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sionna_
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 10:40 am: |
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Dia duit, I just stumbled across this site today,and i have to say i'm fascinated with your interest in the language.In most Irish schools, a very negative approach develops towards the Irish language.It's great to see there are some people out there willing to keep it alive, even if they are foreigners Slán go foill! sionna_ |
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Pádraig Mac G.
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 11:07 am: |
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Tá fáilte romhat, A Shionna, Hopefully you'll stay around and bless us with your experience with An Ghaeilge. Many of the voices recorded here belong to persons who dearly love the Irish language and tradition. We live in America, Australia, Canada, Spain, Latin America, and Portugal, just to name a few. Most of us have family roots in Ireland. Just one request. Please don't call us foreigners. Beannacht Dé ort, Pádraig |
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max matthews
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 11:16 am: |
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If we do not call a person from a foreign country a foreigner what do we call him/her? In the past this forum has seen political speeches by war mongering Americans and a discusion on obscene four letter words! I hope we are not now going to have a debate on political correctness. Let us keep this forum for what it was intended - to debate the Irish language and culture - Keep politics OUT! |
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Pádraig
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 11:30 am: |
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How about friend? Is your world so small that you're unaware that what you call a person affects the way he responds to you? |
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max matthews
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 11:40 am: |
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I will not respond to the personal insult implicit in Pádraig's posting, except to say that are you not aware that what you say (write) to a person affects the way he responds to you? If anyone feels insulted by being called a foreigner by a person of a different nationality then that says more about the person being called foreigner than about the person using the term. A person can be both a foreigner and a friend - can you not see that - or is your world so small? The problem is that Americans think they own the world - well I have news for you - you don't! |
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Jen
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 02:01 pm: |
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Well, now I'm insulted. I am American, and I am certainly not a war monger, nor do I think that I own the world. Please don't make blanket statements and people you do not know. |
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Bradford
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 02:19 pm: |
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Easy there, a chairde. Max, you said yourself that this board is about Gaeilge. Let's not make blanket statements about ANY nationality. It would be better if we all just stick to Gaeilge. There are plenty of other boards that specialize in hurling insults at each other if that's what anyone wishes to do. Slán, Bradford |
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James
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 04:25 pm: |
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I don't think I need to weigh in on this one. My position has been firmly stated on other posts. I will say this one thing: My participation on this site has come to an end. I am and always will be a soldier who has proudly served his nation which, quite frankly is the most free nation on this planet. I will not be insulted, repeatedly, for that honorable service to an honorable nation. If America is such a crappy place, I challenge you with this: Show me another country that people will die to get INTO. I can show you hundreds that people are dying and have died to get OUT OF. Max--you express your narrow-mindedness in your lump-sum assessment of Americans. We are as diverse as any European and I am personally insulted by your approach. The next time you read a paper, watch the "tele" or engage in any other basic freedom you can thank America, and the young American men and women who died defending European soil. Your freedoms were bought and paid for with the blood of greater men than you will ever hope to become. It never ceases to amaze me that the liberal peace-niks who preach "tolerance" with every breath are so absolutely intolerant of those with whom they differ. I will post no further on this site. My fascination with the Irish language has come to a standstill. I thought I would learn a language here. Instead, all that has happened is that I have been bashed for no other reason than my nation of birth. Bugger off Max, Next time your European ass is in a sling--call the French! After all, going to war without the French is like going to the Dentist without your tuba. This is James--signing off. |
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Tomas OCathain
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 04:33 pm: |
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Well, I was just about to give Max a dressing down but after reading the above post with my jaw on the floor, I think I'll just abstain from this. Let's talk about the Irish langauge people, let's not keep trying to get the last word in. If you want to discuss how we should give Saddam flowers instead of bombs or conversely how everyone owes your country a debt for eternity , then please do so by Email or IM. Let's keep this for the Irish langauge shall we? |
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Oliver Grennan
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 07:24 pm: |
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James, Don't go, we need people like you here. What about your language group? Na tréig an Ghaeilge, beidh sí caillte gan do leithid. Thanks Max, post your bigotry elsewhere from now on, the future of the Irish language is more important to me and if I want to be enlightened on current affairs I'll read the news. Slán, Oliver. |
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Pádraig Mac Gafraidh
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 09:19 pm: |
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A Shéamais, A Chara, I've been looking for any old post of yours that might include your email address so I could write to you privately. (You certainly are prolific, a chara.) I had to give up the needle in the haystack search, so here are my thoughts for you and anyone else who chooses to read. I admire your enthusiasm. I respect your dedication. I have noticed that whenever they get your Irish up, its in response to unwarranted attacks on what you value most, and I have not known you to lash out at anyone without provocation. On the contrary, most of your posts have been to encourage, to exhort, to praise and to help others with not even a hint of condescension. On the other hand, when you do decide to fight, you're a pit bull. I find all of this very American, and as you have frequently indicated, the free peoples of the world reap the benefits of this sort of attitude daily. Now, in the spirit of the battle worn, grizzled, staff sergeant and veteran of many campaigns, I'd like to say to you: "Get you ass back up on that line!" This is your site, my friend -- and mine as well, along with a lot of Yanks, Aussies, and Canucks who came here to learn Irish and to lift one another up in the process. It ought to take more than a handful of mean-spirited schoolyard bullies with unresolved anger issues to run us off. There is a difference between slán leat and slán agat, and this is for the bullies: Slán leat (good-bye: I'm staying.) Pádraig |
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Bradford
| Posted on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 10:53 pm: |
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James, If you're reading this, and I hope you are, I do hope you'll reconsider leaving this board. We need you here! I may or may not agree with your political opinions, but my point is that it doesn't matter within the context of this board. Regardless of our color, nationality, religion, etc., etc., we're all here to learn the Irish language... together. Please don't let the words of a few individuals sour your love for Gaeilge or drive you from here. Regards, Bradford |
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max matthews
| Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 02:40 am: |
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Final reply My initial posting concerned Pádraig's adversion to the word 'foreigner' - so let us remove 'coimhthíoch' from all Irish dictionaries! My second posting was a direct response to the insult given me by Pádraig. I am 57 years old and my world is not small, indeed I have lived in several countries (including 5 months in Richmond VA - researching the civil war). And as to James -1) how did he know I am an ex-professional tuba player! (although why anyone would take a tuba to the dentist I fail to see) - I now concentrate my musical activities to the feadóg 2) France is one of the most civilised countries on earth and if it is a toss up between the US and France give me France everytime. And as to the person calling me bigotted - they have no idea what they are talking about - I take every one as I find them and I must say I have never met an American who does not think they rule the world and it is their crusade to bring the American way of life to the rest of the world - sadly many countries (including, Éire) are too poor to resist. gabhaim pardún agaibh as an teachtaireacht seo i mBéarla - níl mórán Gaeilge agam ádh mór |
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sionna_
| Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 08:18 am: |
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First can I say a deep apology if I insulted anyone by using the word 'foreigner'.I come from a very close community in what we affectionatly call the 'middle of nowhere' in the northwest of ireland.We use the word foreigner and blow-in very loosely,generally to describe some one who may even just be from the next parish.There is a lot of leftovers from the celts that reside in country people, and like our ancestors we are still very clannish. Secondly, I'm very sorry for starting that argument between James and Max. I hope ye can resolve it. Third, I know that this site is about debating Irish and it was politics that caused the problem,but can I just say it was the combined forces of the allies (who included many poeple from around the world, including countries not directly affected by the war) that brought an end to World War 2.Everyone played their part,and sadly everyone suffered casulties. Slán leat. |
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sionna_
| Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 08:20 am: |
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P.S Thanks Padraig for the warm welcome |
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Pádraig Mac G.
| Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 08:41 am: |
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A Shionna, A Chara, Fáilte arís. And may I say that I was not insulted by anything you said. Sometimes words take on implied meanings. To me the word foreigner has always suggested an outsider -- someone who doesn't belong -- and as many minority groups who emmigrated to America can attest -- someone who isn't wanted. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries this included the Irish. I was simply asking that no one be left to think of himself in this way. The salutations of our letters read "A Chara." I like that. Buíochas agus Beannacht Dé, Pádraig |
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sionna_
| Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 08:48 am: |
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Gur a mhile maith agat a chara. I apologise for my poor quality of Irish.I have always had a tendency to write it as i'd say it,and have a nasty habit of leaving out fadas.My level of Irish is unfortunatly the product of a particular secondary school teacher i had for the junior cert many years back. Slán leat |
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Seosamh
| Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 12:47 pm: |
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A Shéamuis, ná himiigh! Go géar atá tú de dhíth orainn anseo. James, don't go! We need you badly here. |
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Paul
| Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 01:31 pm: |
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Aontaim leat, a Sheosaimh. Na bac lena 'begrudgers,' a Sheamuis. Paul |
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Seosamh
| Posted on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 06:00 pm: |
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I ndiaidh 9-11, d'éirigh gaelgeoir líofa ó áit áirithe ar an Mhór-roinn ina fhreanga shaofa mar bhí daoine ag caitheamh go holc leis -- Ag rá gur militia éigin i Michigan a rinne an slad (le comh-oibriú nó réamheolas ó thaobh rialtas Mheireacá). Bhí sé dú-dhóite de na Meireacánaigh chomh maith agus an tslí in ar sheas muid le chéile. D'imigh sé leis ag maíomh nach mbeadh lámh aige leis an Ghaeilge go deo arís. Ar an dea-uair, tháinig sé ar ais. Tá súil agam go mbeidh James ar ais amárach. |
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Bill Travers
| Posted on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 08:33 pm: |
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Max, This is the first time I have visited this site. I had thoroughly enjoying reading all the discussions, until I came upon yours. I am very saddened by you generalizing and degrading comments about Americans. I am an Irish American. Born and raised in the Catholic faith. I am peaceful man and do not think war is the answer. Neither does my family here in the states nor in Ireland. Nor do the millions of Americans that marched in Chicago, New York, Washington and Raleigh in protest of the prospect of going war. A war that could be avoided if a man would respect 10 years of requests by the United Nations. Requests asked after he invaded another country and created the worst environmental disaster the world has ever seen when his troops left that country that he invaded. I live in a small town in the USA and I rent my small piece of the earth. I do not own the world nor do I wish to. My grandfather died defending his and others rights to be free. My uncle died flying a RAF airplane over the English Channel, defending the English coastline from another invader. He was an Irishman by the way, his body never recovered from those English waters. So please do not make a blanket statement like that. It is just not true of all Americans. I dare say a majority of Americans. I have lived here a majority of my life now. Not just a few months. With that said, thank you to Pádraig for translating words Ord Ársa Na nÉireannach on my grandfather’s membership card. The AOH is an organization that was created to protect and defend Irish Catholic priests from ordered death under English Protestant rule in the 1500’s. |
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Michael Noonan
| Posted on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 10:35 pm: |
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Sionna; Mile failte! No apologies are needed. It is nice to see your interest in Irish and I hope you decide to contribute posts. Your perspective and input would help in learning how the Irish language is doing in Ireland. Fear not about your level of Irish and fadas. I too just write it like I say it. After a year of studying I'm still learning how to say; THe milk is on the table. (Ta an bainne ar an mbord.) The posting around here is quite informative Sionna and has helped me in learning Irish. Not just the language, but culture and history as well. James; Don't leave buddy. Max; So I am a warm-mongering, world-dominating, culture-crusading American. I've been called worse...by better. :-) Michil |
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Pádraig
| Posted on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 11:35 pm: |
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Cá bhfuil an bainne? Tá se ar an tabla nó mhord. I'll bet that's Ulster -- an tabla? |
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Michael Noonan
| Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 11:20 am: |
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Dia Dhuit Padraig; Nil a fhios agam. Our class is using Bunus Cainte. But I saw tabla in Focloir Poca. Hmmmm... |
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Pádraig Mac G.
| Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 04:24 pm: |
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A Mhaidhc, A Chara, And I left the fada off the tábla. Nó: Tá fada ar an tábla. I checked the Foclóir Póca and mord, tábla, and clar are all listed. I think the first two are synonymous, but clar is used to indicate the contents of a book. (I also posted this message in the wrong thread. G Mo L.) Meanwhile, Oliver, I'm still waiting for cupán cáife and acknowledgement that you've been watching that dreadful Father Ted. I also wonder whether that show might be taken by 'friends in distant places' as an accurate portrayal of Irish island life. Slán, P. |
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