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Derek Warfield's Music -- Right for Aer Lingus?
WGT's Tom Madigan responds to Ulster Unionist politician Roy Beggs Jr.'s contempt for the music of Derek Warfield.
Patchogue, N.Y.—June 22, 2003—Thanks, Roy, for your timely and thoughtful reply. Please allow me to clarify a few things. To categorize the music of Derek Warfield and The Wolfe Tones as simply the music of armed Irish "terrorists" or to dismiss it as a call to arms by Irish republicans is simplistic in the extreme. Their songs are written in a broad historical context and aren't written in a vacuum. What's more, most Irish music has a single, constant undercurrent. It's an expression in song, of a people who've lived under a heavy yoke for almost a millennium. Derek Warfield's music and the music of The Wolfe Tones simply highlights that constant more so than others. One must ask the question, "Why would they write this music as they do?" The answer is simple, to tell Irish history in song and music from the viewpoint of an oppressed people.
Those who piloted those jets into the WTC had no love for America; all they had was their hate, their hate of something that they didn't have nor understand--freedom. They come from an alien world, an alien mindset, an alien philosophy. They don't think as we do, and they attempted to destroy what they didn't understand. You cannot compare Arab terrorists who attacked Americans, Irishmen, Englishmen, Germans, other Arabs, Italians and many other nationalities at the WTC, on American soil, with Irishmen fighting against what they perceive as a foreign occupier on what once was their land. Not everyone who resorts to force of arms is a terrorist. The Irish Republican Army didn't indiscriminately kill other human beings simply out of political disagreement. For the most part, their targets were military in nature and were a response to largely unreported atrocities committed by either the British army (or agents thereof) or by Loyalist thugs. In fact, a sincere and heartfelt apology was issued recently by the IRA to those families and individuals who have suffered or have lost a loved one through mistake or mishap. Granted, no apology can return that loved one, but it was an expression of sympathy, just the same. Without the armed struggle led by Michael Collins and de Valera, the Irish Free State would likely never have come into being, and, in fact, "God Save the Queen" might well be standard fare on Ireland's airline.
Sadly, I never met Bobby Sands, so I feel ill-equipped to refute your assertion that he was merely a "convicted terrorist who starved himself to death." Suffice it to say, though, that Ireland, through its centuries of British misrule, was full of those whom its oppressors branded "terrorists," many of whom today are hailed as heroes of the Irish republic. Meanwhile, perpetrators of "Bloody Sunday" are scot-free to discuss their roles in the massacre of Irish citizens exercising their right to peacefully march. History has clearly been much kinder to Ireland's "terrorists" than those of the British regime in Ireland. What I was trying to point out with my reference to 'God Save the Queen', (and it wasn't erroneous) was that it wouldn't be on Aer Lingus' play list and understandably so, so why is it so amazing that Aer Lingus offered The Wolfe Tones? They are, after all, an Irish band. Someone at Aer Lingus must have thought that it appropriate.
Your comparison of Irish Americans and yourself, an "Irishman who also embraces a wider British identity," is not a valid comparison. As you know, America has a broad spectrum of identities. People from all over the globe have made America their home for one reason or another. I live in America because my great-grandfather was forced to leave during An Gorta Mor, another relative forced to leave because of articles published in Gaeilge, critical of The Crown. Very few Irish are here by choice. You CHOOSE to live as you do, you CHOOSE to pay allegiance to the British Crown. "Why don't you say what you mean rather than throwing out vague insults. Is it because you don't really know what you are talking about???" -- No Roy, I do know what I'm talking about. Why do you find my remark "vaguely insulting"? From the mindset of an Ulster Unionist, your complaint to Aer Lingus was quite understandable (no sarcasm implied or intended here). You proudly boast that you're an Ulster Unionist and your sensibilities were offended by Irish music on the Irish State Airline, despite your claims to altruism. Quite understandable, albeit intolerant. I, therefore, fail to perceive why you're insulted.
If I, as an Irish-American, wanted to fly Aer Lingus and listen to The Wolfe Tones, I'd be out of luck. How dare you presume to decide what is suitable on the Irish state airline! Aer Lingus has deprived thousands of its passengers a whole class of music while in flight. There are millions of Irish, Irish-Americans, Irish-Australians and millions of other Irish scattered the world over who love the music of Derek Warfield and The Wolfe Tones. Finally, you state to me, "If you seriously think that the music of Derek Warfield speaks to the 'heart and soul of the Irish people,' then you must have a very black heart and a very dark soul." This riposte not only insults me, but these millions who are equally entitled to their opinion as well as access to the music of their homeland and their ancestors on the state airline that flies their flag. Regards, Tom Madigan (tmadigan@thewildgeese.com)
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