Unto thine own self be true......

I sing many of these songs because they are worth singing and they point out wrongs, as yet unrighted. People that come to my concerts know they will hear this music along with jigs, reels, Soldier and Maid songs, immigrations songs, laments, drinking songs, love songs, et al. It is ludicrous to suggest that one can sing and play the music of the Ireland without being political. Every aspect of that country's culture has been shaped by the political events of the last 800 years. Even the apolitical instrumentals were forbidden to be played at one time by the politics of the Crown towards the Irish. I get very tired of Irish Nationals telling people like me that I don't understand because I am a Yank. I probably understand the history of the land of my Grandparents, as well as its culture as anyone. I also understand guerrilla warfare in ways that most of those who complain never will. I will continue to sing songs that address the ongoing colonial injustice that is goes on in the North of Ireland. What I will not sing is songs that tend to dehumanize the English people, or British soldiers. You see, I have been a warrior. I understand that the English people, are as much a victim of the policy of their government as anyone. That is why the majority of them oppose their governments involvement in the North of Ireland. And this, even though the media is controlled to prevent honest debate of the issues.

On this side of the pond, it drives me nuts when otherwise well intentioned Irish Americans blindly sing songs and contribute to a cause without much more than a passing inquiry into where the money is going and what it is to be used for. The re-unification of Ireland is an admirable goal. The constant shining of light on the abuses and human rights violations of the British Government and the RUC is every bit as honorable a fight as was the fight to end its offspring, known as apartheid, in South Africa. But when your level of knowledge of the cost is limited to slogans or shouting "Tiocfaidh ár lá", you do nothing to ensure what the ultimate goal has always been...........Peace for the children of Ireland, and reunification. Remember, my American brethren, the people of the Republic and the people of the North of Ireland have spoken. They spoke overwhelmingly and with one voice. The day of the gun is over. I supported that tactic as a just fight of a people. But it does not matter what I think anymore. When that referendum was taken, and the results were unambiguous, it sealed the way forward. Sure we should sing the songs, more now than ever. But not to incite more violence, rather to show why the bargaining position of the Republican Sinn Fein is correct. If we, as the grandchildren of Ireland, care as much as we say we do then we will support the peace process with the same vigor we supported the armed struggle.

All the best,

Mick