And it makes much more sense, n'est-ce pas?

But I think Honeychile meant the memo about spelling, punctuation and parochial school, not the one about Anglo-Irish animosity. (But does an English public school count as a parochial school equivalent?)

Possibly-they're more likely the equivalent of just plain private schools here. I went to a christian secondary school, I knew a Roman Catholic primary school, all were state schools.
This is my old school: http://www.st-bedes.surrey.sch.uk/

I think my relatives on ye olde sod would disagree with that assessment.

I haven't met one Irish person with any animosity towards the English-except perhaps during the football world cup.

FWIW, my family didn't get the memo on the Anglo-Gaelic animosity. The best quote is from a history book where almost 200 years of English ancestors are touted, until two of the daughters married Matthew & John McCue. In its own little paragraph stands the damning phrase: "The McCues were Irish."

Not even a "bless their hearts" to tone it down a little!

They all did get the memo on grammar and private schools, though. Didn't want to mix with the riff-raff, don't you know? ;)

I have. My family was from Ulster until our kind was not welcome there anymore.

I'm going to a big protest. Its happening in Savannah. We're going to protest Bush's policies by getting drunk and singing Red Haired Mary and Tim Finnegan's Wake. Hopefully that'll let the administration know precisely how we feel.

Yes, but to be completely fair, there were some also powerful and yet respectful protests as well.

I'm pleased that you said "some."

It was a very complex time.

I also said four years ago that I saw a lot of parallels between this conflict and Vietnam. I still do.

And this situation is complex as well.

An understatement.

Hungover?

Certainly; I wouldn't characterize everyone by the actions of a few.

I understand it was a complex time; it was certainly complex when my dad, who had served his country for a year overseas, returned home at the age of 21 and was greeted with taunts as a "baby-killer" and other similar chants. I understand some protests were peaceful, but there were others that were not, that targeted the soldiers who fought.

I'm glad to see that most of the protests today do not repeat those mistakes.

Agreed. My husband still has many relatives in Belfast, and while I don't pretend to understand all the intricacies of the conflict, I've seen the animosity firsthand.

True this was bad. But it might be amusing to see some protestors set themselves on fire with gasoline. Might knock Anna Nicole out of the news for a while.

Morrissey says...
 

Irish blood, English heart
this I'm made of
there is no one on earth
I'm afraid of
and no regime
can buy or sell me now

I've been dreaming of a time when
to be English
is not to be baneful
to be standing by the flag not feeling
shameful, racist or partial

Irish blood, English heart
this I'm made of
there is no one on earth
I'm afraid of
and I will die
with both of my hands untied

I've been dreaming of a time when
the English are sick to death of Labour
and Tories
and spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell
and denounce this royal line that still salutes him
and will salute him
forever

I know.