Blood On The Hands Of The Righteous

As seems to be my case, I am bringing you music on an anniversary.  I realize this isn't Friday night, but it deserves remembrance.  This anniversary I speak of course was the use of force by the 1st British Parachute Regiment that killed 14 and wounded many more peaceful protestors in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

The protestors were all Catholics who were participating in a civil rights protest against the internment of Catholics in the  region.  While a British investigation ensured, most considered it a white wash of the situation.

Many critics of the situation suggested that the indiscriminate force of the British troops at the time led to an influx of new recruits to the Irish Republic Army and increased violence in the region, not lessening it as had been hoped.  As Irish Catholics felt increasingly distanced from their government and unsure that justice would come, they fled into the organization that contributed to terrorism as much as it fought oppression.

As Bono notes put your "hands in the air, the praying kind" and pray for no more war, no more hurt, and  a way to peaceful solutions to these problems.

Is it too early for a drink?

Irish writer James Joyce once remarked "A man of genius makes no mistakes.  His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery."  The idea is interesting and I hope no one gets in trouble for finding the time for a little Irish coffee at lunch today.

There is some thought though to the idea that people move in directions with purpose, with volition, as Joyce notes and that in doing so they may discover ways that don't work, but that doesn't make the process an error per se.

Personally, I think I like the idea that we might walk our way into potential trouble trying to test whether or not we have the mettle to overcome said situation.  In the meantime, it's almost lunch.  Perhaps I can find a place that serves both an Irish coffee and a decent reuben sandwich.

An Irish coffee is created combining equal parts of Irish whiskey, for which there can only be one, and Bailey's Irish Cream.  Combine those in a cup of coffee and stir and then top off with a bit of whipped cream.