What is the future of the Internet? I don't mean what, I'm asking how long. Will my grandchildren be able to read my blog? How wonderful it would be to be able to read and see photos of your ancestors, or in my case, how sad. I take pride in my job as a father to embarrass my children as often as possible. With the Internet I may be able to embarrass generation after generations of Curran's. What made me ponder this point was an e-mail from Chris Millis, as most of you know Chris and Lisa became parents a few weeks back and Chris has started a web page for the twins. When they are older they will be able to show their children what they looked like as new borns, what their great grandparents looked like and what Grandpa Chris wrote about them. If you would like to see the mini Millis' just check this site. http://web.mac.com/chrismillis/iWeb/The%20Boys/The%20Mini%20Mills.html and that's the short cut. A very long address for two very little boys.
So yesterday was a good day for e-mail, besides the Millis' letter and strewn in among the many many e-mails for Viagra and penis enlargement ( someones telling tales out of school ) I received the following e-mail from Michael Cummings. Mike is an old friend of the family and a very active Hibernian. I though his e-mail needed a larger audience, so here it is.

WHY WAS IRELAND DIFFERENT;SHOULD AMERICANS CARE?
In the last century the Irish people have struggled to rid themselves of British colonial rule, end the cancer of partition and restore democracy. U. S government support for that struggle was virtually non-existent and rarely aroused public protest. How could that be so when so many of Irish descent are here? How could America's Presidents ---symbols of democracy to the world ---be indifferent to garrison rule in Ulster? First, without a language barrier British apologists have made Anglophiles of many in the American media and Congress. British media managers are omnipresent to explain how Ireland's conflict is old news, how the 'solution' is in place and to push more interesting stories, for example, of Prince Harry in Iraq.Then there is the 'special relationship', a concept created by Prime Minister Churchill that allows our Department of State to do favors for the BBC, British Airways and defense contractors and give the U. K status. Such a deal was denying Gerry Adams a visa to speak here though he was an elected Member of Parliament, an author and without a criminal conviction. Then Secretary of State Baker, who denied Adams' visa requests, recently stated in the Iraqi report that " in diplomatic matters you don't restrict your conversations to your friends." Why then was this Irishman different?Finally, there is the 1998 Belfast pact and its related Weston Park and St Andrew's agreements. These are but the latest documents in a legacy of British paperwork to obscure their role in Ireland. For example, the Saville Commission has now taken more time to explain Bloody Sunday than was taken for the reports of the assassination of President Kennedy, the Kent State killings, and the My Lai massacre combined!!Perhaps those explain indifference to Ireland. But can Americans be comfortable with the hypocrisy of the U. S. standing up for democracy, justice and the rule of law everywhere in this world except in the six counties of Ireland? How can Americans speak up if they don't know the price of their indifference and ignorance? Consider these recent selections from two newspapers with major foreign policy reporting. The New York Times claimed Syria would experience "..scorn, isolation and sanctions " for the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Gemayel. A Wall Street Journal article claimed that Russian leader "Putin is unworthy of the trust of civilized men and women" for its hand in killing of a former spy in London. Americans have never seen either paper so harshly describe Britain despite documented evidence of its involvement in the killings of lawyers, elected officials and mass murder in neighboring Ireland. Why is Ireland second-class?How many Americans knew that voting rights for most Catholics were not granted by law until 1975? Sinn Fein election successes then prompted the forces of law and order to arm loyalist thugs and use double agents to kill 5 elected Councillors. Who knew that this part of Ireland would be the only modern democracy to suffer such a calamity?American President's never spoke against British lawlessness. The annual Department of State Human Rights report is known more for its omissions about British Army and RUC collusion in the killing of innocent Catholics in N. I. Britain has refused to cooperate for 30 years in the investigation of the British Army role in the Dublin/Monaghan bombings; Ireland's equivalent of "9/11." Thirty-three victims, mostly women and children, died. Even though the Department of State regularly issues public rebukes of human rights violations around the world why has Britain had a free pass for this atrocity to date? Why is Ireland different?Why should Americans care. especially now? They should care as a simple matter of justice and for the verdict of history. British Army collusion with loyalists began as far back as February, 1973 in the killing of six Catholics in the New Lodge area of Belfast. A picture emerges of a 30 year criminal conspiracy by a government against its own people. American must re-think this struggle and its causes. Who were the criminals and terrorists? Was their a right of self-defense? If, as the Wall Street Journal indicated, "..the U. S. and Britain are committed to the .protection of human rights.." then lets record the failures in Ireland. Americans should demand Britain explain and compensate for their carnage. What lessons were learned by the U. S.? Did America's failure to speak out against Britain's misconduct and extra-legal assassinations encourage lawlessness there and elsewhere? We must insure that not another generation remains ignorant of this history nor permits British spin in textbooks. We now know, much to British dismay, there was no shortage of food in Ireland in 1845. Let us make sure future generations know just what Britain really did to destroy democracy in Ireland.
Michael J. Cummings,
Member, National Board,
Ancient Order of Hibernians
Member, National Board,
Irish American Unity Conference

As we prepare to celebrate St. Patrick's Day let's not forget that Ireland is still a divided country.
On a lighter note, and keeping with the messages I receive, the anonymous commenter, in his cryptic manner, didn't mean hoops when he wrote hoops. As best I can decipher he meant
CELTIC
Like the Ancient Celtic Warriors, Celtic FC [ Ed. note: FC stands for Football Club or as we call it soccer] has Fought Long and Hard to Attain Great Success. Charitable Beginning and Rapid Success Celtic FC was founded in 1888 by Marist Brother Walfrid as a way to raise money for deprived Irish immigrants living in the east end of Glasgow. Under their first manager, Willie Maley, the club won 30 major trophies in 43 years. In 1939, Celtic also defeated Everton of England 1–0 at Ibrox Stadium to claim the Empire Exhibition Trophy, which, along with the Coronation Cup (won in 1953), is amongst the most highly-regarded by the club's supporters, due to its unique status as a one-off competition. Scottish GlorySince their formation in 1887, the Glasgow club has won 39 League Championships, 33 Scottish Cups and 12 Scottish League Cups!1966 - 1974Without a doubt it was the era from 1966-74 under the watchful eye of manager Jock Stein that the Celtic Park club had its grandest moments. They won an unprecedented nine consecutive League Titles (only recently matched by cross town rivals Rangers) during the stretch. If one year had to be selected as better than the others, however, it would be 1967. The Bhoys won the Treble that year (League Title, Scottish Cup Title and European Cup Title).European CupThe victory in the European Cup over Helenio Herrera ‘s Inter Milan that year is still considered by many the greatest upset in Euro Cup history. The Italian club had won the event in both 1964 and 1965, only narrowly losing out in the semis in 1966. Inter was a defensive juggernaut having worked to perfection Herrera’s defensive Catenaccio System - sure to create a contrast of styles between the clubs. Before the match Stein proclaimed to the Observer “We want to win it playing good football, to make neutrals glad we’ve done it, glad to remember how we did it.” And to that end they succeed, with Jimmy “Jinky” Johnstone and William “Caesar” McNeill, defeated Inter 2-1 to become known across the continent as the ‘Lisbon Lions’ for putting a kink in the defensive mindset of the favorites. Celtic was the first British and Northern European team to win the European Cup!A New EraThe resignation of Stein in 1977 brought with it inconsistent results, but that seems to have been corrected with the hiring of former Northern Ireland captain and Leicester City boss Martin O’Neill, winning the League Titles in 2000, 2001 and 2004! And with a sensational list of players that have worn the colors including Kenny Daglish, Lou Macari, Charlie Nicholas, Brian McClair, Maurice Johnston, and more recently Henrik Larsson, Stilian Petrov, Bobby Petta and John Hartson is there any reason you should not?CLUB FACTS
Full name: The Celtic Football and Athletic Club
Nickname: The Bhoys "pronounced b-hoys"
Founded: 1888
Ground: Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland
Capacity: 60,830
Chairman: Brian Quinn
Manager: Gordon Strachan
League: Scottish Premier League
2004-05: Scottish Premier League, 2ndCLUB RECORDS
The Scottish Cup final win against Aberdeen FC in 1938 was attended by a crowd of 146,433 at Hampden Park in Glasgow, which remains a record for a club match in European football.
Celtic currently hold the UK record for an unbeaten run in professional football: 62 games (49 won, 13 drawn), from November 13, 1915 until April 21, 1917- a total of 17 months and four days in all (they lost at home to Kilmarnock on the last day of the season).
Celtic also hold the SPL record for an unbeaten run of 77 home matches, spanning from 2001 to 2004.
Record Victory: 11-0, against Dundee in 1895.
Record defeat: 0-8 against Motherwell in 1937.
Record points earned in a season: 72 (Premier Division, 1987/88, 2 points for a Win); 103 (Scottish Premier League, 2001/02, 3 points for a win), which is also the SPL points tally record.
Record home attendance: 92,000 against Rangers in 1938.
Most Capped Player: 80, Pat Bonner: Republic of Ireland
Most Scotland Caps: 76, Paul McStay.
Record Appearances: Billy McNeill, 486 from 1957-75.
Most goals in a season: Jimmy McGrory, 50.
Record scorer: Jimmy McGrory, 550.
First British club to reach the final of the European Cup.
First British and northern European club to win the European Cup.
Only club to have won the European Cup with a team comprised entirely of home-grown talent.HONORS
European Champions Cup (1):
1967 Inter Milan 2-1
Scottish League Champions (39): - 1893, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1922, 1926, 1936, 1938, 1954, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004.
Scottish Cup (33): - 1892, 1899, 1900, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1923, 1925, 1927, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1951, 1954, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2004, 2005.
Scottish League Cup (12): - 1957, 1958, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1983, 1998, 2000, 2001.
Drybrough Cup: - 1974.
Tennents' Sixes: - 1992.
Coronation Cup:
1953 Hibernian 2-0
Scottish league commemorative sheild: - 1904/05 1909/10
Empire Exhibition Trophy:
1938 Everton 1-0
Victory In Europe Cup: - 1945
Saint Mungo Cup: - 1951

So Mr. Anonymous, how did I do?