This July 4th it would be great to not just celebrate, but remember. The video below from historian David McCullough is pretty good at reminding us of the sacrifices involved in the American Revolution. There was sacrifice, risk, and a lot of faith that gave birth to a new nation with new ideas on government.

It’s important to celebrate that achievement, but let’s also remember the spirit of the American Revolution. It has inspired people across the globe, over centuries, to fight and find their own freedom. Let’s remember it, and keep it alive where it first originated.

We are a country where freedoms have led to great innovations in thinking, manufacturing, and communications. We need that today.

While 1776 may seem like a long time ago, in the course of human events it is not so long. America is still a young country in the history of the world, so – as they did back in 1776 – let’s remember our potential and build on the dream that became the United States of America.

The reason I have a certain appreciation for this book is pretty obvious, it’s all set in a pub. The pub itself is a character in the book, it’s the the glue for all the characters. It’s a story that really captures the feeling of the pub in society, how it brings people together, brings them out of their separate homes and allows them to interact. In this way, the pub rises above religious differences, racial differences, and gives a platform for people to come together.

The characters in the story deal with love, death, sex, and all the other elements of life, but it’s the pub that brings it all together. While not written to be Hollywood action packed movie, the book reads fast and easy as the story takes us through one day in the life of a pub. There’s a steady supply of comedy as we get to peak in on the private lives, thoughts and feelings of various characters that seem so familiar.

The Mystics Making a Bun

Along with our new kitchen comes a variety of new items on the menu like Flat Bread Pizza, Mac’s Beef or Pork Sliders, Mac’s Fish or Chicken Tacos, and a New Zealand Lamb Burger just to name a few.

Some of the new items, like burgers, are served on a fantastic bun….but on the menu we call it a brioche bun which has caused some trouble for our waiters & waitresses since they often have to explain what this bun is….we should have just called it a fantastic bun.

The brioche bun was originally created in ancient Ireland by mystic Druids who instilled magical powers into the bun….not many people know that since it’s not recorded anywhere else but here.  History, incorrectly, attributes the bakers in Vienna with coming up the recipe which was then stolen by the French in what is known as the Hot Buns War of the 1400s.

McAleer’s  bun contains all the mystical powers of the original  created by the ancient Druids, and adds the perfect texture, perfect flavoring, and perfect proportions. …Perhaps we should have called it The Perfect Bun…..

Battle Boredom at McAleer's Pub

July is Anti-Boredom Month. You can’t find much on its origins, probably because its beginnings are tied to a spoof back in the 1980s. A man named Alan Caruba convinced the rest of America that everyone in New York City was in on a big conspiracy concerning the Thanksgiving Day Parade – Caruba had people believing that it was the same parade being shown on television over and over again…I guess people are ready to believe anything about New Yorkers.

The Boring Institute, started by Alan Caruba, evolved from spoofs into more serious subject matter about the dangers of boredom leading to depression, drugs, divorce. Now mental health organizations like to promote July as Anti-Boredom Month, but no one likes to talk about how it all started with a joke.

McAleer’s Pub obviously supports all anti-boredom efforts, and there’s a  a great list of things to do at Bored.com. Of course, just coming down to McAleer’s Pub is your easiest solution. Keeping it simple, keeping it social.

Some of the items on the list of things to do if you are bored are pretty original, and might be fun even if you are not bored.

*When you buy something ask to get your picture taken with the clerk.
*Phone your local government representative and see if you can convince him or her to have lunch with you.
*Carry a briefcase with you and offer people phony legal advice.
*Make up crazy facts about things and tell them to other people like you are very smart.

And of course there’s this classic:
*Pour water in your hand, make a sneeze noise, and throw the water on the back of person’s neck. Act like you’re not sorry at all for what they think you did. Comment instead on how big that sneeze was or about how there was a lot of mucus in that one.

If you are really bored right now, check out the entire list of things to do and then come on over to McAleer’s and tell us your favorite ones.

The fact that the holiday was first established to recognize the soldiers of the Union army is of great interest…because it allows me to expand further on the role of the Irish in American history.

Becoming an American Under Fire is a book that chronicles how the immigrant Irish and American-Africans who fought in the Civil War helped promote the status of their own people.

For blacks fighting in the Civil War, it was gaining respect from the general population and gaining access to civil rights in the army’s judicial system. For the Irish immigrants, it was baptism by fire as their ideals of a republic were realized, if not for Ireland, then for their adopted home, America.

While Africans were dragged from their homeland, and the Irish forced off their homeland, both peoples overcame enormous prejudice and hardship to build the American Dream. The Irish reached a new milestone with the election of John F. Kennedy, and now the election of Barak Obama visits the same honor on those of African descent.

No where else in the world do people from so many different nations mix and prosper in peace. In America, people rise from any station, any race, any creed, and either sex, and pursue their dreams, pursue their happiness.

None of this would be possible, and none of it is secure, without the dedication and sacrifice of those who serve their country.

This Memorial Day, raise a toast to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, a toast of thanks to those we’ll meet again on the other side.  Here’s a toast from 1879 by Col. Robert Ingersoll , originally printed in the NYT in that year.

The last time a foreign army invaded North or South America was back in May 5th, 1862…Cinco de Mayo. 4,000 Mexicans defeated 8,000 French soldiers.

And of course, we can assume there were some good Irishmen in the fight. Thousands of Irish emigrated to Mexico during the famine in Ireland, and there are monuments recognizing their efforts during the war for independence there.

Then there is the tale of William Lamport from County Wexford who was an adventurer, escaped the Inquisition, authored the first proclamation of independence in the New World, and is believed by some to be the basis for the fictional character Zorro.

But Cinco de Mayo is about Mexico…even though its not celebrated widely in Mexico…It’s celebrated a lot in the USA…so cheers!

If you out and about, come in to McAleer’s Pub for half price Corona’s and tequila shots on May 5th

Spring Fever…most people get it regardless of what age they are, just the fever is not as high as you get older. But for those lucky enough to have spring fever during Spring Break, they may notice a heavy Irish influence in the Caribbean….which has an interesting history behind it.

The Irish slave trade prospered in the mid 1600s under Cromwell. In 1629 a large group of Irish men and women were sent to Guiana, and by 1632, Irish were the main slaves sold to Antigua and Montserrat. The influence was so great in Montserrat, that even in the late 1800s Gaelic was still frequently spoken by the residents. Irish sailors who visited the island at this time were shocked to meet local black residents speaking their native language, and they were also treated to some typical Irish humor. The dark skinned residents, with tongue in cheek, told the pale faced Irish sailors that they did not look too Irish.

St. Kitts has a monument in commemoration of the 25,000 Irish men and women who were shipped there as slaves. In one particularly grueling story, over 150 Irish slaves were caught practicing Catholicism, and were shipped to tiny Crab Island, where they died of starvation.

The African slaves were not Catholic, so there treatment was slightly less inhumane than that of the Irish slaves. Reports from the time indicate that Irish slaves were cheaper than African slaves, and therefore owners had less of a financial stake in their survival. As Colonel William Brayne wrote requesting an increase in African slaves in 1656, “as the planters would have to pay much more for them, they would have an interest in preserving their lives, which was wanting in the case of (Irish)….”

The British governor’s wife in Jamaica, Lady Nugent, in the journal of her time in Jamaica, wrote about the African and Irish slaves: “We treated them with beef and punch, and never was there a happier set of people. All day they have been singing odd songs, only interrupted by peals of laughter; and indeed I must say they have every reason to be content, for they have many comforts and enjoyments. I only wish the poor Irish were half as well off.”

But let’s end on a lighter note, in Jamaica where Sir Alexander Bustamante became a national hero and one of Jamaica’s most beloved politicians. He used to brag he was 50% Irish, 50% Jamaican and 10% Arawak….that’s Irish math. And then there is the mysterious origins of the term “irie”….everyone knows what it means, but no one knows for certain where it originated. Could it be a recognition of that Irish spirit that gets knocked around but always bounces back? Keeping a positive vibe. Maybe….

And the awesome sounds of the legendary Bob Marley. The lilting music, the poetic verses, the soulful strength and celebration…there’s got to be a little bit of Irish there…

The massive earthquake in Haiti is a reminder. A reminder of our vulnerabilities, our capabilities and our responsibilities. While volunteer forces in the United States ready for deployment to help in search and rescue, government agencies are coordinating aid. Also coming to light is the how the economic crisis has stressed both charitable and national resources.

When tragedy strikes, it reminds us of values and what’s important. The United States has always been the country ready to help a neighbor and friend, near and far, but will we always have this capability? Have our values strayed, and our resources wasted, so that we have less too offer in times of crises.

Below are a list of organizations coordinating aid to Haiti and in need of donations.

International Red Cross

International Medical Corps

CARE

Mark McGuire

Who would have thought that Mark McGwire was on steroids when he broke Roger Maris’ home run record? Of course this photo does suggest that McGuire might have been enhancing his performance with something, how were we to know? There’s a lot of talk about what drives players to use steroids, but most likely its the money. Success at a certain level is talking about not just tens of millions of dollars, but possibly hundreds.

Back in the day, baseball players would get chewed up and spit out by the owners. Now that the players are getting a bigger piece of the pie, there’s a little bit more at stake than just love of the game. I suppose if people wanted to make a case in favor of steroid use, they could compare it to Viagra…is that cheating in bed? I don’t know, but until someone starts packing them into Yankee Stadium for a bed room performance, and getting millions a year to screw in center field, the comparison is pretty weak.