#115

Elizabeth Taylor passed away. And yes, that is sad. She was a talented and caring woman. But it really gets to me that her death is a big deal. Elton John called her 'a hero'. Really? Want me tell you about real heroes that have died recently? When people give their lives for their country, it is taken for granted. But a movie star dying?! Breaking news that will be talked about for months.

The last few days have been really great for the B crew. The sun is shining, that is a big part of our happy go luckiness. We have been outside, have felt the sun on our faces and toes, gone for walks. It has been a lovely change of pace and light and temperature. It amazes me how much I have always taken the simple joy of sunshine for granted. The last few years have taught me to treasure it!

And, I promised you a great history lesson. I am wishing I hadn't done that, because I am tired and I really think my bed just spoke. That can't be normal... But, a promise is a promise. Just in case anyone is actually paying attention.

The Great Famine (Ireland, 1845-1850) cut the Irish population down. Roughly 25% of the Irish people either died or left the Emerald Isle in the space of four years. It is believed that about 1 million died, and another million moved to North America, England, or Scotland.

If they survived the horrible sea passage, they were greeted with hatred and more horrid conditions. The Irish poured off ships and in to the cities for years. And what is the best way to handle a large group that could possibly have the potential to do great things? That's right, you kick them down!

Since most of these new immigrants were used to working the fields back in their homeland, they were unprepared for 'city life'. They didn't have the needed factory skills, they were poor, oh yeah and a ton of them didn't speak English. And right about here is where the American ghettos were founded.

Bond servants were treated worse than the average slave. Yes you read that right. The slave you paid money for was your property. You weren't going to damage your own property. But the bond servant you got from the dock wasn't really going to cost you a thing. So you could work them to the bone, and when they died, you went down to the dock and got a new one. This was the reality for many Irish immigrants. Servitude. And if you were lucky, you survived it.

You know those signs you see from the 1950's that specify 'White' and 'Colored' stuff? Well in the 1840's and 1850's, there were signed that said 'No Irish Allowed'. Like I said, the Irish were treated like 'less than'. And from that 'less than' the only place to go was up.

I once heard a great quote, and I wish I could remember who said it. Sure, I could probably 'google' it, but where is the fun in that? Anyway, the quote is "It wasn't luck the Irish had, it was perseverance." Isn't that great? Because when you look at the Irish history, it is plain to see one of the things missing from that fairy island is good luck! But the people are strong and stubborn.

Today, millions of Americans can trace their ansectors to Erin. We proudly call ourselves 'a little bit Irish'. Yet how many of us take the time to learn what it was tto be Irish American? Being Irish American meant you were treated like dirt and you lived in squalor. You had cut the ties of family and homeland to find youself alone and desperate for a hand to hold. You grabbed on to anything you could find, and you pulled yourself up. You fell, and tried again, and prospered, and became a huge part of a great and inspiring country.