Saturday 6 April 2024

 


6 April 1917: The United States of America declared War on Imperial Germany. In a move long anticipated by both sides in the Great War the USA finally came in on the side of the Allies and changed the outcome of the War and of modern world history.

The Declaration began:

WHEREAS, The Imperial German Government has committed repeated acts of war against the people of the United States of America; therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government, which has thus been thrust upon the United States, is hereby formally declared....

The seeds of America’s intervention went right back to the opening months of the War. The overwhelming opinion of the American people was on the side of the Allies. However amongst the considerable German and Irish populations the feeling was far different. The Germans were naturally sympathetic to the Fatherland and acted accordingly.

The Irish in the USA were not pro German but they were very much anti British rule in Ireland – feelings heightened by recent events at home where prior to the outbreak of War it looked like Civil War would break out over the ‘Home Rule Crisis’. The Irish in America were well organised especially in the cities and ‘ran’ many of them i.e. Tammany Hall in New York City. The Ancient Order of Hibernians had a huge but open membership while behind the scenes there was the clandestine Clan na Gael dedicated to overthrowing British Rule by force of arms. Clearly it was in the interests of Irish America to keep their adopted Country out of the War.

However the reports of German atrocities in Belgium and more importantly the opening of unrestricted U boat attacks on Neutral shipping in the waters around Britain and Ireland caused huge resentment in the USA. This climaxed when in May 1915 the Cunard liner Lusitania was sunk off the coast of Kinsale Co Cork. Over a thousand men women and children were drowned incl. over 100 US citizens. Outrage on a massive scale followed. While the Germans called off their attacks on neutrals the damage was done and the general opinion on all sides was that it was a case not if but when the USA would enter the War against Germany.

The Easter 1916 Rising at home certainly put Ireland’s Cause briefly into the spotlight but it could not be sustained. Britain needed to trade with the USA to supply it with armaments and raw material to sustain the War. This in turn generated vast profits for American Corporations. Without this Trade then Britain would have to sue for terms from Germany and would have defaulted on its debts to the US. By early 1917 with Russia effectively stymied by the ‘February Revolution’ and France on her last legs militarily the German High Command took the risk of re activating their unrestricted U Boat campaign to bring Britain to her knees before America could intervene. However this backfired as it only angered America even more and pushed her over the edge. Events moved swiftly and on 6 April the USA declared War.  It was a watershed in the History of Europe as for the first time ever the fate of a war between European Powers was decided by decisions made on by another Power on another Continent.

For Ireland it meant that any pressure that could be exerted on Britain by the USA was severely weakened as President Woodrow Wilson put support for Britain at the top of his priorities. In his War Message to Congress, Wilson declared that the United States' objective was “to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of the world.” He wished to see the European peoples be free from outside occupation i.e. an Independent Poland - but there was no mention of Ireland!

On the other hand the British had to be careful not to antagonise US public opinion into thinking that she was the oppressor of the Irish people now that the Empire was so reliant on Uncle Sam to finish the War. So America’s entry was a mixed blessing for Ireland - on the one hand we could not rely on the US Government to do much for the cause of Irish Nationalism and on the other the British Cabinet had to be careful not to trigger another revolt while they were so heavily committed abroad and so reliant on America to turn the tide against Germany.

In less than a month US destroyers had crossed the Atlantic [above] and made their 1st port of call at Queenstown [Cobh] Cork, Ireland to begin active operations.

Above Painting: Oil on canvas by Bernard F. Gribble, circa 1918, depicting the arrival off Queenstown, Ireland, of the first U.S. Navy destroyers to reach the European war zone for World War I service. The ships were under the command of Commander Joseph K. Taussig, USN. USS Wadsworth (DD-60) leads the line of destroyers, followed by USS Porter (DD-59), USS Davis (DD-65) and three others.

https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/kn-series/KN-00001/KN-215.html



10 comments:

  1. {In other words, useful religious idiots, whom, once the end we wish to achieve is achieved above 'mere' peace, will no longer be useful to us} Comment on things And Why do you rely upon Google for your comments?

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  2. Like Pope Francis, Ireland is deeply committed to strengthening and protecting the multinational system. This includes undertaking the necessary reforms to ensure that the United Nation is fit for purpose to meet the many pressing global challenges we face today. We have taken an active role in discussions on this issue including in the context of the upcoming Summit of the Future.

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  3. I admit I am a bit behind the, whatever it is the next having co-opted Irish youth and placed them and their expatriates where they are in their regret, such as Dickens' business beckons.

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  4. Perhaps their parents temporary wish for their progeny is being distilled yet. And their regret (smoe more than others) for such temporary ramification is still to be understood.

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  5. In the Home and in the Cathedral, together is the true ramification.

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  6. ...

    Dear good publisher: I think you have the capability of monitoring and publishing these things outside of the data constraints. Let me know, and I will provide the 'bring it forward' information which will provide for an ability to discern that which is of time, that which is of eternity, that which needs to be not de-sleeved in its eventual current attempt to wholesaley change that which they truly know IS, yet pick at items which are said to be longer not, and thereby INTEND to destroy the whole.
    It is a long-game.
    Beware to defend aginst what they intend.

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  7. I. "Family Amendment" which would have removed a clause about the importance of marriage and family to society from Ireland’s 1937 constitution and legally redefined “family” as either “founded on marriage or on other durable relationships,” drew a "No" vote from nearly 68% of voters.

    II. “Care Amendment,” which would have removed a clause noting that the “state recognizes that by her life within the home, woman gives to the state a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, "drew a "No" vote from just under 74% of voters.

    “While the old adage is that success has many fathers and failure is an orphan, I think when you lose by this kind of margin, there are a lot of people who got this wrong and I am certainly one of them.” - Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Saturday.

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  8. The resignation of @LeoVaradkar as Irish Taoiseach is an important moment in Irish politics. Here is the broad historical context. Fine Gael used to be the more socially conservative party. Yes, in pre-1990s Ireland all parties were basically conservative except maybe Labour, but Fine Gael were moreso 'in theory' conservative and self-identified in this manner. Fianna Fail were effectively a populist party that appealed to and recruited from a wide strata of the population.

    Fine Gael, on the other hand, were the party of educated elite - lawyers, judges, accountants, and so on. In pre-1990s Ireland the average educated elite in Ireland was deeply Catholic and would be interested in theology, Catholic social teaching and so on.

    This started to change as segments of the Irish elite became more liberal - arguably due to the influence of British culture, television, music etc. The key figure here was Garrett FitzGerald who was Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) between 1982 and 1987. FitzGerald was an economist with an interest in theology, but he greatly favoured more liberal forms of Catholic theology. This allowed him to straddle the fence between the (younger) liberals in Fine Gael and the (older) conservatives. It also anchored Fine Gael as a socially conservative party until at least the 1990s.

    All of this started to change as the properly Catholic elite started to die off; basically as the Greatest Generation and the Silent Generation were replaced by the Baby Boomers and Gen X. Being a liberal in the older generations - as FitzGerald was - was a truly countercultural position, hence why he arguably hid his social liberalism behind liberal theological positions.

    Being a liberal in the younger generations, however, was simply the norm. This is where Varadkar comes in. He represents the moment when Fine Gael went fully 'mask off' and revealed to the country that they were the party of social liberalism.

    Varadkar himself is an interesting figure in this regard because he was a very conservative student in his college days but went on to lean into LGBT identity politics when he became party leader and then Prime Minister.

    Here is where it gets really interesting. Varadkar was in charge when the recent constitutional referendum on removing the word 'mother' from the Irish constitution was put before the Irish people. The Irish people overwhelmingly rejected this constitutional change. Now Varadkar has stepped down. What he represents has arguably been rejected by the country.

    Does this mean that Ireland is turning away from social liberalism? Not clearly, but something is happening. Does it mean that Fine Gael will revert to being the socially conservative party? Again, not clear, but they will have to reevaluate their identity in light of these changes.

    Changes are happening in Ireland. It is not clear exactly what form they will take. But the writing is on the wall.
    https://twitter.com/philippilk/status/1770428426484109824

    [Hmm. My thought was that, psychologically, once abortion was obtained, the rest was a bit too far...for now satiated, ready for the next drip-drip. But, glass half-full is encouraging, and may depend on social-economic developments going forward.

    For that, it was interesting to see this year's Chicago Saint Patrick's Day Parade interview with the Cork, Ireland, business person present there, and speaking about the closeness with the USA in reciprocal hoped business relationships; and specifically pleading for young persons to come over there to Ireland.

    Then, the annual release of this Choir, this year, beautifully, but plaintively encouraging the young 'diaspora' to Come Home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAdgsaNjfzk (recommended viewing/listening) ]

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  9. Varadkar held the position as Taoiseach from 2017 until 2020, and again in December 2022, with the support of centrist Fianna Fáil and Green Party. As prime minister, he has presided over a decade of intense liberalisation in the Republic, culminating in the legalisation of abortion, as well as overseeing the country’s response to Brexit.

    His government recently suffered a major setback through the defeat of two referenda to further liberalise the nation’s constitution with regards to the exact definition of a family under Irish law. Varadkar emphasised his handling of the COVID crisis and legislating for abortion during today’s remarks.

    His exit from Irish politics three months before June’s European and local elections in Ireland appears to have come as a surprise to even members of his parliament and party, most of whom were taken back by today’s decision.

    Rumours are swirling around Dublin as to the exact reason for Varadkar’s departure from Irish politics, with a high volume of members of Varadkar’s party, Fine Gael, coincidentally announcing their intention not to serve in the next parliamentary election despite the party doing reasonably well in the polls.

    The ruling Fine Gael party is expected to elect a new leader before their annual congress in mid-April, with education minister Simon Harris and enterprise minister Simon Coveney being mentioned as potential replacements.

    The Republic of Ireland is required to hold an election before March 2025. Varadkar’s resignation is seen by many as the starting pistol in an election cycle that could see victory for the left-populist party Sinn Féin as migration is fast becoming a defining issue in Irish politics, alongside systemic issues over housing.
    From: https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/ireland-pm-resignation-leaves-more-questions-than-answers-as-snap-election-looms/

    +++
    "This is a time for fresh leadership. Not just a change of taoiseach, but a change of government, and a change of direction," said Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald, speaking to the Dáil [which party is pro-abortion, among other post-'revolutionary' morphed policies]
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68616372

    +++
    https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/hope-for-catholic-ireland
    Inter alia, figuring out how to let go of the government teat.
    Cf. https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2024/03/chicago-archdiocese-to-cut-government-contracts-reduce-staff

    If they aren't distracted by co-opted religious themes: https://www.rte.ie/culture/2024/0203/1427603-inside-the-new-immmersive-book-of-kells-experience/
    Or further, even atheistic co-optation: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2024/03/19/robot-dreams-how-pablo-berger-created-the-most-soulful-tin-man-since-the-wizard-of-oz/

    Even if you have purchased the original animated Hobbit, purchase The Secret of Kells here: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Kells-Brendan-Gleeson/dp/B0036TGSW6/
    Then have your children (or seminarians) compare themes along with the Bible.

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  10. Okay, okay, here you go historians, researchers and thinkers-
    For your file: (Thank you web owner for allowing my suggestions. The entirety of the Links to the historical debates on the issue I can provide the links for).


    (There is a way to maintain tradition within its proper development, and to also combat the baby-with-the-bathwater ideological attempt to wipe out all tradition. Unfortunately, the Macro-Battle of ideologies, and of in-the-moment-politics, substitutes for probative consideration, and seeks while they may the speedy all-or-nothing ram-rod, to the detriment of people and society.) (One example: While women are not locked to the home, the recent Vote [on Constitution Amendments, and the disengenuous video campaign with respect to same] seems to have more to do with what the alternative definition of the home may be) [Update, post-vote: and so it seems to have been-abortion at least when we want it for our particular situation]. UPDATE [This is before the recent vote on the whatever that was, the EU/post insipid gotcha Tiger was important, but simply said, we are good with the way they worded it, and squirrely within our homes, as far as it goes, BUT, so far, the rest is too far!]\
    Congratulations in staving off male artifical wombs, and the rest of what you have set off by your selfishness, and forgetting of what is really the Cross of your life, and WHO welcomes you to suffer it with HIM. Rather, some choose to circumvent that reality and plunge they and us to a repeat, they thinking by now we have forgotten our heritage.

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