March 19, 1968
Page 6995
"THE LUCK OF THE IRISH" – AN ESSAY
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, in this season of St. Patrick's Day there are very few Americans who are willing to deny that there is a bit of the Irish in them, in spirit at least.
Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson Herer of Bucksport, Maine, recently sent me an essay about the Irish which explains, I think, our affection for the Irish and our respect for their deeds.
I ask unanimous consent that Mrs. Herer's essay appear in the RECORD at this time.
There being no objection, the essay was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
THE LUCK OF THE IRISH
(By Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson Herer)
The honor of the Irish is as good as his word. To them sin is a poor idea as they obey the law. The patriotism for their country is as fresh and verdant as the green grass of Ireland. Their expressions of good will, kind wishes, etc., affect scores of people.
The Irish are a nostalgic race of people who hold dear the memories of their childhood which gives them life and vigor. They gain much of their strength through knowledge and in being apt.
Their verse-in-color is among the best of any land, and is read in the literature of the English- speaking world. They love poetry so much, that some of them even swear that God was a poet.
The rainbow is their love and the blue Iris their flower. In this country, we often nickname it the blue flag. To them, real is what counts and he that can break a bad condition on the country or the people, becomes a great man of bravery, as did St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
To the Irish, St. Patrick stands for the young in heart, the endurance of the working people; their jealousies and great strength; their love of Christ and a wholesome life and for the natural ways of children. He is supposed to have driven all of the poisonous snakes out of Ireland; actually it had to do with a potato famine.
The Shamrock belongs to Ireland. It is a symbol of good luck or I wish you good luck. I do wish you good luck on this fine day.