The horrid evil of the carnage and murder in the Ukraine took the wind out of my sails for St. Patrick's Day. Originally I was going to make a Irish roast lamb dinner with wild rice from the Minnesota Indians, fresh cooked cranberries stashed since Christmas from back east and organic green beans from Oregon along with a poppy seed booze cake...maybe for Easter. Also, we had to go up for my knee shot.
I have to tell you, it is completely depressing to see absolutely no support for the Ukraine at least in this part of Mexico. No flags, no buttons, no bumper stickers. In fact, it was dead for St. Pat's to boot. Nada. By not even recognizing the San Patricios and their ultimate sacrifices, it was truly a slap in the face to El Batallon de San Patricio in Baja California. Shameful.
So, in honour of El Batallon de San Patricio because we never forget:
"Mo Ghile Mear " (several translations, this is just one from the Sting version.)
My Gallant Darling
" Grief and pain are all I know
My heart is sore
My tears a'flow
We saw him go.
.. No word we know of him, ochon
A proud and gallant chevalier
A high man's scion of gentle mean
A fiery blade engaged to reap
He'd break the bravest in the field
Come sing his praise as sweet harps play
And proudly toast his noble frame
With spirit and with mind aflame
So wish him strength and length of day."
Another....
"Hail the hero strong and true
Who fought the fight and saw it through
Who swore he'd ne'er would be a slave
And gave his life our land to save."
*****
My Gallant Darling
Happily and just by chance, a very slight little Mayan girl with a baby was selling homemade flowers at the border wait. And there they were: all yellow and blue, gorgeous ! I bought a bouquet to spread around. Truth is, that is and was the only yellow and blue I've seen around here at all. And positively, no green except for our buttons and hats.
They went wild in Ireland:
~ From The Irish Times:
Irish Landmarks Light Up Blue & Yellow For Ukraine Ahead of St. Patrick's Day
More than 40 Irish landmarks are lighting up in the colors of Ukraine's flag as a show of solidarity this St. Patrick's Day.
"Ireland’s Office of Public Works unveiled the landmarks on Wednesday, March 16, the day before St. Patrick's Day.
"In Ireland and abroad, we take pride in the wearing and displaying of the green on St Patrick’s Day," Patrick O’Donovan, Ireland's Minister for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, said. "The colour is an intrinsic part of our pride in our roots and the joint celebration of Irishness on our national holiday.
"Over many years, the Office of Public Works has set the mood for this important day by symbolically ‘greening’ our most iconic heritage sites, government buildings and national cultural institutions.
"This year is different, however, and even as we look forward to marking St Patrick’s Day with our friends and loved ones, we think of the people of Ukraine whose lives, safety, and sovereignty are at risk.
"For them and for the eyes of the world, we send a message of solidarity by illuminating 41 Irish landmarks across the country in the colours of Ukraine tonight and over the St Patrick’s Day weekend to underline that the people of Ireland stand with Ukraine."
Traditionally, #OPW has set the mood for #StPatricksDay by symbolically ‘greening’ our most iconic Irish landmarks. This year we send a message of solidarity by illuminating 41 sites in the colours of Ukraine.
— Office of Public Works (@opwireland) March 16, 2022
Read Minister @podonovan's statement here: https://t.co/gcC0RK5TH2 pic.twitter.com/REQxGgR4Pb
The Kilmainham Gaol Museum in Dublin is among the more than 40 Irish landmarks illuminating in solidarity with Ukraine:
Kilmainham Gaol is among 41 lrish landmarks which are being lit up in blue and yellow over the St. Patrick's Day weekend in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We are also flying the Ukranian flag alongside the Irish tricolour outside the Courthouse building @opwireland pic.twitter.com/OKtiEdC2KF
— KilmainhamGaolMuseum (@OPWKilmainham) March 16, 2022
Last week, Tourism Ireland confirmed it would not be promoting its"Global Greening" initiative, where landmarks around the world are illuminated in green for St. Patrick's Day, as a mark of respect for the situation in Ukraine.
Prior to Tourism Ireland's announcement, the matter was raised in the Dáil.
During Leaders Questions on March 8, Deputy Seán Canney suggested to Taoiseach Micheál Martin that "as a mark of solidarity with Ukraine, we consider for next week raising the Ukrainian flag with the Irish flag at every embassy and, where we are greening our Irish buildings across the globe, that we also include the colours of Ukraine as a mark of respect and solidarity with these people."
The Taoiseach responded in part: "As a result of the appalling situation and war in Ukraine, we have evolved our tone and theme of St. Patrick’s Day next week from an overt focus on Ireland to a broader focus on the fact Ireland is an active, engaged and fully committed member of the international community that stands by democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
"We will use St. Patrick's Day and that week basically to highlight our solidarity with Ukraine and the values for which the Ukrainian people are standing. That is a key issue."
He added: “The Global Greening programme in partnership with Tourism Ireland has been an enormous success over the years.
“We are re-examining that for St. Patrick's Day in terms of how we can interweave it with a Ukrainian theme as well.”
The Journal reported last week that the Taoiseach had written to all Irish embassies asking that embassies, monuments, and other sites typically lit up green for St. Patrick’s Day should instead be lit up in yellow and blue, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement in early February that more than 600 sites around the world were set to take part in this year's Global Greening."
~~~~~
USA, Ireland and Ukraine - Solidarity Forever
~ From Bono:
"Oh, Saint Patrick he drove out the snakes
With his prayers but that’s not all it takes
For the snake symbolizes
An evil that rises
And hides in your heart
As it breaks
And the evil has risen my friends
From the darkness that lives in some men
But in sorrow and fear
That’s when saints can appear
To drive out those old snakes once again
And they struggle for us to be free
From the psycho in this human family
Ireland’s sorrow and pain
Is now the Ukraine
And Saint Patrick’s name now Zelenskyy"
*****
We've always loved you Bono.
~ And recited by Nancy Pelosi: This is from Pitchfork with a link to the recital at the end - let's see if I can pull it up, must watch ! .....................
*****
Finally, how about a little Serbian music ? We all know that Serbia is trapped and completely reliant on Russia for oil. But the tide is rising against Putin; check these out:
( Trouble for Serbian Journalists ? Wow, that sure sounds familiar, right y'all ?)
~ From Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty:
In Serbia, Threats and Insults Are A Cost Of Reporting On Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
*****
~ From EURACTIV:
Russian Support For Serbia No Longer Possible
.....................
~ Uno mas ! This way cool one sent our way by sweetie Brian - I think Brian is an old surfer (although I do not know that for a fact). Thanks Brian !! Outasight !
Update: Mike believes that Brian is Linton in disguise. I'm crying tears.
xxxoooxxxooo (;