St. Patrick's Day Reflections

Now in reality, I am much more Scottish and British than I am Irish (though recent genealogical research suggests they are genetically the same), Kate and I took the opportunity to throw a St. Patrick's day party at our place last night. We drank what the Irish drink, but we served chili for dinner (who really wants to eat Irish food).

Anyway, in the process of preparing for the party, I typed up some Irish quotes to display throughout our apartment. Here are a couple that I enjoyed:

"Ireland was born on a storm-swept rock and hates the soft growth of sun baked lands where there is no frost in men's bones." -Liam O'Flaherty (Irish Novelist)

"A lament in one ear, maybe, but always a song in the other." -Sean O'Casey (Irish dramatist and memorist)

Now, like I said, I am more of a Scott, than an Irishmen, but I think the same could be said for the land and people of Scotland. It is a harsh place, that has a created a tenacious, hardworking, frugal people, with dry humor and warm hearts. For evidence listen to Irish or Scottish folk music, and its American counterparts.

If you listen to the spirit of the music (or the culture) there is a sense that there is a darkness, a harshness to life. But as a stubborn and proud people, they refuse to bow to the unceasing rain of turmoil that this world can bring. Instead they choose to mock it with biting sarcasm, and insatiable laughter. (I.e. In Braveheart, William Wallace and his men, turning their arses towards the British infantry).

Not a bad way to stand against the cruelty of the world that we live in (at least once in a while).