Poor, poor Ireland

The Irish voted just recently to ratify the Lisbon treaty, bringing them into a tighter treaty under the European Union. Now only 2 more nations, Poland and the Czech Republic, need to ratify the treaty for it to become binding to the nations which are party to it.

This is a dark dark day in the history of Ireland. Not 100 years ago did the Irish finally, FINALLY, get a nation of their own. They fought for centuries to free themselves of British rule. Countless lives died. Half the Irish died when Oliver Cromwell invaded and brutally subjugated the Irish to Puritan, i.e. English, rule. Now all that has been thrown down the toilet and flushed away. They have dishonored the Irish who fought to be able to rule themselves, to live free of bondage under a foreign nation. The Irish have always been a proud people. They were proud of having their own nation, even though it was dirt poor and backward compared to the rest of Western Europe.

This day, I am not proud of my ancestors, as they have not only cast away centuries of fighting for a nation they can call "home," but finally after receiving freedom, throwing that away not 100 years later. They voted "No" originally and that, I believe, was the Irish speaking for themselves truthfully. Now they vote "Yes" under the overwhelming push by wealthy Irish, the ruling government, and a foreign party. I only pray the Irish wake up and realize how they have disrespected their ancestors. Go mbeannai Dia Eire (God bless Ireland)