Letters
History Lesson
An Irish-American publication must have a sense of history and perspective.
It is inexcusable for your magazine, in its June/July edition, to gush and
fawn over the Royal Irish Regiment of the British Army, without pointing
out that this regiment currently, and under its prior name (The Ulster Defense
Regiment), has a shockingly horrible record of butchery and brutality in
the north of Ireland against the Nationalist/ Catholic population from 1975
through 1996. The British tried to cover up rather than address the crimes
of this regiment by renaming it and merging it with the Royal Irish Rangers
Regiment. This subterfuge seems to have worked where you are concerned.
Your magazine also seems to have joined in with the jingoism of the Bush
Administration’s adventure in Iraq. Since the British decided to join in
that illegal and wastefully expensive adventure, they are to be praised,
you seem to be saying, despite their record in the north of Ireland.
Patrick J. Donlin, Sr., President
Trumbull County AOH
Warren, Ohio
The Passing of Pat
The passing of any decent person is a sad event. However, death does
not change the way someone lived his or her life, and Pat Moynihan’s Irish
record is, to be kind, one of missed opportunity. To simply state that he
took unpopular stances on Irish issues (June/ July issue) and was criticized
for not being critical enough of British policies in Northern Ireland are
a gross understatement.
Moynihan, intentionally or unintentionally, personified the mentality
that if you questioned British policies in Northern Ireland, you must be
pro-IRA. Year after year, while N.I. smoldered, all Pat Moynihan, Hugh Carey,
Ted Kennedy and Tip O’Neill did was brow-beat Irish-Americans every St.
Patrick’s Day to not give money to IRA sympathizers. That’s all they could
do. That’s all they apparently wanted to do. The British loved to snicker
that the primary politician in Washington raising concerns about issues
in N.I. had the surname Biaggi [Mario, Bronx congressman]. How many lives
were lost because Moynihan and his ilk sat on their hands content just to
keep their eye on us stupid, misguided romantic Irish-Americans?
Perhaps the learned scholar knew more about India than he did about the
land of his grandfather, and merged those very different colonial experiences.
When he said about Sinn Féin “those people, I don’t know those people,”
perhaps he was really saying he valued America’s relationship with Britain
more than any skirmish in N.I.
As for the “Hell’s Kitchen” upbringing, I understand that’s a thin strand
of truth turned into a big ball of yarn. Those of us who were active Irish-Americans
long before the so-called “Irish Renaissance,” the Clinton Presidency, and
the “Celtic Tiger,” remember the tragic era of Irish-American politicians
who forgot from where they came. Moynihan’s political style, as applied
to the Irish-American community, will not be missed.
Mick Corrigan
President, Irish Student Society 1979-1982
John Jay College
Queens, New York
There are Two Lords of The Dance
Regarding John McGing’s letter about top Irish dancers, Michael Flatley
and Mark Howard, I agree with McGing that Howard and his Trinity Irish Dance
Company “were working to move Irish dance ahead and were arguably doing
it before Mr. Flatley.”
And with regard to George Brennan’s letter on “Remem-bering Rockaway”
I’d like to add that Rockaway was also famous for its dance groups which
started back in the 30’s and 40’s with such dancers as The Curtin Sisters,
Danny Goldin, who is still tapping away, Crazy Legs Danny Kiernan, the Flynn
Family (who still live in Rockaway Beach) and of course the one and only
Professor McKenna, who taught so many children step dancing at the Leitrim
House (not Ballroom). Last, but not least, let’s not forget the famous NcNulty
family, Ma, Eileen and Peter.
These are some of the entertainers who helped to make Irish dancing and
Rockaway famous.
Walter McNulty
Scarsdale, New York
PS: My father, Jim was the bartender at The Leitrim House for over 20 years.
Mullane’s Dance Contribution
Please note that Mike Mullane, who competed against Mark Howard when
they were both dancers, has also been a large contributor to Irish dancing.
He has more than one all-Ireland dance champion from his schools in Chicago,
and has had several dancers go into touring companies of Riverdance. He’s
a superb teacher, a fine dancer and a true carrier of the Irish culture
via dance. He deserves a feature in Irish America.
Dolores Sierra
East Moline, Illinois
Honoring Flatley
I hope you’ll be offering a clarification that sexual assault charges
against Michael Flatley were made after your laudatory article went to press.
(At least, I assume that’s the case). To ignore the controversy would be
doing readers and Irish Americans who were less than thrilled about his
honor from Irish America a disservice.
Tricia Gallagher Hempel
Cincinnati
Editor’s Note: The charges against Michael Flatley were made after we
went to press with our Top 100 issue which named Flatley as Irish American
of the Year. On March 7, 2003 Flatley filed a $100 million lawsuit against
the woman who accused him of rape, claiming she defamed and tried to extort
him.
Top 100 Comments
Overall, your choices are always great and make me proud to be an Irish
American. Unfortunately, you gave a place of honor to Michael Moore who
I feel strongly does not deserve such recognition after his Academy Awards
antics. In fact, whenever I think of Mr. Moore now and in the future, I
picture the last thing I see after a horse jumps over a fence.
John J. Doolan
Cranford, New Jersey
Governor George Ryan is no crook
After reading the letter concerning the past governor of Illinois, I
was again reminded of my early day training at the City News Bureau of Chicago:
“If your mother says she loves you, check it out!”
Governor Ryan, to date, has been accused of no crime whatever.
Patrick J. Cleary
Editor and Publisher
Will County Weekly Review
Farmers Weekly Review
Joliet, Illinois
Oh Brother!
Regarding the photograph of The Cathedral School Commercials Baseball
Team, Kansas City, 1901 (Photo Album: June/July issue), I don’t think the
clerics pictured with the boys are Christian Brothers. The Irish Christian
Brothers did not come to the United States until 1906 (New York City). And
the French Christian Brothers have a distinctive habit, different from the
one featured in this photo. The Brother with the shotgun in his hand seems
to be wearing a Benedictine habit with their traditional black scapular.
Rev. Raymond Maher
Order of Carmelites
Boca Raton, Florida
A forum for Anti-Americanism in ireland?
Would you know if there is a forum to discuss anti-Americanism in Ireland?
As an American living in Ireland, it is disheartening to see such anti-Americanism
as U.S. flags being hung upside-down at business locations, to name just
one example.
If you have any information on the correct forum or body to address my
concerns, please e-mail me.
Ty Wegg
Tywebb@eircom.net
Editor’s Note: I know of no such forum but perhaps readers can help out.
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