Posted on 03/17/2002 3:57:23 AM PST by Seeking the truth
Yes, this a pure vanity. No question about it. Please indulge me on this fine St. Patty's day.
I watched the History Channel's History of Ireland two hour show last night. Although I had read quite a few books on the subject, as usual, I learned a few more things about that beautiful green Isle.
The names and accomplishments of the great Irish Patriots - 0'Connell, de Valera, Stuart, Tone - and the secret societies that they organized made me think of Free Republic and what we are trying to accomplish.
Another thing that struck me was the seemingly high representation of Freepers who have that Celtic rabble rousing, independent, skeptical, cynical, anti-authority blood somewhere in their background!
I am your typical "All American" with an Irish surname but with Italian and a dash of Dutch German for flavoring.
Of course, this revolutionary spirit resides in many ethnicities. The cause of Freedom is universal.
It just seems that many Freepers of that Irish/Scot Celtic background have gravitated here on Free Republic!
It all started with a guy named Robinson, didn't it? That sounds a bit Celtic, doesn't it?
Heres a cute story. My mother's mom passed away a number of years ago at the age of 83.
She was the quinessential Italian (my mom's father was surnamed Manzo) wife. She doted on my grandfather. She got him his cigarettes, his beer, his newspaper. She always had this huge pot of tomato sauce simmering on the stove! I meand it was never empty. To us kids, it was a type of miracle. That huge pot just seemed to regnerate itself very day. Our family was big - lots of kids - Italian & Catholic! Those from Italian families know what I mean!
At her wake, there were mass cards. I picked one up and read the history of my grandmother on the reverse of the card.
I was absolutely astounded to find out that her maiden name was Julia Ann Kerwin!
Just about as Irish as you can get! I had always assumed she was Italian also!
Happy St. Paddy's Day!
I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
I bind this day to me for ever,
By power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan River;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the Cherubim;
The sweet 'Well done' in judgment hour;
The service of the Seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.
I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.
Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death-wound and the burning
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Wearing the green today, and feelin' proud!
Happy St.Paddy's Day to All!
I'm 100% Irish and Proud of it! My Grandmother immigrated here from Derry in the 1920"s.
I'm a mutt.
Held on to my blade of grass last night, and will test out the gravity today as well!
Tullamore Dew...God's insurance policy that I'll never rule the world!
I am the redheaded great grandaughter of 4 redheaded Great Grandmothers, my great great grandmother being an Anna McCartney of County Cork.
Headline in the UK paper Birmingham Post: "WE ALL HOPE AND PRAY FOR PEACH IN NORTHERN IRELAND" (from my 365 Dumbest Things Ever Said desk calendar).
Happy St. Patrick's Day, freepers.
Happy St. Patrick's day everybody!
Just spending what's left of this lovely Sunday morning by listening to John Gary's Danny Boy, Mother Machree, I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen, and the saddest and most-touching song I ever heard, Macushla.
Top of the mornin' to all Freepers.
God bless America!
This is one of my favorite holidays of the year, AFTER the Patriotic American holidays, that is. :>
My wife is Woodlawn (The Bronx) Irish.
An out right lie is:
You don't look a day over 17.
Blarney is:
Can you tell my how old you are so that I know at what age beauty starts.
???
First, there's really no comparing these two days- the spirit is completely different.
Second, MLK Day is not a "celebration" of blackness or black culture- it is a tribute to one man. Sure, St. Patrick's Day is supposed to be that too, but the focus is not on him but on Irish culture, which is OK with me.
This is from someone whose mother's maiden name is Irish. Though that is so, I am black, don't want to be anything but black, and am proud to be black. That never stopped me from dressing in green and taking green cupcakes that my mother baked to school on St. Patrick's Day and having a sip of green beer today but I know and like what I am first and foremost.
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!
I think that would have more to do with being from Long Island (maybe Staten Island?) than being Italian. I don't think accents and ethnicity are generally related :)
Anyway, I can't even pretend to understand all of this wallowing in ethnicity. I am not a fan of talking about one's ethnicity at all. It doesn't do a thing for me, but have yer fun. I'll be drinking plenty of beer too. Not because it's St. Patricks's Day - but because it's just what I do!
From your NORSE ancestors!
Let your quacks and newspapers be cuttin' their capers
And curing the Vapours, the Scratch and the Gout.
With their medical potions, their pills and their lotions,
Upholdin' their notions, they're mighty put out.
Who can tell the true physic of all things pathetic
And pitch to the Devil Cramp, Colic and Spleen?
Oh you'll find them I think if you take a big drink
With your mouth to the brink of a jug of Poteen.
Then stick to the Cratur the best thing in nature
For sinkin' your sorrows and raisin' your joys.
Oh what botherations no bolt to the nation
Can bring consolation like Poteen me boys.
No liquid cosmetic to lovers athletic
Or ladies pathetic can bring such a bloom
As the sweet, by the powers to the garden of flowers
Never brought it own powers such a darlin' perfume.
And this liquid's so rare if you're willin' to share
To be takin' your hair when its grizzled and dead.
Oh the Sod has the merit to yield the true spirit
So strong it'll shake all the hairs from your head.
Then stick to the Cratur the best thing in nature
For sinkin' your sorrows and raisin' your joys.
Oh since its perfection no doctor's direction
Can cleanse the complexion like Poteen me boys.
As a child in my cradle the nurse from her ladle
Was swillin' her mouth with a notion of ``Pep''
When a drop from her bottle fell into me throttle.
I capered and scrambled right out of her lap.
On the floor I lay crawlin' and screamin' and bawlin'
Till Father and Mother soon came to the fore.
Conceived I lay dying, all wailing and crying
They found I was only a-cryin' for more.
Then stick to the Cratur the best thing in nature
For sinkin' your sorrows and raisin' your joys.
Oh Lord how I'd chuckle if babes in their truckle
Could only be suckled on Poteen me boys.
Through youthful digressions and times of depression
My childhood impression still clung to me mind.
In school and in college the basis of knowledge
I never could gulp 'till with whiskey combined.
Now as older I'm growin', time's ever bestowin'
On Erin's potation a flavour so fine
And how e're they may lecture on Jove and his nectar
Itself is the only true liquid divine.
Then stick to the Cratur the best thing in nature
For sinkin' your sorrows and raisin' your joys.
Oh Lord it's the right thing for courtin' and fightin'
There's nowt so exciting as Poteen me boys.
Come guess me this riddle what beats pipes and fiddle
What's hotter than mustard and wilder than cream?
What best wets your whistle, what's clearer than crystal
Smoother than honey and stronger than steam?
What'll make the dumb talk, what'll make the lame walk
The elixir of life and philosopher's stone?
And what helped Mr. Brunell to dig the Thames tunnel
Wasn't it Poteen me boys from old Innishowen.
Then stick to the Cratur the best thing in nature
For sinkin' your sorrows and raisin' your joys.
Oh Lord knows I wonder if lightning and thunder
Was made from the plunder of Poteen me boys!
Let philosophers dabble in science and babble
‘Bout Oxy-gin, Hydro-gin, Nitro-gin’s fame
For their gin, to my thinking, is not worth the drinking
Their labour’s all lost and their learning a drame
They may prate by the score of their elements four
That all things earth, fire, air and water must be
For their rules I don’t care, for in Ireland I’ll swear
By St. Pat there’ a fifth and that’s whiskey, machree!
You maidens pathetic, with lovers athletic
For liquid cosmetic, you can’t beat the drop
With a glow to your cheek, it will maker your heart leap
It’ll quiet a stallion or cure an old cob
At the mouth your would drool, be reduced to a fool
You’d kick up your heels and you’d peel to the buff
Then ‘tis he’d be pathetic while you’d be athletic
If only you’d take a few drops of the stuff
So stick to the cratur, the best thing in nature
For sinking your sorrows and raising your joys
For there’s nothing like whiskey to make maidens frisky
It soon separates all the men from the boys
My twin brother died on St. Patrick's Day 30 years ago... so I will always be connected spiritually to this Holiday!
Happy St. Patrick's Day to ye...
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