Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Oh, yeah: Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Today's NYT features:
Turning Green With Literacy
By THOMAS CAHILL
Published: March 16, 2010
WHY should we celebrate the Irish?

No doubt, several reasons could be proffered. But for me one answer stands out. Long, long ago the Irish pulled off a remarkable feat: They saved the books of the Western world and left them as gifts for all humanity.
For those who might want to read more, Cahill has written a delightful little book: How the Irish Saved Civilization.

[Snarky aside: I note that the Irish Potato Famine and ensuing influx of Irish to America (1847-1856) produced a "Nativist" anti-Irish backlash very similar to today's GOP anti-Hispanic hysteria.]

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