Yes, Happy St. Patrick's Day. I have never even been to Ireland, but I think that Ireland has influenced my life in profound ways. I grew up in an Irish Catholic neighborhood in the USA in the 1950s and 1960s. Just about every kid in the neighborhood, myself included, went to Catholic schools. There were many excesses in terms of rigidity and legalism and other pathologies, but we did learn some important core truths. Later, I would learn more core truths through actually reading the Bible and focusing more on Jesus Christ and less on man-made religiosity.
Hello, Susan, Jenny's mom here. I had a very similar background, Dominicans for 12 years back in the 50s and 60s, children of Irish immigrants mostly. In elementary school, one nun facing 50 kids! How did they not go insane? It had its rigours and injustices, but we were taught the fact that we are just one of many, and respect for others. We were also given an excellent grounding in grammar, literature and other basics, a love of our country, and discipline. Much of that has been lost, at least in the US public schools today it seems.
These times, they are a changing... 50's and 60's in Pearl River, small houses,1 bathroom, we played in the street 'till the street lights came on...and then some, didn't know we were poor, simple life, church on Sunday [ no open stores on Sunday back then], off to Grandma's and Grandpa's to play with cousins. I'm not so sure what you saw with kids playing in the streets isn't so bad. Now WOKE, you can blame the ACLU and LBJ's Great Society for that.
"where — I kid you not — bedraggled children were playing unsupervised in the streets"
Interesting (as always) piece about Ireland. Thanks again for my Friday morning JH treat, which I look forward to every week.
You're probably not old enough to remember when children playing outside unsupervised was normal in the U.S. (and most likely other countries, too). Kids played in the streets, in the parks, in the fields, all the while completely free from adult eyes and meddling. I'm glad I grew up in the '50s and '60s, but I envy your youth!
Irish history is so damn depressing. Whenever I’m tempted to get romantic about my roots something like this reminds me that we fled from the armpit of Ireland (those who know it know what I’m taking about) to Canada. I haven’t seen enough of the beautiful bits, but I do love the Irish. Getting off the plane from England feels like a breath of fear air: no one trying to place your accent, so down to earth. Long over due for a visit.
Yes, Happy St. Patrick's Day. I have never even been to Ireland, but I think that Ireland has influenced my life in profound ways. I grew up in an Irish Catholic neighborhood in the USA in the 1950s and 1960s. Just about every kid in the neighborhood, myself included, went to Catholic schools. There were many excesses in terms of rigidity and legalism and other pathologies, but we did learn some important core truths. Later, I would learn more core truths through actually reading the Bible and focusing more on Jesus Christ and less on man-made religiosity.
Hello, Susan, Jenny's mom here. I had a very similar background, Dominicans for 12 years back in the 50s and 60s, children of Irish immigrants mostly. In elementary school, one nun facing 50 kids! How did they not go insane? It had its rigours and injustices, but we were taught the fact that we are just one of many, and respect for others. We were also given an excellent grounding in grammar, literature and other basics, a love of our country, and discipline. Much of that has been lost, at least in the US public schools today it seems.
These times, they are a changing... 50's and 60's in Pearl River, small houses,1 bathroom, we played in the street 'till the street lights came on...and then some, didn't know we were poor, simple life, church on Sunday [ no open stores on Sunday back then], off to Grandma's and Grandpa's to play with cousins. I'm not so sure what you saw with kids playing in the streets isn't so bad. Now WOKE, you can blame the ACLU and LBJ's Great Society for that.
"where — I kid you not — bedraggled children were playing unsupervised in the streets"
Interesting (as always) piece about Ireland. Thanks again for my Friday morning JH treat, which I look forward to every week.
You're probably not old enough to remember when children playing outside unsupervised was normal in the U.S. (and most likely other countries, too). Kids played in the streets, in the parks, in the fields, all the while completely free from adult eyes and meddling. I'm glad I grew up in the '50s and '60s, but I envy your youth!
Irish history is so damn depressing. Whenever I’m tempted to get romantic about my roots something like this reminds me that we fled from the armpit of Ireland (those who know it know what I’m taking about) to Canada. I haven’t seen enough of the beautiful bits, but I do love the Irish. Getting off the plane from England feels like a breath of fear air: no one trying to place your accent, so down to earth. Long over due for a visit.