LETTERS A Great Parade
TO all those angry souls out there who wish the increasingly popular gay and lesbian-inclusive St. Patrick’s parade in Sunnyside, Queens, would just go away, I suggest that all further complaints be directed to the gents with the true power to pull the plug – the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH).
The nondiscriminatory Sunnyside parade, which this past Sunday drew a record crowd and hordes of media, shines on only because of the AOH’s ongoing and bull-headed refusal to allow gay and lesbian Irish Americans the right to carry their banner up Fifth Avenue each March 17.
This is a right most ironically now enjoyed each St. Patrick’s Day by gay and lesbian groups in our beloved homeland itself! As my wife is always accurately observing about me, us Irish American lads can be a stubborn lot, can’t we?
Bernard O’Brien
New York, New York
Check San Fran Facts
I GUESS I should have written when the Irish Voice first messed up the mayor of San Francisco’s wife’s name some time ago.
I assumed the paper had more readers on the West Coast who would bother to make a correction, or perhaps more proofreaders since she is, as was mentioned in the “Periscope” column “The Irish and Gay Marriage,” (February 25-March 2), a commentator on legal affairs for national television network ABC. Her first name is Kimberly, not Elizabeth.
Further, as an attendee and as someone on the 2004 honorary committee for the American Ireland Fund’s San Francisco dinner on March 5, I can assure Irish Voice readers that Mayor Gavin Newsom was given a standing ovation by the 500-plus supporters both before and after his speech in which he mentioned how the Irish have a tradition of standing up for the civil rights of all members of society.
To paraphrase Kimberly’s introduction, we are proud of our mayor and we are proud of his wife. We are proud that they are descendants of Irish immigrants from counties Clare and Sligo.
The Irish Voice should talk with someone who actually lives and participates in the Irish community in San Francisco before writing pieces based on wrong information. Feel free to call!
Susanna Bogue
San Francisco, California
No Irish-Jewish Problem
IN response to the “Sidewalks” column titled “The Irish-Jewish Problem,” (February 25-March 2), I am a former resident of The Bronx that grew up there during the 1940-’50’s time period. I attended De Witt Clinton High School located in the Bronx.
At least 85-90% of our high school faculty was Jewish, and I can vividly recall them encouraging the Irish Catholic students in class to work hard and make something of ourselves. They were truly dedicated educators who cared about every one of their Irish/Jewish students, and worked hard to equip us for the challenges that were to come.
We Irish guys hung out with Jewish guys during our lunch periods and worked with them in our after school jobs. I can never recall any overt hostility between the Irish guys and their Jewish classmates.
Of course I remember the anti-British feelings exhibited by the New York Jews against the British for giving them a hard time when it came to the establishment of the state of Israel. This actually served as bond between the Irish and the Jews in their hostility to their common enemy, namely the British.
Dan Murphy
Michigan
I’m Willing to Pay
IT is with absolute fury that I respond to Patricia Phelan’s letter “Pregnancy Scare” in the February 25-March 2 issue.
Ms. Phelan, your letter portrays you as a very hard-hearted individual. Your comments about “illegal Mary” both scared and saddened me.
In 1985 I was “illegal Bernie.” I had to have emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix. I had no health insurance, and only for the American taxpayer I would have died.
I am now both an American citizen and a taxpayer. I know quite a few Irish who are unfortunate not to be legal. I would gladly pay, and I hope they rush for medical care if needed at my tax expense.
Remember, Ms. Phelan, a life and the bringing in to the world a life is much more important than money. So stop judging the girls “having flings.” Maybe their forefathers helped to build this great country and make it what it is today so you and I could live well and free.
I suppose Mary and Joseph were irresponsible because they had no home to give birth to our Lord. There would probably be no room at the inn in Freeport, where Ms. Phelan is from, if they had knocked on the door.
We’re all Irish. Get over the resentment and judgmental attitude.
Bernadette Sharkey
Maspeth, New York
The Lord Be With Us!
I AM shocked and shamed by the treatment meted out to Lord Michael Flatley of Chicago by those uncouth, shiftless, lazy Irish peasants supposedly working on his lordship’s estate, as reported by “Page 2” in the January 28-February 3 issue.
My numerous friends in the House of Lords informed me that, of course, there is nothing new in this course of events, as for over 800 years their lordships have tried time and again to civilize these treacherous, rebellious Irish peasantry to no avail, and were forced to return to their English estates.
We subjects of Lord Flatley resent this treatment, knowing that an unfinished estate has caused him to postpone his wedding again. He has also had to move everything he owns to the Caribbean where the lower classes are grateful for the opportunity to serve their betters.
However, it is consolation to us that, as “Page 2” reported the following week, Michael was able to socialize with Luciano Pavarotti. Due to the efficiency of the Atkins diet, he could surely squeeze into the tenor’s bathing suit. I heard that Luciano, in exchange, could get into Michael’s tights, potatoes and all.
I am starting a fund to help Lord Flatley of Chicago (South Side) defray his expenses, as I hear he is tapped out. The Irish government should set up a commission to investigate those lazy arrogant Corkonians who slept on the Lord Flatley job.
But, of course, as usual, they will just dance around this problem as well. Ah well.
Malachy “Twinkle Toes” McCourt
New York, New York
DEBBIE McGOLDRICK RESPONDS: What a week. I’ve gone from interviewing Bill O’Reilly to Brendan Fay, and now Malachy’s getting all hot and bothered again about Michael. Eye-eye-eye!
Though my brain is pretty much fried at this point given the work that’s gone into this issue, it seems once again I have to set Michael’s stalker straight. Malachy, dear, you should know that Michael’s generosity knows no bounds – why, I do believe I’ve spotted you at some Lord of the Dance after-parties paid for by the man himself.
What’s going on in Cork at his castle is a snafu created by little people, yes, but not the estate’s multitude of construction workers who Michael and his fiancée Lisa dearly love and treat with the utmost respect.
It’s the dunderheads who rule the local planning permission board who have put the lads out of work, not Michael. Why? They’re enraged that he constructed a gym on the historic property without getting their go-ahead.
Surely you’ll agree that Michael needs a gym to keep up the physique that you are so clearly obsessed about, Malachy. We even hear you’ve purchased tight-fitting leotards and are buffing your body daily while watching videos of Lord of the Dance. Michael would be impressed!
Meanwhile, while the planning dopes in Cork savor their brief brush with power, lucky Luciano and Michael are undoubtedly chowing down on succulent steaks, quaffing fine wine but are avoiding spuds, as they aren’t Atkins approved. So remember Malachy, stay away from those fries at McDonald’s!
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