Notes on the Election in the Centenary Year,  April  2016,  in the Republic of Ireland

Watching the Dance of the Politicians brought to mind a few lines from Measure for Measure. ..."Man, proud man,

dressed in a little brief authority, 

most ignorant of what he is most assured, 

his glassy essence, like an angry ape, plays such fantastic tricks before the high heavens,

 as makes the angels weep."

Water, water everywhere.

It is a sorry sight....arguing about water charges, no less. Hundreds waiting on corridors in hospitals for admission.- and they are the lucky ones. Thousands on waiting lists...yes, folks, thousands and they argue about water charges. Thousands of our young and not so young people forced to emigrate to the US., Canada, Australia and UK. and they talk about water charges.

Where are the Leaders?

Where is the vision? Where is the courage? Where is the leadership? Where is the honesty?

Our political philosophers are now inspired to tell us that the, "People have spoken". The people in their wisdom, supporters of Fianna Fail. Fine Gael, Sinn Fein, Labour, Greens and a handful of independents (representing themselves), they now suggest, deliberately sat down before the election and decided they would vote in a manner that would be interpreted as looking for a Coalition. Did anybody suggest that proposition to the politicians and their canvassers at the door before the election?. Did any of the media pundits put it to the candidates before the election?

The correct thing to do

Given the result it might have been the correct thing to do in the circumstances and it would have paid a significant honour in very patriotic and practical terms to those who sacrificed so much in 1916 but our current crop of wannabees do not apparently possess that measure of moral fibre, courage and leadership that is the mark of good statesmen. Neither, would it appear that they possess any desire to sacrifice anything, not even their petty egos, in the interests of the country and the common good.

A Terrible Beauty

When it was written that, "A Terrible Beauty is Born",  it would seem it was not the Rising they were referring to but the barren nature of the social, political and economic consequences.

It is strange that in quoting the opening words of the Proclamation,, in this year of celebration, so many have just referred to the significance of the first words, "Irish Men and Irish Women" and neglect to include the words immediately following..."In the name of God and of the dead generations"....Somehow, those words are not deemed to be significant.