As Luck would have it, We're NOT all Irish on St. Patrick's Day as previously believed.

YAY! 2 weeks to go until I am still Irish and a shit ton of folks run around saying "we're ALL Irish for a day!". That was my thought this morning as I looked at the calendar and did an inventory of up and coming events etcetera etcetera. And I don't apologize for the look on my face as I say it. My fair skinned, freckled face, framed by auburn hair. Which is an heirloom handed down to me for safekeeping by my equally gorgeous Grandmother, Eileen Ciardi, nee CONLEY. Or Connolly. Hailing from the family name O'Connolly  (which is traced back to three original Gaelic septs of the same name: O'Conghalaigh, O'Conghaile, and O'Coingheallaigh) We are associated most with those from Co.Monaghan & Co.Meath.

THIS is what makes me Irish. So you see, I have a difficult time not raising an eyebrow at the throngs of folks who are going to "Be Irish for the Day!" simply because.... ohhhhh yes! they wear green, make a boiled dinner, quote some Irish verse or sing Danny Boy, paint their face perhaps, and most importantly! go to some "pub" to drink some Irish beer or whiskey and inevitably act like a douchebag. Because???? They are Irish for a day of course!!!! And the next day? Hungover and rambling of what they'll do next year.


That is what the DAY is for them.  Never mind that fella St. Patrick - nor the spiritual celebration and feast day in his honor. I know you see pictures of him as a glorified snake charmer, however he actually was British born, forced into slavery in Ireland at the age of 16, escaped, and would go on to spend the rest of his life spreading the faith he found in his heart and for the people of Ireland. Often putting himself in danger with those that mistrusted or opposed him and his outrageous views. He is a symbol not only of Christianity but also for Ireland. But don't worry over that, and certainly do not honor the people themselves!


It's about You and your Holiday, Not for the Irishman who fled a famine, for the shores of a better chance...that is if they were not first forced into slavery. Or Killed. Be sure to read about the "act for Settlement of Ireland" passed by Parliament in 1652 to fix us good. Here let me save you the trouble, read the preamble:

"Whereas the Parliament of England, after the expense of much blood and treasure for suppression of the horrid rebellion in Ireland, have by the good hand of God upon their undertakings, brought that affair to such an issue, as that a total reducement and settlement of that nation may, with God's blessing, be speedily effected..."

How nice right? Their God somehow gave them the grace and power to try to wipe us right off the map. And they did a good job, If you had ever participated in the rebellion, you were hanged & killed; and when they came for our land they also took Us and shipped us to the "colonies" for a life of servitude.  Such a lovely place to settle back then, don't ya think? We Irish folk also pay homage to those before us who were lucky enough to have survived famine (a few times over for some) and fled here through Canada in the early 1850's.  Their road was no less difficult, and the death toll no less a travesty. 

And despite all of that, you have but only glance out your window to see how they overcame. Who can't wait to run & ride down the Erie Canal??? Guess who had a large role in building it? They built your railroads, your cities, worked the coal mines. Our women were tethered in sweat shops, washer women,  and literally dieing in sewing factories. We were mocked, ridiculed, beaten and we Remained. As did many many diverse people, all trying to make their way. And eventually, we did. The Irish began to assimilate into the culture - writers, actors, comedians, business owners, builders, and beyond. 2nd & 3rd generation Irishman went on to be police, fireman, teachers, doctors, high ranked public officials, and Yes. even Presidents :)

See this is who I think about when I think of all that is Ireland, and more importantly how thankful I am actually to be living it up in America. When you really know the history, it's safe to say Some of my family did not make it out alive and for those who did, even in the atrocious way they came here, their sacrifice and Fight, allows me to put on my "Kiss Me I'm Irish" shirt with true Pride. A Pride shared by ALL of us with a tale to tell. As far back as you can trace civilization, you can find those that seek to oppress and control it. And those that fought and escaped it.

We all came to be here somehow, from different heritages and different plights. I have respect for them all. And that is all I am suggesting, a little respect if you will. Along the lines of there is more to Cinco de Mayo then drinking a Margarita, or in the same way Memorial Day is not really about BBQ's., My sincere hope is that going forward when you say "WE are ALL Irish for a Day", it is not because of the color of our clothing or drink in our hand, but in sharing the Pride of being fighters. survivors! But only if you are Irish can you say the also the Best at everything you do wink wink wink....(boastful little things we are too, but you should have already known that.)

 ERIN GO BRAGH

Please Press 1 for Stupid.

Once again some of my fellow Americans, or perhaps what I mean is Amuricans* have gotten themselves all in a fuss over well. Nothing. But they sure are making something out of it. And the media is right there to help you all out too, gas you right up into a massacre if you lambs aren't careful. All because Coke had the nerve to air a commercial of America the Beautiful sung in a language not...American. What ever that means. Coke...the same company that had you humming along with "I'd like to teach the WORLD to sing" now should probably amend that to "Only the United States of America" ?????

a snapshot of some of the shared opines of our loyal American brethren in response to the commercial....

Ya know....unless I missed something? There is no such thing as the Americanish Language. You Patriots have been speaking a foreign language since ohhh the day some of your ancestors fled another country to come claim a country that belonged to someone else.  Remember that place across the ocean where Queens still pretend to rule? England ringing any bells???? The rest of your ancestors not lucky enough to be Brit born, hail from some OTHER foreign country. And they came by the droves to the FREE WORLD. And They spoke their native tongue, and learned others as well - England = English, Spain = Spanish. France =French. So on and so on, you know how it goes!  see the connection? America??? hmmmmm???? No AMERICANISH. And do you really not understand those other languages have shaped the Dialect of our country? Go to the mid west and you hear the Scandinavian settlers, New England and up into the east coast of Canada sounds ironically much like their Celtic ancestors that fled Scotland and Ireland, We have the Dutch in Pennsylvania, and the French in the bayou of the South. All over the Map we can trace the settlements of the Immigrants that came to create the USA. Wars, territories, treaties, blood, sweat, tears, and more! suffered by many races are what produced this Nation. Not a select few of "American" only people. They never existed. The first American's were here when the ships landed. The 2nd generation were born here after their Foreign Born parents conceived them.

Rule #1 - start speaking Americanish before we get to shore! Or you don't get off the boat....

And again, some should be smart enough to weave that all together, however no. No, sadly instead of embracing the part of our history that makes us diverse, some choose to grasp the side that makes us Assholes. Somehow you take claim now on this country to the point that songs can not be sung unless in a language you deem.....but you fail to see the hypocrisy. You Eat foods that had their names translated so you would understand, right? Do you not sing music, and Christmas songs that were translated from other languages so you could understand them??? And famous books that were translated as well, no one came and said NO! YOU can only read that if you read it in the language it was written! If you can't, TOO BAD. Imagine there was no King James Bible, read it in old Hebrew or you don't get to go to heaven. Yet today you pound your fist in outrage because a song about our country, dared to be sung in another, GASP* language.

And what's that???? YOU all want to press 1 for English???? Uhhh, nope. That would be press 1 for NATIVE AMERICAN.  See none of you complainers have bothered to learn the language of this country your damn selves but ya sure have a lot to say about what others should do.  How about until there is a Rosetta stone to crack the code on some long forgotten AMERICANISH, all you whiny babies do the rest of us a favor, and shut up. Because as a matter of fact, I don't speak Whinish. Ask my kids.  As I wrap this up, remember, there is perhaps ONE language we all do speak after all. Longfellow said it best: "Music is the universal language of mankind", some people just forgot is all.

Music is the universal language of mankind.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/universal_language.html#kHUjtQovlfXMwU6R.99

 

* Amurican

According to Urban Dictionary: (n) An American nationalist who believes so firmly in America that when one has stated an aspect of another culture is superior to America's equivalent, they have committed the ultimate sin. Amurican's hold a similar belief about those who have admire and respect of a nation that, at one time or another, has defied us, this includes: Russia, Germany, Dems, Japos in China, Great Britain, France, Aladdin, and the Mexicanese. Amuricans can be recognized by a trucker hat, sleeveless tee-shirt, raging hard-ons when in the presence of nice cars, and still finding the phrase "Git-r-done" Hi-frickin'-larious.

 

Amurican 1 - "I saw my boy, Larry, playin' ninja with his friends, I told him that he shouldn't act like that because those Chinas bombed our Pearl Harbor."

Amurican 2 - "I shot my wife when she said she liked rice better than corn..."