Gaelú nó Galldú!

Gaelicization or Foreignization!

by | 2024/09/25 | Current Affairs, Politics, Opinion

Gaelicization or Foreignization!

Rich countries’ problems!

All the media is packed with news and lies these days about the foreigners who are already here, not to mention the foreigners who will soon be trying to enter the country. However, we need to separate the wheat from the chaff, think for ourselves and do the right thing regarding the foreigners in our midst.

Needless to say, each has their own reason for making that trip to Ireland. For one, it is seeking asylum. For another, it is to seek work, and in the case of still others, it is to seek education and training.

Although we have a 'hundred thousand welcome' to the tourists who come to visit Ireland, the same story is not always the case regarding the foreigners who live in the country. When they started coming to Ireland around 30 years ago, at first we were not too keen on sharing our little island with people from outside. At the same time, we ourselves were welcomed abroad for generations, and therefore, when we understood what exactly was happening, we understood that we had an obligation to do our best to meet that need. Ireland make an agreement with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and with the European Union, to serve a share of people from other countries who need asylum. In addition to those, we decided to admit those seeking education and training and also to admit a certain number of workers per year.

Demographic change

The migrants continued to mingle in year after year until, at the moment, a total number of migrants has a large number settled among us (around 12%). There is no point in asking if we should let those people into this country, as they are already with us, and all we have to do now is take advantage of the situation as it is.

It cannot be denied that there are incalculable advantages attached to all this immigration. It provides essential workers for our economic system, when we ourselves could not meet that demand. Yes, and that keeps the wheels of the economy grinding at speed, which helps us to provide a better life for all our people, both Irish and Foreign.

In the case of the students, such a thing was always welcomed among us, or our ancestors respected and respected learning, for generations. In the case of those who sought asylum, unfortunately, they were not always taken care of, negative stereotypes about them were (and still are) spread and some of them were also sometimes discriminated against. To add insult to injury, we initially did not have a very satisfactory system to process them and provide them with decent shelter.

The Right thing to do

So we must look ahead, and make arrangements to welcome all these strangers, who have chosen our land, as a new home for themselves and their descendants. No doubt in the world, some of these migrants will go back home again to their own countries, but many of them will also stay, and if we are wise and intelligent, we will all try to attract these people into our community . Not because we have no second choice but to do so, but because it is in our interest to do so.

More Irish than the Irish themselves!

How can that be done, right?

Well, it can be done by sharing our whole life with them, and letting them be (on the) inside, in every aspect of that same life. We can improve our system for asylum seekers. Although the government is making progress, there are many other improvements that could be made. Let foreigners be welcome in the Army, the Garda Síochána, and the Defense Forces, together. Also, they should be encouraged to participate in the Education System, including the Law and Justice System, Matters of Culture and Language and of Sports. Let no aspect of national life be closed against them. If they are willing to accept us as a people, then shouldn't we accept them as Irish? If we are willing to do that, they may become more Irish than the Irish themselves, just like what happened to others who came to us in olden times. May that day not be far off.

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Tuairim ó Mheiriceá – Díospóireacht – Téic 2!

Opinion from America – Debate – Take 2!

by | 2024/09/18 | Current Affairs, International News, Opinion

Opinion from America – Debate – Take 2!

Introduction

I saw the first presidential debate this year, between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. I wrote an article about that disastrous debate, in which I wrote: "In my opinion, the best thing for Joe Biden to do now is to withdraw from the race immediately - but the risk is small."

A few things transpired after that, which were promising. First, Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race. At first, he insisted that he was the only person who could defeat Trump. But it was clear that others did not agree with that, even people in his own party - the Democrats, and especially Nancy Pelosi - the former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Nancy Pelosi's opinion has a lot of authority, especially in this case. She is slightly older than Biden at 82 years old, and also, she recently resigned from her own position as Speaker, saying she would not seek the role again, after two four year terms in office (2007-2011 and 2019-2023). Eventually, Biden conceded the truth of his situation and pulled out. Then, the second significant thing happened, and all the Democrats supported Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate without any contest. She chose Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate and they soon began a vigorous campaign. Their campaign raised $361 million in August, nearly three times more than Trump's ($130 million). The gap between them narrowed in the polls until they were neck and neck. And then after working out a few details, Trump and Harris agreed to have an hour and a half long presidential debate.

The Debate

There was no similarity between this debate and the last one. At the start of the debate, Harris looked over to Trump and shook his hand. In this way, she made an important point that she was not afraid of him, but the opposite. That signal paved the way for what was to happen up on stage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here are four conclusions I drew from the debate.

1 Trump Weaknesses

Harris clearly highlighted Trump's fundamental weaknesses, which Biden was unable to do in the first debate, including:

• Trump's criminal record. When Trump said that most immigrants coming into the country are criminals, Harris responded: “Isn't that rich. Coming from someone who has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes, illegal interference in elections, found guilty of sexual assault, and will be in court in November at his own criminal sentencing.”
• Trump's role in the January 6, 2021 attack. Trump said: "I had nothing to do with that other than they asked me to give a speech." Harris said: “To everyone watching, who remembers what happened on January 6, I say, We don't need to go back. Let's not go back. We are not going back. It's time to turn the page.”
• Seasamh Trump ar ghinmhilleadh. Dúirt Trump go bhfuil na Daonlathaithe ar son linbh nuabheirthe a mharú. Ach dúirt an modhnóir Davis nach raibh sé sin fíor. Nuair a d’iarr modhnóir ar Trump an síneodh sé cosc náisiúnta ar ghinmhilleadh, níor fhreagair sé an cheist. Chuir Harris brú air é a fhreagairt, ach dhiúltaigh sé arís.

2 Trump's lies

Trump told a whole bag of lies, and here are just a few examples:

• Tá na Daonlathaithe ar son linbh nuabheirthe a mharú.
• Democrats are giving votes to illegal immigrants.
• Undocumented foreigners are capturing towns, capturing buildings.
• In Springfield Ohio the immigrants are eating the cats and dogs.

3 A passionate case regarding abortion

Dúirt Harris go dtacaíonn sí le Roe v. Wade a athbhunú. “Tá sé maslach do mhná Mheiriceá. … Bíonn ar dhaoine oibre, mná oibre atá ag obair post nó dhó, a bhfuil orthu cúram leanaí a fháil gur ar éigean d’acmhainn dóibh, taisteal go stát eile ar eitleán, a bheith ina suí in aice le strainséirí, chun an cúram sláinte a theastaíonn uathu a fháil – ar éigean d’acmhainn dóibh. Agus tá sé neamhscrupallach iad a chur tríd sin.”

4 Príomhthéama Trump – Inimircigh gan doiciméad agus a gcoireanna

According to Republicans, the Democrats' immigration policies are their biggest weakness, and Trump has emphasized immigration matters as often as possible. Trump has told lie after lie on the subject, and I already mentioned one where he claimed immigrants were eating the pets in Springfied. Here are a few more examples of what he had to say about migration.

"They (Democrats) allowed criminals," Trump said, claiming without any evidence that there were "millions" of criminals. “They allowed terrorists. They allowed common street criminals. They allowed people to come in, drug dealers to come into our country.” Trump said at another point: “Bad immigration is the worst thing that could happen to our economy. They and she (Harris) are destroying our country with their policy. That's crazy.”

Conclusion

According to most analysts, Harris won the debate. I agree with that, but that does not mean that she will win the election. Hilary beat Trump in the three debates between them in 2016, according to the analysts and according to the public - but despite this, Trump won the presidential election. And while everyone knows about Trump and his approach, many people don't know much about Harris and the differences between Biden's policies and her own. Harris did a great job in the debate and that's a good step, but she still has a lot to do, and she doesn't have much time left to do it. As a positive ending, Taylor Swift posted her support for Harris to her followers (283 million) on Instagram, after the debate. That's not a bad thing!

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Léirmheas Leabhair – The Plot!

Book Review – The Plot!

by | 2024/09/11 | Reviews

Book Review – The Plot!

Introduction

I recently read a remarkable book called 'The Plot', written by Jean Hanff Korelitz and published in 2021. She has written seven other books, and one 'You should have Known' inspired the mini-series 'The Undoing' on HBO/ MAX (streaming platform). She is originally from New York, but has lived in other places, including Princeton New Jersey and the United Kingdom. She met Paul Muldoon for the first time in London. She met him again the following year in Yorkshire, when he attended a poetry course taught by Muldoon. Muldoon is a famous poet, originally from Co. Armagh. Muldoon is often compared to Séamus Heaney, a fellow poet from Northern Ireland, and Muldoon's friend and mentor.

The Plot

Jake was a writer whose first book was just a flash in the pan. He tried time after time to write another book that would be as successful as his first book, but he failed. Then he did the next thing he could think of – he taught a writing class.

One student in his class claimed that he had the best plot ever and that anyone could write a great book based on that plot. Once, that man – named Evan Parker – shared what he had in mind as a plot. Unfortunately, Evan didn't write that book. When Jake later researched Evan, he found out that he was dead.

So, Jake decided to write the book and he did. An incredible thing happened then – the book he wrote called 'The Crib' was in great demand. Steven Spielberg would be the director of the film based on the book. Then, Jake met a woman named Anna, they fell in love and after a while they got married. Undoubtedly, Jake was now on the pig's back with life giong his way. But the house of cards began to shake when Jake received an unknown e-mail saying: you are a thief! The e-mail worried Jake, and he feared that he would be branded a fraud who had stolen the plot of the book - one of the worst crimes an author could commit. What should Jake do? At first, he hoped he wouldn't get any more messages – but he was dreaming. The messages never stopped, and after a while things got worse and eventually Jake needed to get his publisher's lawyers involved.

There is another thread in this story in the form of chapters from the imaginary book written by Jake ('The Crib'), interwoven with chapters of 'The Plot'. There are two parallel realities moving forward together, with you getting more information from both all the time. That's a very effective literary device, which adds to the tension and the plot a lot. Anyway, Jake realized he had no other choice but to find out who sent him the messages, and why. It didn't take much time for Jake, working as a detective and going from place to place, to discover strange things. The strangest thing he discovered was that Evan had not imagined the plot at all. I won't reveal anything else for fear of spoiling the story, but I can say that there are still a few more twists and turns left for you in the story.

Recommendations

'The Plot' is not like a James Patterson or Lee Child book. The story moves more slowly and the chapters are longer. But there is more than a thriller involved here too. The author discusses themes that are important today. For example, is it possible to steal a plot at all – what are the rules for that? It is not easy to answer that question in the age of the internet and social media, let alone Artificial Intelligence.

It was very interesting how the author weaved passages from the imaginary book 'The Crib' through this book as well, sharing the plot that Evan had in the beginning.

I would recommend you read 'The Plot', not only as a thriller, although it is a good thriller, but also as a piece of literature, which goes deeper than a detective novel in terms of character development and deals with important themes of this time.

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Dírbheathaisnéis 10 -M’Uncail John!

Autobiography 10- My Uncle John!

by | 2024/09/04 | Dírbheathaisnéis

Autobiography 10- My Uncle John!

Our relatives did not come to visit often because they did not live near us. It used to be a long journey for them in the sixties and seventies in the last century. Our relatives on my mother's side lived in Dublin, and our relatives on my father's side lived on the Mullet peninsula in County Mayo. There was no motorway in the country at that time, and the roads were of poor quality.

But from time to time, close intrepid relatives came to visit. They used to have to stay with us for a while, especially when they were coming from the Mullet peninsula, because that journey took one day coming to us and another day going home. When we (my brother, my sister and I) heard that relatives would be coming to visit us, we used to get excited in the days before. Sinful desserts would be available, biscuits of all kinds and delicious meals every day, because my Mum tried to do her best in the kitchen. Also, the visitors always gave us gifts, including sweets. We ate the sweets in an instant, and we were out and about and full of sugar. We were naughty then, running here and there, laughing, shouting and the like. It wasn't long before we were thrown out of the house, so that the adults could talk and chat together. After that, we were not able to spend much time with our relatives, because as soon as my mother saw us coming, she kicked us out without delay. The visitors made no effort to spend extra time with us either – with one exception!

Our Uncle John

When we heard that our uncle John and his wife Evelyn would be coming to visit us, we could hardly sleep. They themselves were childless and I think they treated us as if we were their own children. They brought gifts for everyone in the family, and they had not only sweets but toys and comics for us, the children. We weren't thrown out, either, because John and Evelyn gave us their attention, asking us questions, listening to what we were saying, and spending time with us. We liked them both very much, because we felt that they were interested in us. With most other relatives, we felt that they were not the least bit interested in us, but that we were a pain in the ass.

There is no doubt that Uncle John was the favorite relative for the three of us - my brother, my sister and myself. Although he was a big man - more than 6 feet tall and built accordingly - he was a gentle, bright, deep-voiced man who never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was my father's eldest brother, and my father had a lot of respect for John, no doubt.

The Walk!

Uncle John used to take us (the kids) for a walk to the city center once every visit. But it was not a boring walk, so we were excited about the same walk as soon as they came to visit us. Uncle John didn't lay down for us which route to take through the city, but he gave us that option. I tell you, we always had a great plan. We visited every toy shop and every book shop in the center of Kilkenny, looking into every shop window we could. When one of us would see an interesting toy or book, we would point a finger at it, and say something like: "Uncle John, isn't that a nice toy/book?" There was no need to say anything else and a few minutes later, Uncle John would come out of the shop, with the toy/book in hand.

When Uncle John asked us to wait outside the pub or bookie shop, we had no problem with that. It used to be a secret agreement, and we had the smarts to say nothing about it at home. Uncle John was on his holidays, and who would refuse him having a bit of fun too? As the old saying goes: Let he who is free cast the first stone! By the end of that wonderful walk, the three (four? ) of us would have nice presents, and everyone of us, including Uncle John, would sport a big smile.

We will never forget our wonderful uncle Uncle John, whose generosity touched our hearts. He is a good example for us, this great man who never ignored us as children, but always the opposite. Although I try my best to emulate him, it is not easy, because Uncle John achieved the highest standard, not only as an uncle but as a human being. We miss you very much, our Uncle John!

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Generative Artificial Intelligence

Bás Matthew Perry!

Death of Matthew Perry!

by | 2024/08/27 | Current Affairs, International News

Death of Matthew Perry!

 

From time to time, our attention is drawn to some tragedy involving drug or alcohol addiction. Recently, an investigation into the death of the famous actor Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing in the sitcom 'Friends' which aired from 1994-2004) came to an end. Perry released a memoir a year before his death, called 'Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing' which contained harrowing details of his struggle to overcome addiction. At the time, he said he had been drug-free for the past year and a half. Less than a year later, he was dead. At first, the coroner said his drowning in his hot tub was an accident, the result of a combination of drugs he had taken and heart disease. But a new inquiry was opened in May, 2024 to find out why there was so much of the drug ketamine (Ketamine in English) in his blood. Perry had been using ketamine infusion therapy for intensive treatment of depression and anxiety, but his last session was more than a week before his death.

The Doctor and the Ketamine Queen

Perry’s blood contained the same amount of ketamine as would be used in a general anaesthetic. Where did it come from? It was reported in the Los Angeles Times in June that investigators employed by the Los Angeles Police Department, the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Service successfully linked certain individuals to the supply of ketamine. It was an incredible story, and five people were charged in relation to Perry's death. When Perry asked his regular doctor to prescribe him more ketamine, he refused. Then Perry found another doctor who wouldn't have a problem with that- Doctor Salvador Plasencia. Prosecutors allege that Plasencia used Perry's desperation and addiction to get money. Another doctor, Dr. Mark Chavez, was helping Plasencia, and illegally getting him ketamine. They had no scruples, and Plasencia sent a text to Chavez, saying: "I wonder how much this moron will pay." There is no doubt that Plasencia and Chavez believed that Perry was a money bags. And they were right, about the money anyway. Perry paid $55,000 in cash for a dozen vials of ketamine in the last month of his life. But a vial of ketamine usually only costs $20! What kind of doctor sells drugs at an outrageous price to a patient with an addiction problem? What kind of doctor takes advantage of his own patient's disease? What kind of doctor is so selfish that he would kill his own patient? That person, in my opinion, is not a doctor, but a drug dealer who only cares about money.

Another criminal network was also at work, supplying Perry with drugs. A drug dealer and ketamine distributor named Jasveen Sangha, known as the 'Queen of Ketamine', was supplying Perry with ketamine through another drug dealer, Erik Fleming. Perry knew Fleming because before he became a drug dealer, Fleming was a film director in Hollywood. Fleming gave 50 vials of ketamine to Perry's personal assistant, a man named Kenneth Iwamasa. Iwamasa gave Perry ketamine injections every day – he gave him 27 injections in the five days leading up to Perry's death, and 3 injections on the day of his death. Iwamasa was not qualified to give Perry ketamine injections, but Placensia showed him how to do it. The five (Plasencia, Chavez, Sangha, Fleming and Iwamasa) were charged with various crimes related to the distribution of ketamine and Perry's death. Plasencia and Sangha pleaded not guilty, but Chavez, Fleming and Iwamasa pleaded guilty.

The five (Plasencia, Chavez, Sangha, Fleming and Iwamasa) were charged with various crimes related to the distribution of ketamine and Perry's death. Plasencia and Sangha pleaded not guilty, but Chavez, Fleming and Iwamasa pleaded guilty.

Sentences?

What is the fate of the five, in terms of sentences? In the case of those who pleaded guilty, Chavez could face up to 10 years in prison, Iwamasa up to 15 years and Fleming up to 25 years. In the case of Sangha and Plasencia, if convicted of all charges against them, it is more than likely that both of them will spend their lives in prison.

Conclusion

Ketamine is an addictive drug, used as an anesthetic and as a therapy for depression. It is a controlled substance and an illegal drug. Perry first got it as therapy, but then became addicted to ketamine. It was a terrible choice to give an addict an addictive drug like this, and Perry was known to the world to be an addict. Worse than that, instead of helping him, his doctor, friend and personal assistant took advantage of his illness, and eventually killed him. I hope that all five of those criminals spend a long time in prison for their heinous crimes. Maybe that will send a clear message to other criminals thinking of doing something like that.

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