Oh, Danny Boy...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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O'bama 08': "Tiocfaidh Ar La."

Why the Irish, and Why Saint Patrick's Day?

"What are you?" is a retarded and incredibly offensive question that I get asked way too often. What people are really asking, of course is "What's your ethnicity?" or if you want to be crude, "You seem white, but you're too dark. Explain."

Nothing seems to bring out this retarded line of questioning more than my love and celebration of St. Patrick's day. When push comes to shove, i don't see any reason why i should explain my love of a "Drinking Holiday" and yet, i feel strongly enough about my journey into the struggles of the Irish people to give a little explanation.

My general anglophilia was sparked at an early age by a grandfather who embraced his Scotch heritage, no matter how distant. Yes, the name "Lamont" is of scottish ancestry and if you dig far back enough even Irish, but let's face it. I'm as Mexican as a tamale being sold out of a cooler. Being a weird little Mexican kid in Colorado Springs with an "Abuelito" provided collection of Scottish tin soldiers, not to mention endless history books and an early exposure to war movies like ZULU, LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER, THE FOUR FEATHERS, GUNGA DIN, and and endless array of pith-helmeted books and stories, it wasn't very long before you had a fifth grader who cherished his copy of "The Illustrated Charge of The Light Brigade".

"Half a League, half a league, half a league onward!"

Its no wonder I can't remember where my keys are most of the time.

It was around the time of what i consider my political awakening when my shockingly conservative hometown finally started to get aggravating, that I decided to champion liberal causes and piss everybody off. At this time, my family was embroiled in an epic argument regarding religion, and I was forced to attend confirmation classes and "Go through the motions" despite the fact that i had been confirmed when I was 7 by a Cardinal, no less. So my Catholicism and liberalism were bound for a head-on collision, and that collision took place in the newspapers and literature of Irish republicanism and "The Troubles".

I'll spare you the history lesson, and leave that to the brilliant and thorough documentary series I've posted below. Suffice to say that the treatment of the Irish at the hands of the British even up to the mid to late eighties forced me to rethink my romantic views on the Empire, and served as a reminder that even some of my most seemingly benign childhood affections were childish, and the world we live in is far more complex than is dreamt of when reading of Gordon in the Sudan.

So why the Irish? Because they have been a historically mistreated and sidelined people, who have struggled for equal rights and a nation longer than any other people on earth. Why St. Patrick's? It is a chance to celebrate the underdog, the poets, the dreamers and rebels who will hopefully make Ireland a nation once more.

Now, for the history lesson. Below is the entire 8 Part series of THE TROUBLES. It is a history of the epic struggle of the Irish people for a free, complete, and sovereign nation from the Easter Rebellion of 1916 to the Hunger strikes of the 1980's. hopefully it will help you understand why the music at my St. Pat's parties sometimes carry a melancholy or defiant tone, and why some decorations have a Fenian slant.


"They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of one Irishman who doesn't want to be broken." - Bobby Sands MP

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Photo Phun

Oh I know I haven't been posting all too regularly. In lieu of anything worthwhile, but preemptive to my fourth of July musical and video tribute to our great nation, allow me to bestow some photographic fireworks.

My favorite pictures of the week

1. WHALE AND DOLPHIN HORSING AROUND



What's Dolphin for "Dude did you just see what I did?"?

“I was observing a strange interaction between a pair of bottlenose dolphins and a humpback whale, when it became apparent that the two species were collaborating in some way. The dolphin was lying on a humpback whale’s head while it was slowly swimming along. Looking through my camera lens the stunt appeared to be orchestrated by mutual “agreement.” The whale very slowly—and vertically—lifted the dolphin into the air. I expected the dolphin to wriggle atop the humpback’s head to get off, but it just laid still and arched, trying to stay on top of the whale’s snout. In this frame the dolphin was beginning its slippery return to the sea. Once back in the ocean, the dolphin swiftly swam away with the other dolphin, leaping joyfully as if they had just scored a coup!”


2. WHY MY BROTHER IS AN IDIOT



FYI my brother nearly got killed sea kayaking in strong currents last week.

3. WHY I HATE CATS



The audacity!

4. THE ONLY KNOWN PHOTOGRPAH DOCUMENTING THE IRISH POTATO FAMINE OF 1845



I know its a downer, but the photograph is astonishing in its candor. Most of the period photographs were looney portraits attempting to romanticize the subjects. Due to the long exposure, there was very little if any candid photography in those days. The fact that this family was captured in the throes of starvation and squalor is shocking, and poingniant.

Ah, the Derry Air

Well, in my political tour of Ireland, I've arrived at the most put upon city on earth. None other than Derry city. The site of the famed "Bloody Sunday" of U2 fame. Of course, there were Murals to be seen, and politics to discuss, so enjoy the photos because tomorrow you get a dose of Edinburgh, right up the kilt.


The Bogside, and the iconic "Free Derry Wall"

The parents of this girl asked the artists to paint a pupae in cocoon on the bottom right of the mural. With the condition that the butterfly be added only when Peace had been achieved in Derry.


Evidently Peace has arrived.

Well... Mostly

Bu its a far cry from the lunatic Violence this beautiful city has known in the past.

Dublin in pictures

Thanks to my Singaporian Friend, i managed to get this thing going JUST as I'm about to leave Dublin. I'll give you all a full recount when I'm on the train to Derry, but in the meantime here's a few photos.

The GPO I spoke about in the previous post.


A lamppost


Kilmainham Gaol...which was AWESOME. Really exciting stuff.

Erin Go Wireless

So I'm in Dublin, and Ive found that my damn computer wont hook up to wireless. Furthermore Irish keyboards do not provide handy keys such as the apostrophe and the at sign or quotation marks. At least none that I can be bothered to find. howevfer, be pleased to know that I am presently standing in the General Post Office where the Heroes of 1916 were all gunned down for failing to rally a nmation too busy with their morning pint. Awesomely enough there are still bullet holes present on the columns where the English unloaded on the Republicans who were armed with wit and satire.

In the meantime Ill leave you with this portrait of the ever-popular Michael Collins who was known for negotiating an awesome treaty that created almost 60 years of internal conflict in Ireland, and who was also well know for having ill-fitting gloves.

Holy McPoop O'Turdley! Tis TIME!

So, I'm throwing a party at the new pad. You'll get the whole treatment in time. But For the now, Here's some Irish History.