Mayor Heads to Ireland, Where Protestors Await

Ah, the global community! Mayor Bloomberg, who put off a trip to Ireland last month because of a little ol' Queens blackout situation, is finally headed to Eire tomorrow. However, two groups who oppose U.S. policy in Iraq and Lebanon will be on hand when the Mayor will take part in a dedication ceremony for a Fighting 69th monument. The NY Times notes that the Mayor's support of noted Iraq war supporter Senator Joseph Lieberman as well as his support of President Bush's pro-Israel stance is warranting a "peace vigil" and demonstration tomorrow. Indymedia Ireland posters even note how much it costs to travel to the areas where Bloomberg is visiting, in case people want to join in. Well, it's good that the Mayor will have a bit of protest to follow him around - we wonder if the Ballymote and Sligo police have tactics akin to the NYPD.

And the Fighting 69th was an Irish-American regiment during our Civil War. The Irish Examiner wrote about the regiment - and how the Mayor's cancelled tripped fouled up some plans made by veterans.

Photograph of the Mayor during the 2005 St. Patrick's Day Parade

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By Jen Chung in News on August 21, 2006 8:58 AM

Comments [rss]

heyahowareyoua

Oh, it's always about the Indians, isn't it? Get over that crap.

ethos

Actually, quite a few of the world's conflicts that were a direct result of European imperialism raged well into the 20th century and some are still going on today. (India/Pakistan, U.K./Northern Ireland, Sudan, etc., etc) Which doesn't absolve us of any responsibility ourselves, and I firmly believe in (and suport) any citizen's right to protest... but if we protested every country whose policy creates havoc somewhere in the world, almost every nation would have some proverbial egg on their face.

I should know. I've been to protests at about 10 different embassies so far in my lifetime (including my own!)

S.D.

And if we lived in the 18th or 19th century, maybe what you typed would be more relevant.

Wait a sec! In the 18th and 19th Century didn't we massacre and ethnically cleanse American Indians off their lands in the name of "manifest Destiny"?

Personally, I think they're protesting the wrong guy, but at least those people are speaking up about an issue they feel strongly about.

blood on their hands as well

Considering most of the world's problems are a result of European empire building of the 18th and 19th centuries I wish they would shut the hell up. Be constructive and stop the finger pointing.