Posted by Jim on June 29, 2018
Letters to Editor. Irish News. Belfast.Published Friday, June 29, 2018.
By Fr Sean McManus, President, Irish National Caucus. Washington DC.
Arnold Joseph Toynbee (1889-1975), one of the most eminent English historians, explained how England used the Bible in its genocidal, racist, and – after the English Reformation – anti-Catholic oppression of Ireland.
Sadly, today there is still a residue of that deep-seated anti-Catholic mindset in a significant section of the Protestant community in Northern Ireland. (Can any informed, objective person really deny this?) And – since the six counties were torn away from the other 26 counties of Ireland by the 1920 British Government of Ireland Act – every time any unionist/loyalist/Protestant leader makes a gesture of reaching out to nationalists/republicans/ Catholics, the Bible is sacrilegiously deployed to reject that gesture.
Some might see the latest melancholic example of this as being Ballymoney councillor John Finlay’s over-the-top attack on Arlene Foster’s attendance at the Ulster GAA final.
Was this attack out of concern for the Lord’s Day – which, by the way was changed from Saturday to Sunday by the Catholic Church at the Council of Laodicea in A.D. 364 – or could it be seen as a dog whistle? Might some, with good reason, see Cllr Findlay’s attack as a not too subtle attempt to rally the extreme, fundamentalist, ultra-Orange base of the DUP – to show disrespect not only to Catholics, but also to all things Irish (as personified by the GAA)? Just like Gregory Campbell’s disgraceful attack on the Irish language.
A few misguided individuals may think the best way to counter anti-Catholicism, anti-Semitism, or anti-Black racism is to ignore it – just don’t acknowledge it and it will disappear. History and human nature prove otherwise. Right now, Blacks in the US quite correctly call out anti-Black racism. And I back them 100 per cent. The same as I back Jewish-Americans who are not silent about some re-emergence of anti-Semitism in the US.
Any time the Word of God is used directly or by dog whistle to cause division and hurt, we can be certain it is not God’s will. As I said recently in a speech at the headquarters of the AFL-CIO (the federation of 55 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working men and women):
“People of faith can be certain that working for justice is doing God’s work on earth. And people of no faith can be certain that working for justice is doing the decent and loving thing. And all of us can be certain that anything that does injustice – anything that marginalises, demeans, devalues and disrespects human beings – cannot be God’s work, or cannot be the decent and loving thing to do.”
Posted by Jim on June 28, 2018
June 28th
Free Will
The UFA would like to remind each of its members of the importance of having a will and healthcare proxy. These are simple instruments that protect both you and your family in the event of a tragic incident. Its benefits range from childcare and distribution of money to instructing your family on your wishes should the unimaginable happen.
It is so important that UFA General Counsel – Sullivan Papain Block McGrath and Cannavo – offer to draft the documents free of charge to active members.
The UFA advises each member to reach out to Michael Block or TJ McManus at 212-732-9000 to take advantage of this free service as soon as possible.
The UFA has been made aware of several scam artists calling Fire Houses offering Free Wills. We advise members not to entertain these offers as we cannot confirm the validity of their services.
Posted by Jim on
June 28th
SSG CHRIS ENGELDRUM FDNY VFW POST 12033
The SSG Chris Engeldrum FDNY VFW Post 12033 will be holding its monthly meeting tonight, Thursday, June 28th. The meeting location is: The Redwood Club, 2680 Schurz Avenue Bronx, NY 10465. The meeting will begin at 8:00 pm. All Military Veterans who have served overseas during time of war are eligible to join. For additional information, see the Post website at FDNYVFW.com.
BLOOD EMERGENCY
The New York Blood Center has declared a blood emergency because of an alarming shortage in the blood supply. This is due in part to the recent storms that hit the area. Please come join Putnam County members at the Daniel O’Brien VFW Hall, 32 Gleneida Ave (Rt.52) Carmel, NY on Friday, June 29, 2018 from 2:00 till 8:00pm. For information please call Paul DeLeo at 347-408-6052 or Denis Hanrahan at 845-225-3048.
NEW YORK METS COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
The New York Mets will host a community blood drive on Monday, July 2, 2018, from 11am to 6pm at Citi Field. All donors will receive a pair of Mets tickets to a 2018 home game. On Monday, June 11, 2018, the New York Blood Center declared a Blood Emergency. Blood donations are lagging this spring and typically drop during the summer months. Your donation will help save up to three lives. For questions concerning medical eligibility call (800) 688-0900. To make an appointment please contact (516) 478-5031.
MEMORIAL MASS
On Thursday, July 5, 2018 at 1100 hours, a Memorial Mass will be held honoring the memory of Lieutenant Gordon M. Ambelas, L-119, who made the supreme sacrifice on July 5, 2014. The Mass will take place in the quarters of E-211/L-119, located at 26 Hooper Street, Brooklyn, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
PLAQUE DEDICATION
On Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 1100 hours, a Plaque Dedication will be held honoring the memory of Lieutenant Gary J. Gates, Field Communications, who died on September 29, 2015. The dedication will take place in the quarters of E-233/L-176 and Field Communications, 25 Rockaway Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
Posted by Jim on
Friday, June 29th., 2018
8:00 P.M.
THE PLAYERS CLUB
16 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY
10003
10003
BARD AT THE BAR is an environmental performance collage of Shakespeare scenes, songs, music and dance
featuring current studio members, alumni & special guests from the film, Broadway & London stage worlds.
“Mr. Simon and his team’s years of work have made THE SIMON STUDIO the most reputable studio in the business. This studio provides a performance of the Bard’s work to which all future shows must Measure For Measure.” – STAGE BUDDY
“ a ‘60’s style street theatre environment where strict homage was paid to the Bard’s language with vivid, highly physicalized portrayals by all. Director Roger Hendricks Simon is to be congratulated for his dedication to all types of talented actors, and the large, enthusiastic crowd obviously agreed.” – OFF-OFF BROADWAY REVIEW
Admission: $10.00 donation to the James Leaf Scholarship Fund 2018
Dress Code: Business casual
For reservations E-mail:
alboygunior@gmail.com
www.thesimonstudio.com
www.youtube.com/SimonStudioPresents
Posted by Jim on June 27, 2018
A statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton opposing any royal visits to Ireland.
The upcoming visit by two members of the British Royal family to Dublin on July 10 and 11 is yet another example of the ongoing normalisation of British rule in Ireland. Coming as it does only a matter of weeks after a similar visit, it shows that the issue of the British imposed-border and British Occupation of the Six Counties remains high on the political agenda.
With the chaotic Brexit negotiations ongoing between the British government and the EU, it is obvious that the British Establishment is intent on normalising their occupation of the Six Counties to ease pressure around the question of the British-imposed border in Ireland. The slavish willingness of the 26-County Administration to facilitate this is shameful. At a time when there is an international focus on the issue of partition and an opportunity to further the argument for a New Ireland, the Leinster House political class instead seek to reinforce the status quo. Their actions are those of a vassal state.
There can never be normal relations between Britain and Ireland while part of the Irish nation remains under British occupation. Republican Sinn Féin will be protesting at this visit and are calling on all those who believe in Ireland’s right to national sovereignty and independence to join us. We must send out a message that the British occupation of part of Ireland is neither normal nor acceptable.