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March 17, 2008

So, There I Was, Listenin' to the Clancy Brothers

...and sniffling like a baby. Because they were singing what I used to sing to my baby at night. I found the video so you could hear it, too.
It's the perfect lullaby.
Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Posted by tree hugging sister at March 17, 2008 01:13 PM

Comments

Politicians used to rail against those immigrants, those no good drunkard paddies, that were foreign and not adapting to the ways of our culture here in the US, and causing crime and corruption.

Of course for much of that time we didn't have a border patrol or much of an INS if we had one at all.

In fact, we can probably blame the anti-Irish hysteria for starting the whole idea of immigration control and Staten Island.

Just think how many Irish wouldn't have starved or others not been oppressed had they been welcomed here in freedom.

Yeah, I can make almost anything a cynical political statement! Even a post about an Irish ditty.

I'm just glad that the Irish that made it here did and that they survived and thrived. I wish more people could do so. We've got plenty of room, and no end of culture we can share.

Posted by: Skyler at March 17, 2008 03:55 PM

Sure, and why not ruin a mother's tender reminiscing?

::sigh::

Stuff a brogue in it, Skyler.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at March 17, 2008 04:10 PM

No, it was being supportive of your tender reminiscing. If we had had immigration control like we're trying to institute now, most Irish wouldn't be here now. Their ancesters would have either starved or gone elsewhere.

I'm glad you're here. I hope in a hundred years we'll say the same about others coming from who knows where, and those mothers will be reminiscing about singing ethnic ditties to their children.

My mother and grandmother used to sing to me in Portuguese. I'm sure they feel the same way. We just don't have a holiday. Pity.

Posted by: Skyler at March 17, 2008 04:46 PM

Well I'm glad we've properly placed the blame for Staten Island!

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at March 17, 2008 04:59 PM

Damn Irish. :)

Happy St. Patty's Day! I just tossed down a car bomb for you.

Posted by: That 1 Guy at March 17, 2008 07:24 PM

What a lovely gesture! I sure hope I enjoyed it {8^P.

And I'm glad you're not asking why we're not at McGuire's...

Posted by: tree hugging sister at March 17, 2008 07:35 PM

Ummm... that is a good question. I won't ask it, though.

So why are you at home?

Posted by: That 1 Guy at March 17, 2008 07:45 PM

Please don't spoil the party.But,it's a question of numbers.10 million came over a 25 year period.
Now it's 30 million over a twenty year period.
Do the math, we'll have one billion in our children's lifetime.China's popoulation was 150 million in 1900.Now it's 1.3 billion.

Posted by: greg newson at March 18, 2008 01:48 AM

The difference is also in the assimilation. The various waves, the germans, the italians, the irish, all encouraged their youngins' to 'become americans'. i don't think that's the case any more.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at March 18, 2008 07:06 AM

I think this hearkening back to this music hints that the Irish haven't really assimilated so much after all!

Posted by: Skyler at March 18, 2008 08:06 AM

There's no accounting for taste, Skyler.

Or lack there of.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at March 18, 2008 08:43 AM