They say that on St. Patrick's Day, everyone is honorary Irish! So let us all celebrate this day in our own way, whether it's with the wearin' of the green, or, as I am doing, by cooking corned beef and cabbage.
Today I have fellow Muse author, Stan Hampton, who is going to tell us a story about Ireland as it relates to his own heritage.
HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY!
Break out the food and beer, right? Get ready to
celebrate, right? Eat, drink, dance, and be merry. Right.
I enjoy many things Irish including the mythology, music,
and dancing, and celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day with good food and drink. Yes,
I like Riverdance and once even went to Denver Ireland
And, when I think of the Irish I also think of my tribe,
the Choctaws.
The 1830’s was a turbulent time in American history; the
nation was expanding and a number of tribes—collectively called the Five
Civilized Tribes—were moved west to make way for pioneers who wanted their land.
Just about everyone knows of the Cherokee Trail of Tears during which thousands
of men, women, and children died of disease and the winter weather. The
Choctaws, Creeks, Chickasaws, and Seminoles made the same trek. They were
forced to leave behind their homes and fertile farmland for barren lands beyond
the Mississippi River , where they added up the
total number of loved ones who never completed the journey.
Years later, in the 1840’s, when the Nation was still rebuilding,
there was a council meeting at Skulleyville in what would someday become
eastern Oklahoma.
Tribal representatives learned of a nation far to the
east, across the ocean, in which there was a great famine. Thousands of men,
women, and children had died of starvation; thousands more were dying. Their
bodies were found along roadsides, in the fields, and in the dark gloom of
silent homes. This famine was called “The Great Hunger.”
Remembering their recent time of trial, the Choctaws
gathered what money they could, $710.00, and sent it to relief agencies in
Memphis for the Irish people. There was no political rhetoric or political
posturing such as we see today—it was simply an act of generosity from one
people to another. It was a humane act without “conditional strings” that the
Irish people never forgot.
Every year there are famine memorial walks in Ireland
As reported by the Choctaw Nation newspaper, the
Bishinik, Robinson described the basis for this historical connection: “Thousands
of miles away, in no way linked to the Choctaw Nation until then, the only link
being a common humanity, a common sense of another people suffering as the
Choctaw Nation had suffered when being removed from their tribal land.”
There is a plaque on Dublin ’s
Mansion House, the official residence of Dublin
In this day and age, I believe we can use more such acts
of “humanity.” There are many who try, but in a world rampant with greed,
political maneuvering, and “me first,” such an uphill battle can seem hopeless.
But thank God that at least there are those who try on behalf of others.
Bishinik, The Official
Publication of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
OR
www.choctawnation.com/history/choctaw-nation-history/
DeRosier, Arthur H., Jr. “The
Removal of the Choctaw Indians.”
Fitzpatrick, Marie-Louise.
“The Long March: The Choctaw’s Gift to Irish Famine Relief.”
Mairead. “The Choctaw
Nation’s Link To The People of Ireland.” November 11, 2011. http://www.irishamericanmom.com/2011/11/11/the-choctaw-nations-link-to-the-people-of-ireland/
The National Museum National Museum
Ward, Mike. “Irish Repay
Choctaw Famine Gift: March Traces Trail of Tears in Trek for Somalian Relief.”
American-Stateman Capitol Staff, 1992.
https://pantherfile.umw.edu/Michael/www/Choctaw/retrace.html
O’Donnell, Edward T. Dr
Woodham-Smith, Cecil. “The
Great Hunger: Ireland
Thanks for stopping by, Stan, and for sharing that bit of history.
Until next time, take care!
♥ Julie
