Nynia, what a powerful song...we need the tune here, more than one of us! Where can we get a recording?

My Irish heritage played a large part in my upbringing, resentment of the English being part and parcel of it. As the old "joke" went, I was almost 10 years old before I learned Damned Brit was two words. Asking an Irishman to forget the past is like asking an Irishman not to be so flippin' political all the time; some things are visceral. "Let Erin Remember" isn't just a catch-phrase but is part of the makeup of a culture stretching back to the first Celts landing on the shores of the island. Harboring the bitterness is another matter, though: I have to believe that history is for us to learn from, sometimes to celebrate, sometimes to serve as a warning -- as in the lessons learned from the vengeful Treaty of Versailles and what it spawned -- but history as a tool to foster resentment and hatred is just plain wrong.

Like Lar Redmond, I've never actually met the Englishman I'm supposed to loathe and despise. Without exception, the ones I know have turned out to be decent people who shake their heads and say, "I don't know what we're doing there. I don't see it at all, and I'd vote for any (expletive omitted) politician who'd work to get us out of there."

I suspect that JimmyC is right in the premise that the movement to get the English government out of Ireland needs to begin in England. Those are the voices Parlaiment will heed -- the voices of those who can deny them their jobs. Speaking from our own horrific experiences during Viet Nam, it's when the average man begins to speak out and question his government that the politician begins to listen. So Dave, I'd humbly suggest that you consider making the issue a part of your pub conversation, asking your mates how they feel about the mess Randolph Churchill left behind. Just to start is at least to start.

End of second rant.

Sarah