I get tired of ignorant people who object to any generalizing about them, yet generalize constantly about the "March 17ers". My guess is that I know more of the history, can speak more of the language, have as many friends from the North and the South of Ireland, and understand the tragedy of armed conflict, as any here. But what has that to do with having an opinion on something as blatant and egregious as this. Stick to the issue, GUEST. If you want to take issue with my opinion, fair enough. How much time I have spent in Ireland has nothing to do with the subject at hand, and shows you for the intellectual weakling you are.

As to my Irishness, what makes you more Irish than I? What did you have to do with it? You are "Irish" by an accident of nature. You were simply born there through no doing of your own. I have made a conscious decision as to honoring the land of my grandparents. I paid attention as I was taught that we are not here in the States by choice. I have invested the time to learn about that land, it's customs, it's music, and the politic. Through the many friends I have in both communities of the North, I have (with much investment of time) come to understand the tragedy of it all. I have said many times that I wish for the children of the North of Ireland to have peace. This peace has taken far too long to achieve, in no small measure, due to the collusion of the police forces, and the British Army, with the Orange militants. You are no more Irish than I by anything other than where you were born. I will give you citizenship, but nothing more.

So lay off your weak as hell attempt to shift the argument away from the subject at hand to move it to me. No matter what you think I am, I have an opinion and it is valid. For the monarch, the titular figurehead of Great Britain, to not just recognize, but honor this unit sends a clear message to the Republicans in the North of Ireland. That message is that she still regards them with disdain, and could care less what message that sends.

I don't know you, so I will add one thing. I don't know what tragedy has been in your life. Perhaps you have been touched by this war in a way that scarred you. I do understand that, but at a different level and in a different way. There is no mitigating that, and if it is the case, I am sorry for your suffering. But don't for a minute think that you have a corner on that. You don't know me either.

Mick