Letters.

Fight for the McAllisters

THE recent tragic death of Bernadette McAllister has not resulted in a lessening of the threat of deportation to Malachy or his children. To the contrary, the situation has worsened considerably.

With Bernadette’s passing, the McAllister children have lost their challenge for political asylum. As the two youngest children were mere infants when their home was attacked by a Loyalist death squad, they have no conscious memory of the traumatic events leading to their flight from their home country.

Accordingly, they may not be able to establish the requisite degree of “fear of persecution,” the standard by which asylum is granted. Furthermore, as their sole remaining parent, Malachy, has been denied asylum, their chances of remaining in the U.S. are perilous.

Needless to say the family now requires more intensive legal representation, and even more support from the Irish community. The Court of Appeals may issue its final ruling on the McAllister case in about six months, just after the elections and before Christmas.

Since there is no further availability of humanitarian relief for the children within the immigration laws, concerned individuals within the Irish community must stand up and be counted. This is an election year, and our elected officials must be under no illusion that their visible support for the McAllister family will influence our votes.

The time for rhetoric on this case has long passed. We need to see immediate action from our representatives.

Concerned individuals should contact local, state and federal officials and demand that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security freeze deportation proceedings against the McAllister family. We must make it clear that the surviving McAllisters are not now, and never have been, any threat to U.S. national security.

To contact your representative visit http://www.house.gov/writerep/.

Write or e-mail the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Tom Ridge, cc Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C. 20528. E-mail is http://www.dhs.gov/dhsopublic/contactus.

Bernadette McAllister fought a long and heroic battle to give her family a place on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. that they could finally call home. The current administration needs to understand that we expect it to make that dream a reality. Irish America is keeping vigil.

Sean Mackin

Chairman, McAllister

Family Justice Campaign

Westchester, New York

Respect Other Bands

I AM writing to lodge a complaint. Let me first say I am an avid reader of the Irish Voice and I enjoy it very much.

But I am sick and tired of seeing Bono and U2 every week about a new CD, or Bono’s political views. Every time they come out with a new CD, you’d think it’s a number one hit.

When either the Wolfe Tones or Sons of Erin come out with a new CD not a word is mentioned, not even a review. The Wolfe Tones were every bit as good, if not better, than U2. 

What is considered the greatest song ever recorded, according to the BBC? “A Nation Once Again,” by the Wolfe Tones, not U2.

The Wolfe Tones are calling it over after 40 years, but not a word was mentioned. Is that right? Hell, no!

Let’s give some of these other groups some print in the Irish Voice.

Jim Harrington

Arlington, Massachusetts

Don’t Shoot the Messenger

IN response to J. Brian McCarthy’s criticism that my recent letters to both the Irish Voice and Irish Echo were virtually identical, I believe this was entirely appropriate since both letters dealt with the same topic — i.e., the Irish people’s ability to see through the propaganda of the Bush administration.

As chairman of the Irish American Republicans in New York, it is unfortunate that Mr. McCarthy chose to shoot the messenger rather than respond to the message. For example, in support of my Irish friends’ contention that George W. Bush will rank as one of the worst presidents ever, consider what has happened so far on Bush’s watch:

1. The biggest federal surplus in the nation’s history has turned into the biggest deficit in the nation’s history. 

2. A trillion dollar tax cut has been pushed through while those deficits were mounting.

3. America and the world were told the U.S. had to overthrow another country, Iraq, because of a “threat” that did not exist. 4. Bush’s arrogant and bullying attitude transformed world sympathy towards the U.S. after September 11 into widespread distrust and hatred.

5. Actions like refusing to sign the international Kyoto accords and gutting enforcement standards in domestic clean air legislation has set back decades of environmental progress.

6. The U.S. has withdrawn from its long-standing Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty with Russia without consideration either for amending that treaty or helping forge a replacement.

7. An under-funded “No Child Left Behind” program has shifted massive additional costs to state and local school systems.

8. Billions in Iraqi reconstruction contracts have been awarded to corporations (Halliburton, Bechtel) with close ties to members of the administration (i.e., Cheney, Bush.)

I welcome intellectual debate as the lifeblood of our democracy, and a genuine, healthy exchange of ideas brings light to the discussion. Name calling and shooting the messenger do not.

James V. Burke

Sayreville, New Jersey

Follow Christ in Work

GOD is not a Republican, nor is he a Democrat. However, the Democrats who were at one time the home party for many Catholics have, it seems, in many cases deserted the Catholic Church, and Christ, by their pro-abortion stand.

I do think the Kennedys, Kerrys, Cuomos, McGreeveys and the like should not be allowed to duck the issue of abortion and the church — and that goes for a few Republicans too. I am personally opposed, but I must obey the law of the land.

To equate the death penalty with abortion, as was done by Tom Deignan in his “Sidewalks” column of May 12-18, is reckless and misleading. His Holiness, who has spoken against the death penalty, did add that it could be used in rare instances. This is surely quite a difference from a total ban on abortion, the killing of innocent, defenseless life.

I’m happy that the bishops have taken a stand against political scoundrels. I would not prohibit them from receiving the sacrament, but I would instead instruct the people not to vote for these pro-choice political advocates. Surely our Catholic politicians should, in their work, follow Christ.

John Dillon

Bronx, New York

Don’t Forget Rudy

THE Catholic Church has been injecting itself into the presidential election by some bishops saying not to vote for a pro-choice politician. When the time comes for Rudy Giuliani to run for governor or senator, I hope Cardinal Egan is as vocal as some of the other bishops have been against Senator John Kerry.

Egan will have plenty of ammo. Not only is Giuliani pro-choice, he’s also on his third marriage.

Jane Sherman

Bronx, New York

Coke’s Irish Roots

I AM writing in response to the article “Irishman Takes Over at Coke” in the May 12-18 issue.

I would like to bring to your attention the fact that in 1886 Dr. John Stith Pemberton of Atlanta started selling a syrup called nerve and brain tonic. In 1888 Asa Candler bought the rights to Pemberton’s tonic and began marketing it as Coca-Cola.

Asa Candler was a third-generation American whose family was originally Irish Protestant from Callan, Co. Kilkenny.

Thomas Tierney

Bergenfield, New Jersey