The dark shadows will pass and brighter days are coming.
May God Bless and protect everyone.
John Sugrue
Lynbrook, New York
After a five day voyage and a stop in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I landed in New York and I still had eight or nine dollars in my pocket. All the Irish emigrants on board had one thing in common -- namely, nobody had money.
We had no internet, e-mail, laptops or social network outlets before we headed out to help us explore the new country. Yet, starting from scratch, we all made out very well in the new country.
Today, I see thousands of young Irish men and women hitting the road again to different countries around the world, because the financial depression hit Ireland and left it broke. As individuals leaving Ireland everyone should know what to expect when they “chance their arm” in seeking a new life abroad.
First, everyone must recognize that they have started their journey down the road to the places of hard knocks, where nothing is easy and nothing is free. The old axiom is still true -- before you take passage, take warning from me, fresh air in New York, is the only thing free. This is true of towns and cities in every country where emigrants must go in order to find work and make a living.
Some things may be hard to understand for people who have never seen hard times. All must understand that their families and loved ones will miss them and visa versa.
But that is normal. Communications have revolutionized in the past 50 years and nobody has to wait for snail mail letters anymore.
Beware of Irish politicians who are weeping crocodile tears to bemoan the departure of the young men and women of Ireland. To the contrary, they are delighted and consider the mass exodus to be a blessing in disguise.
Once the departures are confirmed the emigrants are no longer a burden on the Irish government. They are not entitled to receive benefits. Unemployment statistics drop.
To add insult to injury, the (emigrant) citizens of Ireland become disenfranchised, as well as being out of work and looking for jobs in foreign countries. They can no longer vote in Irish elections simply because they happen to be too far away from their “neighborhood” pooling places in Ireland.
This speaks volumes about how little value the Irish politicians place on their emigrated citizens. What an unscrupulous injustice to deprive the jobless of their right to vote in their homeland.
Disenfranchisement is typically a political response from cowardly government officials who are fearful that these emigrants could one day vent their anger and challenge the majesty and power of the Dublin government.
Government officials are not one bit ashamed that so many people have to pull up stakes and find work in other countries, because of their massive incompetence. These government officials in Dublin should hang their heads in shame.
Like all the other Irish generations who went down the road to hard knocks before the present group, Irish emigrants will do mighty well in their new countries, provided they keep their heads about themselves and are not afraid of hard work.
The old adage that “a fool and his money will soon part” still applies. If people give away their hard earned money to someone else, then someone else will own it.
The lousy position that Irish emigrants are in today is not the work of a tyrant’s hand. Their egregious predicament is the handy work of the arrogant, know-it-all leaders of the Dublin government, along with, the greedy banking establishment and the high notions of money drunken developers who wanted to build McMansions and create a new world order, without a penny in their pockets and nothing to back it up except more borrowing.
So hunker down friends, because the Dublin Debacle will not be over any time soon. Nobody is hitting the road now, for a four day weekend holiday. This is all long term.
Apply your brainpower to bettering yourselves and your new countries. Most emigrants will become life long members of what Irish politicians like to refer to as the “great Irish diaspora,” (that is, when they are looking for something from Irish emigrants and their descendants.)
So be alert, be cool, adjust, stay healthy and out of trouble. The dark shadows will pass and brighter days are coming.
May God Bless and protect everyone.
John Sugrue
Lynbrook, New York
Irish All to Blame
AM I alone in being rather tired of the persistent and pessimistic tone of the contributions from the Irish Voice’s Irish-based contributors? Even the sports pages are now singing the same song of blame the bankers, the government, the developers.
Nobody is saying "we are all to blame.” What with the shopping trips to the U.S. and Northern Ireland by the ladies taking trade away from local businesses, the trips to Ireland rugby/soccer games by the menfolk, the expensive family weddings!
Everybody (well, nearly everybody) was having a ball. One has to ask who asked the bankers for the loans, who voted for the "cute-hoor" politicians, who wanted bigger houses, and associated bragging rights than the one down the road?
It’s about time that someone stated "we were all to blame. It’s now time to stop whining, admit the party is over and we need to learn our lessons and move on.”
Patrick Crowley
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nobody is saying "we are all to blame.” What with the shopping trips to the U.S. and Northern Ireland by the ladies taking trade away from local businesses, the trips to Ireland rugby/soccer games by the menfolk, the expensive family weddings!
Everybody (well, nearly everybody) was having a ball. One has to ask who asked the bankers for the loans, who voted for the "cute-hoor" politicians, who wanted bigger houses, and associated bragging rights than the one down the road?
It’s about time that someone stated "we were all to blame. It’s now time to stop whining, admit the party is over and we need to learn our lessons and move on.”
Patrick Crowley
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Media Questions
Some questions for the Irish media:
1. Why is the establishment media so hostile to radical new ideas in this beleaguered country?
2. Why do those, such as Sinn Fein, the United Left Alliance, etc., who advocate such obviously sensible ideas as standing up to greedy bankers and applying a proper tax on high incomes and wealth (the norm in most successful European countries) get dismissed as "economic illiterates?”
3. Is the media conservatism because most media presenters, pundits and owners are very wealthy and would have to pay their fair share, instead of calling for yet more cuts to be imposed on hard working people?
4. Why are these clear conflicts of interest never declared?
5. Didn't the failure to listen to alternatives to the cozy consensus lead us to "where we are"?
6. Will we ever learn?
Dr Sean Marlow
Dublin, Ireland
1. Why is the establishment media so hostile to radical new ideas in this beleaguered country?
2. Why do those, such as Sinn Fein, the United Left Alliance, etc., who advocate such obviously sensible ideas as standing up to greedy bankers and applying a proper tax on high incomes and wealth (the norm in most successful European countries) get dismissed as "economic illiterates?”
3. Is the media conservatism because most media presenters, pundits and owners are very wealthy and would have to pay their fair share, instead of calling for yet more cuts to be imposed on hard working people?
4. Why are these clear conflicts of interest never declared?
5. Didn't the failure to listen to alternatives to the cozy consensus lead us to "where we are"?
6. Will we ever learn?
Dr Sean Marlow
Dublin, Ireland
Friday, February 11, 2011
Lewis On the Money
I’ve just read the most brutally honest, blunt and accurate assessment of how Ireland's economy went from being one of the strongest on the planet, to being weaker than that of Iraq, if that's possible.
The best-selling author Michael Lewis visited Ireland a while back and wrote the piece for the new edition of Vanity Fair, and it's absolutely imperative reading for anyone out there who ever wondered how Ireland went from being a poor nation to a rich nation, to a poor nation again, in a few short years.
The Irish election will be held in a couple of weeks from now and the next Taoiseach (prime minister) in waiting, Enda Kenny of the Fine-agler party is refusing to appear on a TV debate (with excuse after excuse), with the other contenders as the guy, truthfully, can't put two words together without stammering.
This doesn't really augur well for Ireland's chances of renegotiating the financial “deal” his predecessor Brian “Clowen” and his three ring circus agreed with the International Monetary Fund/EU, which in turn will keep Ireland under German/French rule for years to come.
Pearse, Connolly and the hundreds of thousands of Irishmen who gave their lives through the centuries for Ireland's freedom have to be twisting and turning in their graves at how it was all given back for pure unadulterated greed by the government, bankers, developers and speculators.
My heart goes out to the honest, hard working, Irishmen and women who had absolutely nothing to do with the shambles they now find themselves in, but their children and indeed even their grandchildren, will be left footing the bill for years and years to come.
Meanwhile, the cold hearted bastards who caused it all will disappear into the abyss with their big, fat untaxed pensions and chauffeur driven Mercedes cars, at the taxpayers’ expense for crimes committed.
Sean McPhillips
College Point, New York
The best-selling author Michael Lewis visited Ireland a while back and wrote the piece for the new edition of Vanity Fair, and it's absolutely imperative reading for anyone out there who ever wondered how Ireland went from being a poor nation to a rich nation, to a poor nation again, in a few short years.
The Irish election will be held in a couple of weeks from now and the next Taoiseach (prime minister) in waiting, Enda Kenny of the Fine-agler party is refusing to appear on a TV debate (with excuse after excuse), with the other contenders as the guy, truthfully, can't put two words together without stammering.
This doesn't really augur well for Ireland's chances of renegotiating the financial “deal” his predecessor Brian “Clowen” and his three ring circus agreed with the International Monetary Fund/EU, which in turn will keep Ireland under German/French rule for years to come.
Pearse, Connolly and the hundreds of thousands of Irishmen who gave their lives through the centuries for Ireland's freedom have to be twisting and turning in their graves at how it was all given back for pure unadulterated greed by the government, bankers, developers and speculators.
My heart goes out to the honest, hard working, Irishmen and women who had absolutely nothing to do with the shambles they now find themselves in, but their children and indeed even their grandchildren, will be left footing the bill for years and years to come.
Meanwhile, the cold hearted bastards who caused it all will disappear into the abyss with their big, fat untaxed pensions and chauffeur driven Mercedes cars, at the taxpayers’ expense for crimes committed.
Sean McPhillips
College Point, New York
Sinead’s Own Fault
There was a “Page 2” piece in last week’s issue about Sinead O’Connor having difficulty raising a son that she had out of wedlock with a married man.
O’Connor has four children with four different fathers. Doesn’t that say something? How could her kids possibly be happy with such an un-traditional home life, and how could she even think to do conduct her life like this?
I don’t really want to pass judgment, but there’s no way kids can be happy in that kind of atmosphere. If O’Connor wants to do the right thing by her children then she should start living her life in a more respectable fashion, and put her children first instead of herself and her own needs.
Helen McCarthy
Hartford, Connecticut
O’Connor has four children with four different fathers. Doesn’t that say something? How could her kids possibly be happy with such an un-traditional home life, and how could she even think to do conduct her life like this?
I don’t really want to pass judgment, but there’s no way kids can be happy in that kind of atmosphere. If O’Connor wants to do the right thing by her children then she should start living her life in a more respectable fashion, and put her children first instead of herself and her own needs.
Helen McCarthy
Hartford, Connecticut
Chinese Violations
During his recent state visit to the U.S., the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, seemed to acknowledge that his country needs to do more on human rights. For him to dismiss human rights issues with a mere line or two, and in such a bland abstract way, is to seriously underplay the situation in China.
China is one of the major human rights violators in the world. Freedom of speech is barely a concept there, much less a reality. Even the Internet is heavily monitored. Human rights activists are constantly hounded, imprisoned on the thinnest of pretexts, or shot and beaten off the streets if they dare lobby publicly for even the tiniest of the freedoms that we in the West take for granted.
It is anyone’s guess how many “political prisoners” are currently languishing in China’s jails, but a measure of the official Chinese attitude to human rights was in its reaction to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the imprisoned campaigner Liu Xiaobo, which it described as “an obscenity.”
Outside its own borders, China is currently doing no-strings-attached business with some of the worst dictators and human rights violators in Africa and, in the process, completely undermining Western attempts to link democratic practices with development aid.
So yes, China does need to do more on human rights – an awful lot more, both at home and abroad. Whether it will or not is another matter altogether, irrespective of what encouraging noises Hu Jintao might make for a western audience.
China’s record on human rights, and the fact that Hu Jintao’s remark wasn’t carried on its state-run media, would lead one to suspect that excitement at this stage is premature.
I certainly won’t be holding my breath in anticipation.
John O’Shea
Founder, GOAL
Co. Dublin, Ireland
China is one of the major human rights violators in the world. Freedom of speech is barely a concept there, much less a reality. Even the Internet is heavily monitored. Human rights activists are constantly hounded, imprisoned on the thinnest of pretexts, or shot and beaten off the streets if they dare lobby publicly for even the tiniest of the freedoms that we in the West take for granted.
It is anyone’s guess how many “political prisoners” are currently languishing in China’s jails, but a measure of the official Chinese attitude to human rights was in its reaction to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the imprisoned campaigner Liu Xiaobo, which it described as “an obscenity.”
Outside its own borders, China is currently doing no-strings-attached business with some of the worst dictators and human rights violators in Africa and, in the process, completely undermining Western attempts to link democratic practices with development aid.
So yes, China does need to do more on human rights – an awful lot more, both at home and abroad. Whether it will or not is another matter altogether, irrespective of what encouraging noises Hu Jintao might make for a western audience.
China’s record on human rights, and the fact that Hu Jintao’s remark wasn’t carried on its state-run media, would lead one to suspect that excitement at this stage is premature.
I certainly won’t be holding my breath in anticipation.
John O’Shea
Founder, GOAL
Co. Dublin, Ireland
Peace for Sinead
I hope you do a follow-up to the article in last week’s Irish Voice on one of Ireland's most powerful voices, Sinead O'Connor.
She is reaching out for help out of frustration with being a single mom. It must be a shock to many who are just learning that Donal Lunny gave her a baby boy while still in marriage.
I for one have always imagined Lunny to be the nicest guy with a heart as big as the Island itself. I love anything he touches musically. He has an amazing background and a great influence on the Irish music scene and beyond.
I would guess the two soul mates of the music came together for some intimacy while they were creating the landmark album Sean-Nos Nua, a fine piece of work that showcases Sinead's power with traditional material.
I almost came within two feet of meeting O'Connor once at the last Guinness New York City fleadh on Randall's Island. She was flying from backstage to limo. I foolishly imagined I could say some things to her that would help her in her quest for some peace and understanding.
She has more gut nerve then 20 men. When we are troubled we make some poor impulsive decisions as we go along.
I wish O'Connor great success bringing father and son together. May love prevail.
Bill Molloy
Poughquag, New York
She is reaching out for help out of frustration with being a single mom. It must be a shock to many who are just learning that Donal Lunny gave her a baby boy while still in marriage.
I for one have always imagined Lunny to be the nicest guy with a heart as big as the Island itself. I love anything he touches musically. He has an amazing background and a great influence on the Irish music scene and beyond.
I would guess the two soul mates of the music came together for some intimacy while they were creating the landmark album Sean-Nos Nua, a fine piece of work that showcases Sinead's power with traditional material.
I almost came within two feet of meeting O'Connor once at the last Guinness New York City fleadh on Randall's Island. She was flying from backstage to limo. I foolishly imagined I could say some things to her that would help her in her quest for some peace and understanding.
She has more gut nerve then 20 men. When we are troubled we make some poor impulsive decisions as we go along.
I wish O'Connor great success bringing father and son together. May love prevail.
Bill Molloy
Poughquag, New York
Save the Horses
I have been reading about all the poor horses in Ireland being thrown out to fend for themselves, with nowhere to go.
All of my family loves animals. My daughter has two dogs and my husband and I have a cat.
My heart breaks for these horses. They are beautiful animals. Those old farmers in Ireland are very cold, and some of those horses being left on their own are racehorses. The people who made money off of them are cold-hearted bums.
It doesn’t take a lot of money to feed horses, so I hope the Irish government takes care of these animals. I come from Belfast, so I know a little bit about the crooks in Ireland.
Eileen McNamara
West Orange, New Jersey
All of my family loves animals. My daughter has two dogs and my husband and I have a cat.
My heart breaks for these horses. They are beautiful animals. Those old farmers in Ireland are very cold, and some of those horses being left on their own are racehorses. The people who made money off of them are cold-hearted bums.
It doesn’t take a lot of money to feed horses, so I hope the Irish government takes care of these animals. I come from Belfast, so I know a little bit about the crooks in Ireland.
Eileen McNamara
West Orange, New Jersey
Sad for Hater
I feel very sad for the 19-year-old who wrote the hate filled Facebook postings about the beautiful Michaela Harte McAreavey murder.
I will not mention this person’s name. How anyone can compare what happened to Michaela to soldiers in a war is beyond me.
Beautiful Michaela was murdered. My heart goes out to her husband, father and family. You could feel the love they had for each other.
May beautiful Michaela rest in peace. That 19-year-old is just starting out in life. She does not know what life will throw her way.
I hope she will be able to handle it with the grace and dignity Michaela’s family has. But I doubt it.
Kitty Kenny
Brick, New Jersey
I will not mention this person’s name. How anyone can compare what happened to Michaela to soldiers in a war is beyond me.
Beautiful Michaela was murdered. My heart goes out to her husband, father and family. You could feel the love they had for each other.
May beautiful Michaela rest in peace. That 19-year-old is just starting out in life. She does not know what life will throw her way.
I hope she will be able to handle it with the grace and dignity Michaela’s family has. But I doubt it.
Kitty Kenny
Brick, New Jersey
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Let’s Get Angry!
As Tunisia and now Egypt writhe in political and social revolution, the world looks on and the powers that be brace themselves for economic and societal chaos.
Ireland and its people could learn from the Tunisians and Egyptians.
In both these countries a dictatorship has ruled with repression for 30 years. In Ireland, although we have no military dictatorship, we have had a bunch of parochial clowns ruling the country for decades, a golden circle that has ensured its own preservation no matter what the cost to ordinary Irish people, the taxpayers!
The recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) charade will gradually impact the economy in a negative way, forcing taxes to increase and government services to decline. Why pay taxes to prop up a corrupt regime that is beholden to banks and the IMF?
What is the purpose of government? And what of banks -- should they be allowed to gamble the deposits of the ordinary taxpayer?
These are the critical questions that Irish people need to ask. How long will the political charade in the Dail (Parliament) continue? Shouldn’t the ordinary people demand change by going into the streets and blockading Dail Eireann and forcing these charlatans to resign?
In Cairo today, neighborhoods have been organized on the basis of groups of people protecting their property from looters, police and military thugs. Will such a scenario occur in Dublin in the next few years?
How much pain will Irish people endure economically before they cannot take anymore of the weak leadership that has dominated the interests of the golden circle of decades?
On a recent vacation to Dublin over Christmas I observed the current social and economic landscape, and it seems the anger is palpable. But the direction of that anger needs to be re-directed toward real change.
In Egypt the population is 80 million, 50% of whom are under 20 years old. Ireland has one-twentieth of that population and many of its young, strong and dynamic people have emigrated. This “safety valve” has protected the golden circle for generations.
No longer -- Irish immigrants here in the U.S. and elsewhere should be granted the right to vote. We are one if the few countries in the world that denies our immigrants the right to vote. This is an outrage!
Ireland has massive potential. But first let’s clean house and kick these clowns out, tell the IMF to take a hike and build upon the foundations of sustainable local businesses, not an orgy of investing in multi-national corporations that have two short term goals: profit at all costs and minimum tax payments.
A.P. Ó Máille
New York, New York
Ireland and its people could learn from the Tunisians and Egyptians.
In both these countries a dictatorship has ruled with repression for 30 years. In Ireland, although we have no military dictatorship, we have had a bunch of parochial clowns ruling the country for decades, a golden circle that has ensured its own preservation no matter what the cost to ordinary Irish people, the taxpayers!
The recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) charade will gradually impact the economy in a negative way, forcing taxes to increase and government services to decline. Why pay taxes to prop up a corrupt regime that is beholden to banks and the IMF?
What is the purpose of government? And what of banks -- should they be allowed to gamble the deposits of the ordinary taxpayer?
These are the critical questions that Irish people need to ask. How long will the political charade in the Dail (Parliament) continue? Shouldn’t the ordinary people demand change by going into the streets and blockading Dail Eireann and forcing these charlatans to resign?
In Cairo today, neighborhoods have been organized on the basis of groups of people protecting their property from looters, police and military thugs. Will such a scenario occur in Dublin in the next few years?
How much pain will Irish people endure economically before they cannot take anymore of the weak leadership that has dominated the interests of the golden circle of decades?
On a recent vacation to Dublin over Christmas I observed the current social and economic landscape, and it seems the anger is palpable. But the direction of that anger needs to be re-directed toward real change.
In Egypt the population is 80 million, 50% of whom are under 20 years old. Ireland has one-twentieth of that population and many of its young, strong and dynamic people have emigrated. This “safety valve” has protected the golden circle for generations.
No longer -- Irish immigrants here in the U.S. and elsewhere should be granted the right to vote. We are one if the few countries in the world that denies our immigrants the right to vote. This is an outrage!
Ireland has massive potential. But first let’s clean house and kick these clowns out, tell the IMF to take a hike and build upon the foundations of sustainable local businesses, not an orgy of investing in multi-national corporations that have two short term goals: profit at all costs and minimum tax payments.
A.P. Ó Máille
New York, New York
Freedom or Death?
"I don't know of one person who says abortion is a good thing," says letter writer Jane Stevens in the January 19-25 issue, as she proceeded in the rest of the letter to support unrestricted rights to abortion and condemned pro-life letter writer Steve Casey with nasty character assassination slurs.
Ms. Stevens, in her attempt to be all things to all people on this greatest of modern evils, wound up being a prime competitor to the great equivocator himself, Senator John Kerry, when he famously said, "I voted for the war before I voted against it."
This issue, Ms. Stevens, can't be straddled with yes, yes and no, no.
Science, not religion, has long declared that what is in the womb is human life.
All reputable constitutional scholars have also declared that the Supreme Court's decision in 1973 was an arrogant usurpation of power because no such right exists in the Constitution. God, I might add, is also not divorced from creation. The human is but an instrument in his hands.
Ms. Stevens' fallacious egotistical definition of reproductive rights excludes everyone but herself. I believe Ms. Stevens requires a man's sperm to conceive a child, who then becomes a separate entity in her body. You don't fly solo when you exercise reproductive rights.
The abortion industry has done a very successful PR job of presenting a horrible evil as a blessing with obfuscations as evidenced in Ms. Stevens' letter.
Here are some of the euphemisms and semantic maneuverings they use to create a happy face on this dreadful evil -- family planning organizations (the billion dollar industry operating like a slaughter house), pro-choice (pro-killing), reproductive rights (the right to kill an unwanted baby).
Now who could be against any of those caring, benign and freedom sounding descriptions?
I say any person with an ounce of humanity in his soul would choose no, no when they realize the horrible reality cloaked over by these wolfish words in sheep's clothing.
To top it off, they also have the old stand by -- slobbering emotional appeals about the health of the mother, which could mean anything from a slight headache to a broken toenail.
This is used to again justify their evil philosophy. They couldn’t care less about the mother.
Think about the gruesome slaughter they are engaged in! Am I to belief they have genuine emotions?
To counteract this relentless brainwashing we must keep asking the question -- is the innocent in the womb entitled to freedom or death?
John Rogers
Voorhees, New Jersey
Ms. Stevens, in her attempt to be all things to all people on this greatest of modern evils, wound up being a prime competitor to the great equivocator himself, Senator John Kerry, when he famously said, "I voted for the war before I voted against it."
This issue, Ms. Stevens, can't be straddled with yes, yes and no, no.
Science, not religion, has long declared that what is in the womb is human life.
All reputable constitutional scholars have also declared that the Supreme Court's decision in 1973 was an arrogant usurpation of power because no such right exists in the Constitution. God, I might add, is also not divorced from creation. The human is but an instrument in his hands.
Ms. Stevens' fallacious egotistical definition of reproductive rights excludes everyone but herself. I believe Ms. Stevens requires a man's sperm to conceive a child, who then becomes a separate entity in her body. You don't fly solo when you exercise reproductive rights.
The abortion industry has done a very successful PR job of presenting a horrible evil as a blessing with obfuscations as evidenced in Ms. Stevens' letter.
Here are some of the euphemisms and semantic maneuverings they use to create a happy face on this dreadful evil -- family planning organizations (the billion dollar industry operating like a slaughter house), pro-choice (pro-killing), reproductive rights (the right to kill an unwanted baby).
Now who could be against any of those caring, benign and freedom sounding descriptions?
I say any person with an ounce of humanity in his soul would choose no, no when they realize the horrible reality cloaked over by these wolfish words in sheep's clothing.
To top it off, they also have the old stand by -- slobbering emotional appeals about the health of the mother, which could mean anything from a slight headache to a broken toenail.
This is used to again justify their evil philosophy. They couldn’t care less about the mother.
Think about the gruesome slaughter they are engaged in! Am I to belief they have genuine emotions?
To counteract this relentless brainwashing we must keep asking the question -- is the innocent in the womb entitled to freedom or death?
John Rogers
Voorhees, New Jersey
Shocking Animal Cruelty
While our wildlife was struggling to survive in recent Siberian conditions, it was "sport" as usual for the country's foxhunts whose terrorization and killing continued.
The activities of one was outlined in a disturbing Farmers' Journal hunting report. Sixteen mounted followers of the Westmeath hunt, along with 29 hounds, found a fox that was caught and "chopped."
Later on, another fox was "overhauled before he managed to put any distance between himself and them."
Both "chopped" and "overhauled," in hunting terminology, mean that the fox was caught by the hounds and brutally killed.
One can only imagine the gruesome scenes of suffering as these foxes were attacked, torn apart and disemboweled by the pack.
The fox which was chopped was, no doubt, a disappointment to the hunters as it was immediately caught on sight and failed to give the followers a run for their money.
Hunters claim that it's the thrill of the chase, and not the kill, that excites them.
But then they should switch to drag hunting which sees the hounds following an artificial scent laid down along a designated route. This guarantees constant movement for the riders and eliminates the element of cruelty.
The majority of Irish people, including country dwellers, value our wildlife and are opposed to the hunting of animals with dogs. We cannot call ourselves a civilized and compassionate nation as long as such barbarity is permitted.
Aideen Yourell
Spokesperson
Irish Council Against Blood Sports
Co. Westmeath, Ireland
The activities of one was outlined in a disturbing Farmers' Journal hunting report. Sixteen mounted followers of the Westmeath hunt, along with 29 hounds, found a fox that was caught and "chopped."
Later on, another fox was "overhauled before he managed to put any distance between himself and them."
Both "chopped" and "overhauled," in hunting terminology, mean that the fox was caught by the hounds and brutally killed.
One can only imagine the gruesome scenes of suffering as these foxes were attacked, torn apart and disemboweled by the pack.
The fox which was chopped was, no doubt, a disappointment to the hunters as it was immediately caught on sight and failed to give the followers a run for their money.
Hunters claim that it's the thrill of the chase, and not the kill, that excites them.
But then they should switch to drag hunting which sees the hounds following an artificial scent laid down along a designated route. This guarantees constant movement for the riders and eliminates the element of cruelty.
The majority of Irish people, including country dwellers, value our wildlife and are opposed to the hunting of animals with dogs. We cannot call ourselves a civilized and compassionate nation as long as such barbarity is permitted.
Aideen Yourell
Spokesperson
Irish Council Against Blood Sports
Co. Westmeath, Ireland
Abortion Isn’t Safe
I am writing in response to Jane Stevens’ letter, “Keep Abortion Legal” in the January 19-25 issue, which was in response to Steve Casey’s pro-life letter of the previous week.
Stevens stated that Casey “has no right to dictate how a woman should take care of her body, end of story.”
That is so. However, an unborn child is NOT part of any woman’s body. He or she is a completely separate life.
As to Stevens’ comment that an unwanted pregnancy should not be forced on rape victims -- the unwanted pregnancy is forced on a woman by the rapist, not by any resulting child. Why should the innocent child receive a death sentence for the crime of his or her father?
Lastly, as to her comment that she and others are glad for the “safe option” of abortion -- it’s not very safe for the unborn child.
Orla Kavanagh
Huntington, New York
Stevens stated that Casey “has no right to dictate how a woman should take care of her body, end of story.”
That is so. However, an unborn child is NOT part of any woman’s body. He or she is a completely separate life.
As to Stevens’ comment that an unwanted pregnancy should not be forced on rape victims -- the unwanted pregnancy is forced on a woman by the rapist, not by any resulting child. Why should the innocent child receive a death sentence for the crime of his or her father?
Lastly, as to her comment that she and others are glad for the “safe option” of abortion -- it’s not very safe for the unborn child.
Orla Kavanagh
Huntington, New York
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