more than cinco de mayo

Just a wild thought here but are U Albany students planning a "Tequila and Taco" riot tomorrow? So even if your not Mexican but you are tossing back a couple of Dos Equis or Coronas lift one to the memory of Bobby Sands.

I was in Ireland in 1981 during the Hunger Strikes and saw on RTE the funeral of one of the heroes, but I can't explain it better than Mike McCormack, the historian of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Here is just part of what Mike wrote.

REMEMBER THEM

30 years ago, a five-year protest of Irish republican prisoners ended in one of the most pivotal events in recent Irish history. It began when the Brits withdrew Political status from Republican prisoners. In July 1972, Political Prisoner Status had been introduced after a hunger strike by 40 IRA prisoners led by Billy McKee. It meant being treated as prisoners of war and not having to wear prison uniforms or do prison work.

In 1976, as part of a policy of "criminalization", The Brits ended Political Prisoner Status. Prisoner's clothes were taken and prison uniforms issued. Refusing to wear convict uniforms and brand themselves and their cause as criminal, they wore nothing but a blanket through the brutal northern Irish winter in a cold stone cell.

In 1980, it was decided to embark on an age old Celtic method of redress - the hunger strike. There were no lack of volunteers but only seven were selected to match the number of men who signed the Easter 1916 Proclamation of the Republic. The strike ended after 53 days in December. In January it became clear that the prisoner's demands had not been met. On February 4, the prisoners declared another hunger strike. This one began on March 1, 1981 - the fifth anniversary of the withdrawal of political status - led by former commanding officer Bobby Sands refusing food.

Fully aware of the consequences, other prisoners joined one at a time at staggered intervals, to arouse maximum public support to exert pressure on PM Thatcher. A sympathetic public even elected Bobby Sands to the British Parliament during the strike, prompting media interest from around the world.Other prisoners ran for office and after two were elected, the Brits rushed through an Act preventing prisoners from contesting elections.

Bobby Sands was the first to die. Then one by one more young men had starved to death rather than criminalize Ireland's fight for freedom; it wasn't just about wearing jeans. Sand's funeral was attended by 100,000 people.

The strike was called off on October 3. Three days later the prisoners were allowed the right to wear their own clothes at all times and gradually all the demands were met, but without formal recognition of political status. In the final analysis, the Brits paid the price of having world pressure focused on what, until then, had merely been an internal struggle that they had been able to conceal from the world.

They were our bravest and best which is why they had to die, for because of them our cause was made sacred. As we prayerfully remember with love and pride the names of the martyrs of 1916, let us also remember the names of:

Bobby Sands (27), died 5 May after 66 days; Francis Hughes (25), died 12 May after 59 days; Patsy O'Hara (23), died 21 May after 61 days; Ray McCreesh (24), died 21 May after 61 days; Joe McDonald (29), died 8 July after 61 days; Martin Hurson (24), died 13 July after 46 days; Kevin Lynch (25), died 1 August after 71 days; Kieran Doherty (25), died 2 August after 73 days; Thomas McLwee (23), died 8 August after 62 days and Mickey Devine (27), died 20 August after 60 days.

"Our revenge will be the laughter of our children"

Bobby Sands