Patriot Realm

I am not going to start with the obligatory " some of my best friends are gay , but... " statement,  because they are not.

I have only known a few people who chose a different path on which to travel their lives and, while I do not judge, I am not that fussed one way or the other about which side of the sexual fence they choose to sit or lie. All I have ever asked is that they keep their private lives in their homes.

Instead, we are under a constant barrage of Gay Pride marches and Drag races. leading us to a demolition derby against normal human behaviour.

The downfall of Irishman Oscar Wilde is an object lesson to all of those who would sue for defamation –be it for slander orally,or for libel in writing. A defamatory statement will be forgotten sooner or later, but any skeletons which any plaintiff suing for defamation might have hidden in the closet, will be exposed for all to see. This will apply even if the plaintiff should succeed.  A case in point is that of Oscar Wilde.

Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin Ireland in 1854 to a distinguished and influential family. That was during the time when all of Ireland was under the parliamentary control of Great Britain.

I have some family friends who are in their 70’s and, some time ago, they lost their old dog to the big puppy club in Heaven.

After some years, the wife decided that they should get a new pup. A terrier cross. Anyone who has had a Jack Russell or any kind of terrier will know that they eat energizer batteries for breakfast and only have two speeds: fast and really fast. Terriers are a mix of Formula 1 and Demolition Derby. 

A few months in, hubby is unhappy and complaining that the little fella is a handful, too energetic, too demanding and too tiring. All I could say was “ at least it’s not a woman. “

At the beginning of March, 2023, I join Monty in celebrating Irish month. 

There are many men and women who hail from Ireland and have made lives in other countries over the decades.

Today, I celebrate one woman of Irish heritage and the men who made her life notorious.The woman who was Ned Kelly's mother. I can think of no more fitting person to start our journey.

Away back in the good old days

   when men could find a job;

When money was as good as gold

     and tax was just two bob;

When men would work and say with pride

     that they weren’t on the dole;

The Welsh journalist Gareth Jones was later killed on assignment, likely for reporting the truth about the 1932-1933 Terror-Famine in Ukraine. 

The deaths in Ukraine of several foreign journalists covering Russia’s war hit many people like a punch in the gut in 2022. We rightly respect those who take risks to bring us the news and when they suffer or die, we know that the truth does too.

The tragedies in Ukraine remind me of another journalist who lost his life on the front lines. Coincidentally, he is most revered for his coverage of events in Ukraine some 90 years ago.