By Ray Lenarcic
Recently, while listening to one of my favorite musical groups, the Irish Tenors, singing The Fields of Athenry, I was reminded of how important our freedoms are. Peter St. John’s song, written in 1970, tells the story of Michael, a young man from Athenry, County Galway, who was caught stealing corn for his starving family during Ireland’s Great Famine in the 1840s. His punishment-banishment to a penal colony in Australia. The popular song was later adopted by the Republic of Ireland’s national football (soccer) team. Take a moment, google the song, and enjoy.
St. John’s lyrics describe an imprisoned young man’s longings for things that we all take for granted-the freedom to watch an Irish rose grow into breathtaking beauty-the opportunity to watch the small FREE birds fly-the freedom to cherish the love of our choice and to revel together in our dreams and enjoy our songs to sing. And perhaps most importantly to a native Irishman, the freedom to walk with God.
At the song’s end, I couldn’t help but think of what my life would be like without the numerous freedoms I enjoy-simple freedoms like waking up each morning and heading down to the nearby convenience store and purchasing that oh-so-necessary cup of java and the N.Y. Daily News; like sitting down and writing an article critical of an ex-president or a certain government policy I abhor without fear of reprisal; like having the opportunity to vote for a slate of candidates who were FREE to run for public office; like being able to come and go where and when I please.
That my good friend Greg often shares with me highlights of his pastor’s weekly sermons reminds me of another freedom too often taken for granted-the opportunity to worship whom and where we please. Sadly, history records too many examples of occasions where people were forcibly prevented from attending churches of choice. A classic example-the Protestant Reformation and the resultant wars in Germany, France, and the Netherlands, where thousands died while defending their freedom of religious choice. And this country was not exempt from religious-borne conflicts. Check out Kathleen Sands’ America’s Religious Wars.
If we remember the cost of preserving our freedoms and the thousands of lives lost defending those ideals we hold most dear, then hopefully, we’ll remember not to take them for granted. By the way, among those defenders were Black Americans (Tuskegee Airmen) and American Indians like Marine Cpl. Ira Hayes, a Pima who helped raise the flag on Iwo Jima. As a reward for their sacrifices, Blacks returned home to continue to be victimized by the evils of segregation, while Native Americans were doomed to third-class existences on barren wastes of land called reservations. Make a copy of the First Amendment, post it in a place where it’s easily read, and you’ll have a daily reminder of those freedoms which must be guaranteed for ALL Americans regardless of race, color, or creed.
As I continued listening to the Irish Tenors, I couldn’t help but remember the many times Kay and I and Kelly B. and friends were regaled by the stylings of the Valley’s own Irish Balladeer, the great Vincent Colgan. His immense popularity guaranteed that our Hunger Coalition fundraisers were incredible successes. His offerings, along with those of the Irish Tenors, reminded us of how valuable our freedom is. Appreciate it! Love it! Live it!