Posted by Jim on November 27, 2022
A Letter from Ireland
Giving Thanks
a Chara,
“It’s like Christmas for Americans”, was how one Irish person described Thanksgiving. A time when families and friends come together.
As you know Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Ireland. A holiday rooted in British colonialism was never going to take hold in Ireland.
But I think the idea of giving thanks should be part of all societies; an acknowledgment that good times and hard times are transient. We experience both throughout our lives. A celebration of our common humanity and experience.
An occasion to be grateful for what we have and remember those suffering.
So here is my short list of things to be thankful for:
Family; immediate and extended, biological and non-biological. The people that make the place called home. A warm, secure, and welcoming home free from pretense and full of acceptance.
Friends; the people who you might not see for a year but can pick up a conversation where it was left off. The ones that can fill an hour with joy and laughter or be comfortable in your quiet company. Free with support and advice and always with your best interests at heart
Comrades; being part of something bigger than oneself. A community that is bound together by a common aim and a shared struggle. Creating a space for debate, decision-making, and common action. Always there with support in the hard times with a mixture of good humour and solidarity.
Opportunity. The backdrop to my first thirty years was the conflict in Belfast. At times it moved center stage with devastating effect. We now have an opportunity to resolve differences and build a new and united Ireland through peaceful and democratic means. We must always be thankful to those that made that possible and mindful to safeguard the progress that we now enjoy.
We face many challenges in the months and years ahead to realize the opportunities which we have been gifted. But this weekend let’s be grateful for what we have. To my family, friends, and comrades that have welcomed me throughout the US and Canada, I thank you.
Have a great weekend.
Is mise,
Ciarán
Ciarán Quinn is the Sinn Féin Representative to North America