LETTERS Gaelic Is Good
AM I to believe that the Irish government is now itself complicit in the attempt to discourage the use of the native tongue of its own people? That’s what one would believe after reading “Ireland’s Eye” in the March 24-30 issue, and the piece about Cavan taxi driver Patsy Whelan who was penalized for using the Gaelic word for taxi on his car.
What body of government is this that has put into effect such a discriminatory piece of legislation? Has the Irish language and its speakers not suffered enough?
Instead of penalizing those who are attempting to keep the Irish language alive, the government should be doing the exact opposite and finding ways to promote and encourage its use. Imagine any other government in a so-called civilized society in Europe banning the use of its native tongue. The Irish should be truly ashamed.
I find Mr. Whelan’s defiance of this rule to be heroic. It may seem like a small gesture on his part, but just as the use of the Irish language has been slowly obliterated by its detractors, it takes “small gestures” such as those made by Mr. Whelan, and others like him, to give the language the respect it deserves.
He is doing his part for the survival of Irish language, and now it is time for like-minded people within the Irish government to have the courage to do the same and ban rules such as this. They must take a strong stance on the promotion of Irish language in Ireland.
I hope others feel the way I do and respond to this discriminatory legislation by becoming stronger in their nationalist beliefs. I will continue to study the Irish language here in the U.S., and make sure my children continue to learn it as well. This will be our small form of rebellion and support for Mr. Whelan.
We may not have many opportunities to use the language, but we will still learn, even though it is apparently thought to be a “crime” by some. And of course, the next time we’re in Carlow we’ll be sure to hail a tacsai from Mr. Whelan.
I look forward to a day when a letter such as this can be written in the Irish language and is easily read by the majority of Irish, if they so choose.
John Gorman and family
Westchester, New York
Pearse’s Brother
IN reference to Gerry Adams’ article in the April 7-13 issue entitled “Honoring Ireland’s Patriot Dead,” where he makes mention of the misspelling of “Pearce” Street, as well as the incongruity of Conway’s Pub, near where Patrick Pearse surrendered and corrupt politicians more recently, apparently, took bribes.
I was more than a little surprised that he implied that Willie Pearse, Patrick’s brother, was somehow a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin.
By all accounts that I have read, even from belated British sources, Willie had nothing to do with the rising. He was far from being a “leader” in the insurrection that ensued, and was not even a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
Willie was totally out of the loop and was shot merely because he was Patrick’s brother. That point was also made, and rather emphatically, during a guided tour of Kilmainham Goal, conducted by the Office of Public Works in Dublin, that I took some years ago.
I am certain that Mr. Adams is much more versed in Irish history than I will ever be, but in this case I think he is in error. For those interested in Irish history, this should be corrected in interests of historical accuracy.
Jack McGrath
Fleetwood, New York
Smoke Out Cormac
I WISH the Irish Voice would stop giving Cormac MacConnell’s column a full page, including picture, to indulge his rant about the smoking ban in Ireland as he did in the March 31-April 6 issue.
Yes, it does seem that MacConnell is an unrepentant “die hard” smokers’ advocate (but this is only his personal opinion.) However, if he took the trouble to peruse the Irish media he would be more objective and more honestly represent what public opinion in Ireland really is.
For example, in an article entitled “Smoking Ban Welcomed by Most Office Workers” in the March 25 issue of the Irish Independent, the author reported that the ban “can’t come soon enough...the overwhelming majority of non-smokers (92%) agreed with the new rules compared to just 15% of the smokers.” From the same article “58% of non-smokers ...were frustrated by the number of cigarette breaks their smoking colleagues took per day.”
And as for MacConnell’s put-down (“holier than thou”) of Health Minister Micheal Martin, words fail me. There is nothing “holier than thou” about supporting people to give up a habit that may eventually cause their death. What else should one expect from a health minister?
Less smokers will mean less government expense caring for people who, because of their addiction, are actually harming their own bodies and those who are unfortunate enough to be in their company.
God knows there are enough illnesses out there one can get without increasing the odds! I wonder if MacConnell ever sat beside a smoker who developed lung cancer and watched them die? Will he be there to save their lives?
My point is that the Irish Voice needs a more modern and more accurate representation of modern Ireland than MacConnell portrays – i.e., his lines such as “in the intimate smoky atmosphere of a thousand pubs, I have defended Martin’s bloody party.”
What is the link between supporting Fianna Fail and the implementation of the smoking ban? This ban thankfully was supported across all parties, evidenced by the brave stand taken by Fine Gael because of John Deasy’s most disappointing and immature outburst against the ban.
Sorry to have to alert you to the reality of modern Ireland, Mr. MacConnell. The Irish have a wonderful health minister who had the guts not to cave in to such rantings.
The days of the “smoky atmospheres of a thousand pubs” are now consigned to history. Thank God!
Derek Cosgrove
Brooklyn, New York
Keep America American
NINE Americans were murdered and mutilated March 31 in Iraq. Why can’t we retaliate and blow these murdering animals right off the face of the earth?
Why do American soldiers always have to be “politically correct” while they are fighting a war and being murdered along with American civilians, day by day?
Is Iraq going to be another Vietnam? I just can’t understand our need to rebuild their country when we can’t even keep our own economy going!
Thousands of Americans are out of work here, and we are losing more and more jobs to overseas. We’ve lost the majority of our manufacturing to overseas, and now the majority of jobs that require hi-tech/computer skills are being lost to overseas as well.
What will it take for our politicians to wake up and realize that it’s time to take care of America first? It seems that U.S. citizens are treated like second-class citizens in their own country because every politician panders to the foreigners and malcontents in this country because they are afraid to stand up and say no more!
How about rebuilding America? Let the other countries take care of themselves. You don’t see other countries giving America jobs, or opening their doors and pockets to us.
Give us back our country and all the jobs that are now overseas. Shut the doors to immigration for 20 years. Let us get back on our feet. There is no more room for the malcontents that continue to enter our country, take our jobs, suck us dry and then spit on us when done.
Helen McClafferty
Nutley, New Jersey
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