Slanted Coverage

I COMPLETELY agree with the Irish Voice that the treatment of the firefighters of New York City by New York City Parade Chairman John Dunleavy was outrageous and embarrassing to all Irish people. The firefighters of New York deserve our deepest respect.

However, in your reporting, you never did mention that Dunleavy had the complaint that the parade was delayed 45 minutes last year by the New Orleans firefighters marching with the New York City firefighters. Although this is a minor issue, I wish you would report issues fairly.

In your editorial “A Disgraceful Decision” (March 7-13) you could not resist saying that unlike the heroic firefighters of September 11, we should not consider Rudy Giuliani a hero. No one could ever question the heroism of our heroic firefighters, in particular the 343 who gave their lives for others on that sad day.

However, Mayor Giuliani almost died in a building collapse on September 11. Perhaps, the Irish Voice’s lapdog love of Hillary Clinton brought on this uncalled for statement against Giuliani. I wish the Irish Voice could have some moderate standards of fairness.

Patrick O’Dea
Brooklyn, New York

Advice So Important

THE story “Immigration Nightmare for Dad to Be” by April Drew (February 28-March 6) detailed the case of an Irish immigrant who, though married to a U.S. citizen, was not allowed return to the U.S. because of the absence of an appropriate travel document. Of course we sympathize with the individuals who now face being separated for up to a year while their case gets reviewed and attorneys strategize on how to proceed.

The case does highlight the need for all immigrants to get good counsel from immigration attorneys on their immigration cases pending before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), and to make sure they are in possession of appropriate travel documents prior to leaving the U.S.

Simply being married to a US citizen does not guarantee you easy entry to the U.S., and while obtaining an advance parole document prior to leaving the U.S. while a case is pending with USCIS can facilitate reentry, not all immigrants are eligible for advance parole.

Another group of immigrants are also vulnerable: legal immigrants with certain types of arrests and convictions in their background. Many convictions today can result in exclusion from the U.S., meaning even though you may have a green card, you may not be allowed return to the U.S. if you leave.

The safe thing to do is get all paperwork on any arrest/conviction you have had, and have it reviewed by an experienced immigration attorney.

For Irish Voice readers in Massachusetts, the Irish Pastoral Center holds a free legal clinic on the first Tuesday of every month in the evening at the Half Door Restaurant in Quincy. Irish-born Chris Lavery is among immigration attorneys present to advise immigrants. Many Irish centers around the U.S. also hold similar clinics, and have lists of experienced immigration attorneys in their areas.

We appreciate your coverage of these stories because it is an important way to highlight to immigrants the harsh consequences faced when we fail to either get good advice, or when we fail to adhere to good advice when it is given.

Kieran C. O’Sullivan
Immigration and U.S. Citizenship Counselor
rish Pastoral Center
Quincy, Massachusetts

English Domination

I THINK Tom McTigue’s strongly negative views on the English as expressed in his letter “English Thieves” (January 31-February 6) issue would be at odds with the one-fourth of the world’s people who live in member countries of the British Commonwealth.

Those people appreciate the role the English played in helping them create their free, stable democracies. They are proud to have Queen Elizabeth’s portrait adorn their parliaments. Some have the Queen’s portrait on their currency.

Others have the English national emblem incorporated in their own national flag, such is their pride in their association with England.

Slightly unrelated, but India, the most populous country in the Commonwealth, is predicted to become one of the leading countries in the world in the future, probably due to its long and close relationship with England.

For that matter, isn’t Ireland really under England’s wing, being one of the smaller countries in the European Union, a body which has England as itsdominant member.

I think Mr. McTigue’s apparent confusion results from his inability to distinguish between thievery and trade and development.

In the same issue of the Irish Voice, letter writer Mae Doyle Sullivan informs me that I must have divided loyalties. She is certainly right. I respect the English.

I have no such respect for the IRA, which lured naïve youth into committing atrocities for which they will be haunted by the death orgies of their victims for the rest of their lives.

Peadar O’Fiach
Bronx, New York

Free McGeough

REGARDLESS of whether you support Sinn Fein’s political strategy or you choose another path and party toward the reunification of Ireland, the bottom line is Gerry McGeough’s politically motivated arrest and continued harassment and incarceration by the RUC/Police Service of Northern Ireland is a miscarriage of justice, and every Irish Republican and Nationalist should help to support and free McGeough regardless of political affiliation.

McGeough’s bail hearing on March 26 was postponed after the crown claimed that either Germany or America might extradite him. This claim, like Gerry’s arrest, is a sham.

Gerry was released by the Germans after serving several years in isolation on alleged IRA activities, and then he served a sentence in the U.S. on IRA-related charges from a quarter century ago. Gerry’s incarceration is a continuation of internment by remand and a blatant act of political repression against him because of his outspoken opposition to British rule and the renamed crown constabulary.

For those of you who may not know who Gerry McGeough is, in short, he is from Co. Tyrone, is a prominent Irish Republican and former volunteer member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army since 1979.

He spent four years in isolation in a German prison for alleged IRA activities abroad and three years in an American prison for gun running. He led Sinn Fein’s opposition to the referendum on the Nice Treaty in the Republic of Ireland and he was also a Sinn Fein national executive (Ard Comhairle) member.

He is the author of two books, The Ambush and Other Stories and Defenders. He is a graduate of Trinity College, a teacher and editor of the Hibernian magazine “for faith and country”.

He is married with three children and was openly living in Tyrone and running for election when arrested. Please go to the www.freegerry. com website to help. Thank you.

Helen McClafferty
Nutley, New Jersey

Silent Majority Speaks

CONGRATULATIONS to letter writer John Rogers, whose letter “America the Beautiful” (March 7-13) critiqued Niall O’Dowd’s article “Anti U.S. Feelings Rise.” Mr. Rogers was right on the mark.

Anti U.S. feelings have been around long before the conflict in Iraq. He mentioned that Abraham Lincoln was the most despised politician in the U.S. and Europe for causing 600,000 deaths in the Civil War to free slaves.

I would like to add that several of Lincoln’s brothers-in-law were on the side of the Confederacy. Lincoln was castigated by the media and family members alike, yet he remained steadfast.

The problem is that the naysayers speak the loudest and the silent majority fumes in silence. Thanks Mr. Rogers for taking the time to let his opinions be known, and thanks to the Voice for printing it.

Helen Mara
Oceanport New Jersey