35 Comments

• Seanmor | Mar 10, 2013, 02:49 PM EDT

  I wholeheartedly agree with this very important Editorial, especially the phrase: "...when it comes to our contribbutions to the United States,... we need to make our case loudly and clearly". A few years before the enactment of the 1965 immigration law that virtually shut the door to the Irish,I was stationed at Camp Lejuune as a marine. One evening a book titled "marine Corps Hereos" was circulated in out barracks. It included the names of all marines who had won Medals of Honor. About 1/3 of these medals prior to the Great War (1914-18) were awarded to Irish natives, including TWO to men from Co. Limerick, the county in which I was raised. Six or seven years later, the first marine to win a Medal of Honor in Vietnam was Sgt. ROBERT EMMET O'MALLEY, the son of an Irish immigrant couple in Woodside, Queens. I was never in a war zone, but I did receive a Good Conduct Medal, and I once qualfied (but did NOT participate) in the All-Marine Rifle Championship. Therefore I now strongly support the granting of permanent visas to deserving emigrants from ALL parts of Ireland.

• Smyrnian | Mar 08, 2013, 05:39 PM EST

  Ancavker - MichaelIdaho is right. I am Irish born and I too have spent a very great deal of time in the west and Midwest and a good deal down south as well. Americans are definitely not the same all across the continent; not by along shot.

• michaelidaho | Mar 08, 2013, 03:05 PM EST

  ancavker, I have visited just about every state in the union, grew up and lived in New York/Boston and have lived out west for almost a decade. Both my parents were born in Ireland I spent over 20 summers of my youth there and was in Ireland last year. Perhaps you may re-think your suggestion, that I "need to get around more."

• anglo-norman | Mar 08, 2013, 01:20 PM EST

  illegals OUT OUT OUT

• Smyrnian | Mar 08, 2013, 09:25 AM EST

  Michael - Well said. Robin - There is a drone coming your way.

• ancavker | Mar 08, 2013, 09:23 AM EST

  michael: Americans in the mid-west and south are just the same as those from the north eats or west coast. You need to get around more.

• RobinForester | Mar 08, 2013, 08:43 AM EST

  Things are getting bad in the USA, the Preseidents been authorised to use DRONE STRIKES on US citizens in the event of an emergency. Here is part of the letter to an Senate . Press enquirer: "It is possible, I suppose, to imagine an extraordinary circumstance in which it would be necessary and appropriate under the Constitution and applicable laws of the United States for the President to authorize the military to use lethal force within the territory of the United States. For example, the president could conceivably have no choice but to authorize the military to use such force if necessary to protect the homeland in the circumstances like a catastrophic attack. The letter concludes, "were such an emergency to arise, I would examine the particular facts and circumstances before advising the president of the scope of his authority (and unsaid but clearly meant 'to bomb them into submission)"

• michaelidaho | Mar 08, 2013, 08:27 AM EST

  I find this Irish vs Irish-American nonsense so tiresome. I have had wonderful relationships with people from both Ireland and America. I have also met plenty of idiots from both countries. The irony in this whole silly, endless discussion is that in the 21st century, Americans from the Northeast/West Coast are more similar culturally to the present day Irish (i.e. materialistic, secular, liberal, consumeristic, pop culture obsessed) than an American from the Midwest or Southern or Western U.S.

• RobinForester | Mar 08, 2013, 06:51 AM EST

  Well, if you ask me America's problems were foreseeable in 1758, this was the date when a bunch of colonial rednecks went on the booze in a sleepy-town called Philadelphia, and decided the tallest of them should run for Mayor, the tall guy George didn't really want the job of Mayor, and working for the Council was not exactly what he had in mind - but drunks being drunks they insisted he did and could line them all up for cushy-jobs, unknown to his drinking cronies he'd met an attractive young widow age 26, called Martha Dandridge, who had two young children, and he had purchased a few slaves and was intent on expanding the homestead he'd leased in Mount Vernon. Even so when he got home the next day having been out all night and told Martha what they'd suggested (him being Mayor) she told him not to be a fool, there was no money to be earned working for the Council, and he ought to set his sights higher like being President for instance, she then told him what she knew about Treasury Bonds and Britain’s gold reserves held in Fort Knox which got him thinking, and the next day Martha visited a charity shop and bought him an old British Ships Captains uniform, she washed and combed his hair and told him "he was going to be President", and that's how it all started. As any grey, waxen faced American will tell you today losing British rule, advice, shrewdness and good manners was a bad move, and they had to learn how to stop eating with their fingers and using plates, cups and saucers.

• Smyrnian | Mar 08, 2013, 06:21 AM EST

  Maureen - that's why there is such a mess.

• WoundedKnee | Mar 08, 2013, 01:48 AM EST

  Scouse Tony: What you say is nonsense. You're just another racist. You tell us that the 400.000 Irish people out of work are too lazy to work? Funny, I've heard that kind of racism about other ethnic groups from people here in the US. It's just disgusting racism--go back to your British national front sites. And maybe buy yourself a newspaper and read up on the debate about Mass Immigration--the British politicians are now admitting that they were totally out of order to open the doors of their country to uncontrolled settlement by foreigners.

• Scouse Tony | Mar 08, 2013, 12:30 AM EST

  Woundedknee, The real problem in the UK is that economic migrants are accused of driving wages down when it is actually greedy employers taking advantage of migrant’s willingness to work longer hours for lower pay that is the real problem. The political parties are just reacting to a right wing press driven folk devil. The people making most of the noise can’t distinguish between legal migrants, illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, they usually have a horror story about how they know about a Kosovar / Polish/Iraqi family who have been given the keys to a five bedroomed house, a 50” TV and free money by the Benefits Agency but it’s always come from a bloke their sister’s boyfriend’s cousins mate was talking to in the pub rather than actual facts, my brother in law insists he can’t get work because of all the immigrants when really he couldn't find the Job Centre with both hands and a map if it was up his arse it’s easier for him than admitting he is just a lazy scrounger who can’t get out of bed and thinks the world owes him a living. If we sent all the migrants home all we would be left with is the likes of my brother in law who wouldn't know hard work if it jumped up and bit him on the arse.

• handsome68 | Mar 07, 2013, 10:54 PM EST

  Fail to understand why I "NEED TO" stand up for Irish emigration to the US. My parents were both emigrants to the USA from Ireland. G'head: sway me.

• Maureen Hawkins | Mar 07, 2013, 10:35 PM EST

  Smyrnian, can't see anything sad about that.

• faberm1 | Mar 07, 2013, 08:14 PM EST

  Also, sadly enough Charlottenc, Ireland won't allow you to stay. They have discriminatory policies against Americans. You can't go there and get a work permit, residency, or even buy property without tremendous hassles. Stay in Charlotte!

• faberm1 | Mar 07, 2013, 08:12 PM EST

  Also, sadly enough Charlottenc, Ireland won't allow you to stay. They have discriminatory policies against Americans. You can't go there and get a work permit, residency, or even buy property without tremendous hassles. Stay in Charlotte!

• joan1954 | Mar 07, 2013, 07:01 PM EST

  Thanks to the likes of Teddy Kennedy and others who caused the changes to occur in 1965. In addition to the AOH all Irish American organizations need to be involved in this. But the point is other organizations are not asked. In the south and southwest most don't get Irish American newspapers and so they need to be contacted to be party of this.

• Smyrnian | Mar 07, 2013, 06:20 PM EST

  Charlotte - Ireland is now very liberal, amoral, socialist and full of immigrants, illegal and otherwise. Sad but true.

• charlottenc | Mar 07, 2013, 05:28 PM EST

  By the way, I'm thinking about going the other way and emigrating to Ireland....it gets me away from this liberal, immoral country that we are quickly turning into. It couldn't be worse, could it?

• charlottenc | Mar 07, 2013, 05:24 PM EST

  Here is what we should be talking about...the illegal immigrants that Obama wants to give Amnesty to are the Mexicans and other Hispanics. He doesn't care about any other group....these people will vote Democratic forever and that's the result he is looking for. Don't fool yourselves he is the most dangerous political animal in the Washington Zoo!

• jkennedym | Mar 07, 2013, 03:42 PM EST

  It sickens me the the Irish , Irish Americans And the American Scott's they are what made Americans if it weren't for our ancestors we would not be here they should have free rights to be here but no you rather cloud us with Mexicans and others that don't belong here there non American and they come here free as hell to do what ever they like then they have baby's so now there child is American and that gives the right for 50 more to join the child . We need to get back our heritage and start treating our fellow Americans true ones that they belong they shouldn't need visas they should be free like everyone else we need to clean up this place of non Americans and NO I don't consider Irish Irish Americans or Irish Scott's not to be non American the whole UK should be included in the Irish Immigration laws and rid all others the UK and America should be one since our parents and grandparents etc... All came from Ireland Scotland and many other places there in Europe so stop messing with people who belong and start doing something about us Americans being ran out

• Gary R. Grella | Mar 07, 2013, 03:01 PM EST

  Hey Fast Eddy, slow down. Irish-Americans are Americans. Therefore, it is perfectly legal for these AMERICANs to seek any change in any American law. Now, if you don't know this, perhaps you are not an American. But if you are, you need to study up on your country's history. BTW, you'll also find that Irish-Americans may be the most loyal group in Americn history. They even fought on both sides of the Civil War for Pete's sake !

• WoundedKnee | Mar 07, 2013, 02:48 PM EST

  Poster FastEddy is right. It's obnoxious for any pressure groups to lobby to open the Immigration doors to any group. I condemn the AOH here just as I condemn the Immigrant Council's Open Door pressure group in Ireland. It's interesting that in Britain all the main parties are now admitting that they willfully ignored the people's opposition to Mass Immigration. They're apologizing for flouting the wishes of the British people. When will the dopey Irish wake up?

• WoundedKnee | Mar 07, 2013, 02:43 PM EST

  caolanf: "Ireland is the only country in the world with pre immigration clearance." More nonsense--this guy needs to travel more. He's obviously never come from Canada to US. Or from the Caribbean islands--Aruba etc.

• Smyrnian | Mar 07, 2013, 01:47 PM EST

  Ancavker - well stated!

• FastEddy | Mar 07, 2013, 12:05 PM EST

  You folks are kidding, right? To actively promote the destruction of The US Constitution is treason. For a "foreign" group to actively try to influence the US Congress to make changes to US Emigration Law is illegal in and of itself ... you should get AOH to register as an influence peddler / lobbyist for a foreign agent. ... Otherwise, get in line behind the meskins.

• ancavker | Mar 07, 2013, 12:05 PM EST

  cao: I am not sure where you get some of this from. But I am not talking about some cluelss Americans who claim Irish ancestry. I am talking about genuine Irish-Americans. Many who are only one or two generations removed from Ireland. Many who grew up in Irish homes with parents both born in Ireland. Many of whom went back to visit every summer. Many of have genuine pride and respect for what little is left of Irish culture. Those who studied the language, and learned the dances, and played the music. Those who have done so much for the preservation of Irish culture both in the U.S. and in Ireland. They are met with abuse when they visit and made fun of because they like that "oul diddly dee stuff. Irish people in Ireland laught at them. Then go on to tell them how bad the U.S. is and how bad Americans are. All the while apeing and copying the same Americans they claim they hate.

• Dublinborn | Mar 07, 2013, 11:57 AM EST

  What Irish in America ? do you mean the people who claim to be Irish with Irish surnames ? As for the Irish who came here legally our message is go back to the end of the line and wait your turn, learn the US Constitution, pass a civic exam, get your aids test and your finger prints ready and abide by the law.

• caolanf | Mar 07, 2013, 11:18 AM EST

  @ feliciamaisey, Agreed. All silliness and stereotypes aside, Ireland and the US should be way closer. Keep in mind Ireland is the only country in the world with pre immigration clearance. I am a law grad and found that the US immi system is horribly outdated. I used no less than 3 loopholes to insure I didn't have to leave my US wife for 6 months. I am glad you see that I was addressing a separate issue in my other comment. Technically I should have left and then applied for a visa from Ireland and blah blah blah. I found it to be a horrible and stressful process, so you are right. They would separate families for no reason. And just so you know, moving to Ireland as a spouse of an Irish person is a simple process. We are in the middle of it. The legislation is quite blurred in purpose. It is however, extremely easy and almost costs free unless one spouse messes up. You an also work immediately as my wife can. The mess seems to be in the US immi system which categorizes illegals, legals and everyone, all in one nasty slow moving boat.

• WoundedKnee | Mar 07, 2013, 11:15 AM EST

  I suppose this clown calanf would have us believe that Irish people are full of sage observations on Nicaraguan rice production, or the cost of camels in Kuwait. Anyone who believes his nonsense would be a bigger idiot that caolanf. The reason the Irish THINK they know about the USA is because they have spent all their lives watching American TV shows and movies, and listening to American music! But even with that, as I am sure folks like poster ancavker will confirm, the Irish we meet often show an astonishing ignorance about our country. Case in point--poster caolanf.

• WoundedKnee | Mar 07, 2013, 11:12 AM EST

  Feliciam: I think you are in error in your phrase "ridicule either culture". It's nonsense for you to suggest that Irish--Americans ridicule Irish culture. In fact, as one who has given courses in Irish language, history, myth and folklore over the years, I have always beed struck by how much my Irish-American students tend to know about these things, and how much they respect the land of their ancestors.The fact is that is the Irish themselves who ridicule their culture. We even see this in the clownish post from the poster caolanf who tells us he is Irish. I believe he is indeed Irish, as no one other than Irish would ever use that obnoxious term "some didilly fest". What the hell does that poster mean by that stupid phrase? I bet I could pick any of the Irish-American students I have had over the years, and they'd kick caolanf's dopey ass in any contest that tested knowledge--and appreciation of--Irish history and culture. And I could take the weeakest student out of my Bun-Ghaeilge course (that's Irish 101) and s/he would string a few sentences together while caolf was stuttering out "Ni thuigim". This ignoramus seems to believe that Irish people are some kinds of experts on world affairs. What garbage. I stopped going into Irish pubs because the standard of concersation was so banal and boring, and because usually the bar was full of people screaming obscenities at some English soccer game on TV.

• feliciamaisey | Mar 07, 2013, 10:32 AM EST

  @caolanf: I know you are simply responding to an earlier comment, but sufficed to say, Americans who have family in Ireland suffer a great deal when they are refused the ability to move there and so I can honestly say, it must feel the same to be coming from Ireland to a country that you might not want to embrace. That said, it is not exactly fare for either country's citizenry to blatantly admonish the other or ridicule either culture. As one who has direct ties to Ireland and who has spent many years devouring its history, religion, culture and language,and connecting with its people and customs overall, I am personally insulted by American and Irish comments that brand us all the same in one horrific form or another...It is intolerant and very much part of the immigration stigma as a whole. When people stop doing this then perhaps an intelligent conversation and decision could be made on both ports about how to handle legal immigration and to make it more pliable for one to move abroad to Ireland or out of it.

• caolanf | Mar 07, 2013, 10:15 AM EST

  @ANCAVKER some valid points 1. Some Irish people dislike Irish Americans? Some Irish americans mock Irish people and call us drunks. Some criminals pretend to be Irish American because they think its cool. 2. Living in the US and being Irish is horrible. People are really rude and make derogatory remarks constantly about my temper and tell me how I just came here because apparently Ireland is back in the medieval times. NEWFLASH! Ireland is more advanced than most of the US. We just have a problem with unemployment. I would know! I have tried to live in the US. 3. Americans categorize all foreigners and have no idea what happens in the rest of the world. My American wife would vouch for this. 4. Irish people will always want to move abroad no matter how good times are in Ireland. Its in our blood. Probably to get away from their mothers. Anyway, they obsess over how awesome oz and Canada are. Nobody wants to go to the USA. I came here for my wife and turned down a job or 2 at home to come here. It was for personal reasons and now we are moving back. But could you stop the "Irish people hate us". Maybe if you were proud of the good things from ireland and the majority of "irish americans" stopped stigmatizing their roots or making it some didilly fest, then we would laugh at you lot. And btw we dont Hate Irish Americans. Its like this. Imagine millions of Irish coming to America every year looking for cowboys and indians. It would get really old really fast. My wife is American and love Ireland, loves the people and they love her.

• faberm1 | Mar 07, 2013, 09:10 AM EST

  Ireland needs social, political, and economic reforms to create incentives and freedom. There is no need for Ireland to continue to export its brains and youth. The USA, Canada, and Australia should not be "lands of opportunity" for the Irish unemployed. It is not the responsibility of those societies to ameliorate failed policies at home. Irish politicians need to get off of their backsides and create opportunity at home. Massive emigration from Ireland is not inevitable. It must end.

• ancavker | Mar 07, 2013, 08:59 AM EST

  Why exactly should we get involved? The economy in the U.S., is still struggling, and many of the Irish in Ireland not only dislike Irish-Americans, but despise us. Why should we help?