Outsider Looking In

A long lull, a goal realised and an aware citizen

2009-05-17T12:43:00.004-05:00

Oath of Allegiance for Naturalized Citizens:
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
Accessed from USCIS website May 17th 2009
Well it has been a long time coming, but I have finally become an American citizen. Going through this process and having to take the oath that appears above has left me with deeper thoughts and ideas on what it means to be a citizen or any nation.

For instance, neither Marcy or Saoirse were required to take that oath. Being born as a US citizen infers that they will adhere to this oath. It strikes me that most of us who don't serve in the armed forces or a government agency would ever consider the responsibilities that come with citizenship.

I'm still working through how I feel about this, but my initial reaction is that this is very wrong. I actually feel guilty as it is only through this process that I have taken a hard look at what it means to be an Irish citizen. I don't feel that just being born in Ireland gives me the right to claim myself as a citizen. Sure, I voted (albeit once) and I would have served as a juror when requested, but is that all it entails?

Here in the USA, I had to want to be a citizen. I understood all the benefits; but it began with a conscious choice. The process, the oath and the naturalization process instilled in me (or at least is making me consider and figure out) what it means to be a citizen. The irony is I had no American dream, no desire to live here. Fate and circumstance brought us to these shores. Yet here I am gladly taking the oath and declaring myself American. Why? It's part of my wife's heritage and my daughter's, it is only fitting that all of our family embrace both cultures.

While Marcy and I want to return to Ireland, who knows what Saoirse will want when she is old enough to lead her own life? It's only right that I be able to support and advise her whatever she chooses. In my mind that demands my understanding and participation as a citizen of both these fine nations.

Why did you give that white baby a black name?

2007-04-22T13:04:00.000-05:00

This is quite possibly the funniest, and least predicted, culture clash ... yet inoffensive ... we'll ever experience.

Marcy brought our daughter, Saoirse, into work so that her co-workers could meet her. The 2-month old was fawned over by the predominately female staff.

Now, I should also point out that we enjoy telling Americans her name, and explaining how to pronounce it and its origin. We joke with friends that we'll only tell them how to pronounce her name once, and if they can repeat it correctly the next day, they win a prize. No one has come to claim it!! Irish vowels make explaining this difficult, but the closest I can give you is: Say-er-sha; with 'Say-er' being one syllable ... and 'sha' ending more in an 'eh'. It's an Irish word that translates to Freedom.

This is a big set-up for a short story, but basically one of Marcy's Black co-workers honestly asked (on hearing the name spoken alone), "Why did you give that white baby a black name?" Given that we generally hear an indignant, "Why did you give her such a difficult name? You'll have to teach her to spell it," this was refreshing. [Side-note: of course we have to teach her how to spell her name. Sure we'll have to spell it to everyone who meets her. But considering (as noted before) we already have to spell her sur(family)name, and our first names, we're used to it.]

An explanation to our Irish friends: there is an interesting trend where old irish names are being adopted into the African-American culture, albeit perhaps a little unwittingly, and with significantly different spelling. That said, I could be wrong, and it just be a co-incidence. But let me introduce you to exhibit A and B.

My sister's name is Ciara. European-America's have twisted it's spelling to Kiera to better line-up it's pronunciation with English syllabi than Irish. Now, there is a hip-hop artist, who uses the Irish spelling, but pronounces her name as Sierra - a more English pronunciation of the Irish spelling.

Marcy's grandmother's name is Duana - the female equivalent of Duane, both in their Irish forms [Dwayne and Duwanna for those looking for something closer to the phonetics]. Marcy's conversation with the same co-worker also lead to a similar, "That's a Black name" comparison.

Rather than been accused of making our daughter's life difficult for giving her an ethnic name - okay no-one has put it those terms, but we can read in between the lines - it's nice to have a example of culture's mixing in the United States. We're very proud of our daughter's name and it's meaning. Names are supposed to be important and have meaning, and we're glad Saoirse's will evoke honest questions about differences and similarities in cultures.

O'NO!!!

2007-04-07T22:32:00.000-05:00

I'm officially sick of the "O'jokes". Using it as a prefix to any word does not automatically make it funny, quaint or Irish.

This is one of the many things about St. Patrick's Day (over here) that gets really annoying really fast; blatant overuse of something from another culture that is neither understood nor appreciated.

It's made me more aware of the other immigrants around me, and the different bastardisations of their culture that may be prevalent. But more about these at another time.

For my American friends: O' comes from the the ancient naming conversion of saying who you where from. Mick O'Neill translates as Mick from(lit.) Niall, but is more commonly translated as Mick son of Niall.

And yes, my initials are MON, not MO; MN maybe, but not MO.

Stupid

2007-04-01T00:22:00.000-05:00

One thing I had to quickly learn about the typical Minnesotan is their passive-aggressive mature. Now, we're not an aggressive person by nature, but in contrast, Marcy and I seem to have gained "reputations". Why the quotes? Because few here have the guts to tell us this.

We've picked it up from our more candid, straight talking friends. In my two years at my company (which shall remain nameless to protect the innocent!), rumour has it that I've managed to scare a whole crew of technicians, and start arguments at every turn. This is because I ritually do something view do, speak my mind.

People here have an opinion that you cannot criticise the idea without attacking the person, so they don't. They will happily blast the person behind their back though. I know you can critique the idea and still respect the person. To those I report to, I'm known as someone who can analyse objectively, and bring a group together to get things done.

It's to the point where I am the arbitrator when it comes to the processes on which I am a subject matter expert. So when I arrive into work on Monday, and have a memo waiting for me asking if someone's breach from procedure had merit (a procedure which I had just helped in reinforcing people's training), there was only one way to sum up the individuals idea: stupid. And that's the word I used in the memo, which I sent to individual's boss.

Now, I'm not naive enough to think that I'd get a statement like that out without a comment. But I meant stupid as it was the best adjective I could use for an idea which was [ref.]:

1. Obtuse
2. Was a poor decision
3. Marked by a lack of care
4. Stunningly inaccurate
5. Pointless; worthless

Their Boss later suggested that I should not have used that word. I truly feel that the use of any other word would have been ... well, stupid. Of course, it would be unfair, nay cowardly of me to post what the error was. This whole post probably makes me seem really aggressive to American readers, and silly to Irish readers who would use words much stronger than stupid.

But I cracked a smile when, in a meeting with their Boss on a different matter, he used the word stupid. Maybe I've started something (fingers crossed).

A New Beginning

2007-03-26T22:29:00.000-05:00

So it's been a while. Why the absence? Or maybe a better question is, why the return?

Well, I quickly realized that either I posted everyday (that's how often something weird seems to occur) or there was nothing that was individually noteworthy seems to occur.

Before someone comments, "Amadán, that's the whole point of a blog!", I get it now.

So I feel I have something to say, or maybe just to vent. Maybe I'll censor it, but to be frank, I don't really care to anymore. Why?

Well, I recently got back from visiting friends and family back home. I knew I lost my accent (though it does return). I knew I would use American turns of phrase (I've had to practice not to use the Irish ones at the wrong time). And I knew I'd get slagged (but that's what friends and family are for).

What I didn't expect was to be told by a Northern Irish taxi-driver not to go into a Pub in Finglas with "that accent". Nor did I expect to be surprise to hear 'Fuck' on TV (after 9pm of course).

So I guess I need to remind myself every now and again that I do come from another country; and I do have a different way of thinking. And while it has caused me to make mistakes, it's gotten me where I am.

I have plenty of thoughts to post, maybe sometimes, people will even read them. If nothing new happens, I'll tell you why I was pulled aside for using stupid in an work email. Or why I dislike the Irish-American holiday of St. Patrick's Day (not to be confused with the Irish Holiday of the same name). Or why I think other immigrants are cool.

I might even talk about what it feels like to be an Irish immigrant who returns home!

There is no apt title...

2005-11-06T15:58:00.000-06:00

I'm still trying to understand America, it's national identity, culture; to sum it up, it's way of thinking. For as long as I live here, and indeed become a citizen, I can't think the same way. Now that I've acknowledged that, things will get easier. I don't have to agree with these ways of thiking, but I do try to understand the logic used. Most of the time I'm successful, but this is one of the times I'm not:

For a year, Julee Lacey stopped in a CVS pharmacy near her home in a Fort Worth suburb to get refills of her birth-control pills. Then one day last March, the pharmacist refused to fill Lacey's prescription because she did not believe in birth control.- USAToday.com Druggists refuse to give out pill

Now, I understand that the constitution's separation between church and state means that someone's religious beliefs should not be hindered by the government on any level. But I have to ponder: it's a pharamcist's job to fill precriptions. So, if there is any reason they would be unable to perform their job, should they be employed? Sure, I could sugar-coat that opinion, and softened considerabley, but that's what it boils down to in my mind.

This instant comes down to the fact that this particular instance involves two topics that people don't want to consider discussing over here: Religion & Reproductive-Rights. Both are important issues, yet surely irrelevant in this issue. If you can't do the job, they you shouldn't be there. So the employer should be held to task, as they need to provide the customer/consumer with the means to get what they need.

Other Info:
Congress eyes birth control bill - pharamcist.com
BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | Pharmacist refuses birth control
pharmacist refuses birth control - Google Search

The growing separation between the USA & The World

2005-10-25T16:10:00.000-05:00

Oh my! They've gone and done it how. First enviromental treaties; then disarmament treaties; then trade agreements. Now they're disagreeing over the SUN!! Okay, I'm blowing this out of proportion, but I find this funny. I found this trying to confirm when Daylight Saving Time is. I wonder how many people here know that Congress has changed this.

But just months after Indiana got in step with the rest of the country, the federal government announced a major change in Daylight Saving Time. In Aug. 2005, Congress passed an energy bill that included extending Daylight Saving Time by about a month. Beginning in 2007, DST will start the second Sunday of March and end on the first Sunday of November. - New Federal Law—Springing Forward in March, Back in November

Must See Movies

2005-10-23T09:58:00.000-05:00

Sure, there's a lot of drivel put inot the cinemas over the summer, and I've seen my fair share of no-brainers. Then when things get political, Farenheit 9/11 or contraversional Passion of the Christ there's a hype about people taking a stand, and whether they're right ot wrong. So it's interesting to see the media-machine skip by two very powerful movies that are worth the attention of anyone capable of thought.

Lord of War Nicolas Cage plays a global arm dealer which makes you realise the evil of the trade. A dark and gut-wrenching movie, where there could never be a happy ending.

Good Night, and Good Luck George Clooney brings a very potent reminder of the role of media keeping government in check. It's a powerful movie and a wonderful reality check on how things in the 50s compare today 50 years on.

In my opinion, these are the movies that should be shown in schools and students asked to ponder the realities of these movies.

Another Historic Day

2005-09-27T19:48:00.000-05:00

I sort of sad that I'm not in the country to get some sense of the buzz about this. I am glad that this is getting more internal recognition though. Even if people don't understand the specifics; any story of peace winning over terrorism is worth making news about.

BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | IRA 'has destroyed all its arms'

Found what I'm looking for ...

2005-09-25T15:54:00.000-05:00

I'm standing in the nose-bleed seats suffering from bouts of vertigo as U2 are on the stage performing their song of the same name. I never got a chance to see them in Ireland, but here we are in Minneapolis with we made sure not to pass up seeing them this time around.

I consider these guys to be the best rock band in the world. As this was my first time seeing them live, I wasn't disappointed. When Bono asked if anyone here was from Dublin, I roared - but so did half the audience. Liars! The lightshow was mesmorising, the atmosphere electrical as the sold out arena sang-along to every song. But the performaces were truely unforgettable; not the least of which was Bono's ode to his late father, "Sometimes you can't make it on your own."

It's funny listening to Bono trying to explain what a northsider is like to an audience from which probably my wife and I could only understand. It's also funny that in a country that so idolises celebrity misses the simplicity of a band just enjoying what they do. Sure Bono gets knocked for using the platform he's given and trying to make the world better with it; but why the hell shouldn't he. He's not selling merchandise or doing some shameless self-promoting; he sees the opportunity he has to do some good and he takes it. Nothing else would make sense.

In a week were I watch the news-reporters 'brave' hurricanes to make news they should have been reporting, I wonder what's the point of idolising icons when all they exist on is their idolisation. Especially when heros are all around for those willing to see.

What's in a name?

2005-08-19T15:14:00.000-05:00

I've quickly gotten used to the fact that people over here have difficulty spelling my surname. This would never happen in Ireland, but then I've never had to try and pronounce some of these surnames before let alone spell them. That's not even mentioning the difficulty of getting the apostraphe of my surname (or the second capital) into a database. Bank of Ireland can do it, but not Homeland Security. Really!

But as I've said, I've gotten used to it. I don't mind people shortening Michael to Mike, my family tends to call me that. But most know me by Mick, and I still can't get over the fact that people don't know how to spell it. I've seen myself being refered to as Mic. Odd, as Nick isn't spelled that way. Also Mic is pronounced Mike to most.

Am I making to big a deal about this? NO, IT'S MY NAME!! Mic Oneal doesn't exist. I'm an Irishman, the US slang for which incidently is Mick, and that's my real name. Where's the confuddlement?

In Theory

2005-08-10T16:45:00.000-05:00

The duplicity of the life and reality in the US has always amased me. Most of it seems to hark right back on US politics. Not because it's rooted in politics, I believe that politics just highlights the profanity of things.

Take this last month:

"Because Darwin's Theory is a theory, it continues to be tested as new evidence is discovered. The Theory is not a fact. Gaps in the Theory exist for which there is no evidence. A theory is defined as a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations. Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin's view."
- statement read out to the ninth-grade students in Pennsylvania

FYI: don't be surprised that I use BBC-Worldwide as my prime source of information, but more on that later.

So in the land is defined with teh separation of church and state, there are schools where in science class and in science-textbooks now compare the scientic theory of evolution with the reglious permise of Intelligent Design, or creationism.

I know that a theory is not a proven fact, and I don't think less of anyone because of which theory they think is most apt in this case. What amases me is that a government who designed a school system that doesn't have a religion-class allows advocation of a religious belief in a science-class. And then I read this:

"The US president told newspaper reporters in Texas that children should be taught about intelligent design so they could better understand the debate about the origins of the universe."
- Bush weighs into evolution debate By Jonathan Beale, BBC News, Washington

And I don't really disagree. But public-school is public-school, and sunday-school is not. Funnily enough, my all-boypublic-school, Catholic education in a prodominantly Catholic nation never mentioned Creationism or Intelligent design in Science.

Compliment?

2005-08-10T16:32:00.000-05:00

It's always interesting to me how people react when they find out that I'm not actually one of them. I've always unconsiously softened my accent around non-Dubs. And after much and on-going trail and error, I've gotten used to switching my turn of phrase to American. Sure it's obvious to most that I'm not a local, but that doesn't mean they won't assume that this blue-eyed, white boy isn't american.

I'm also not used to the fact that when people hear that I'm Irish, they think I'm Irish-American. How and ever, when the truth comes out it's often met with questions, mainly:

What are you doing here? -OR- Why did you move here?

I'm used to the responses now, and the second I feel like I've heard them all:

May I say, you speak very good English.

And I should hope so!!

A Historical Day

2005-08-02T16:51:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday the IRA made an announcement unlike any they made before:

The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms. All volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means. Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever.
IRA statement, 28 July 2005

A comprehensive history can be found on the BBC's site focusing on the issue.

2005-07-24T12:10:00.000-05:00

My wife and I

Let me begin

2005-07-24T11:33:00.000-05:00

It's been a year and a half since my green card was approved and I flew out of Dublin Airport. With the hope of starting my career, I left behind all my friends, my family, my martial arts students and my town. I didn't set forth alone. My wife, Marcy, who hails from (Way) Upstate NY, would be my guide, my confidant and my family.

There's been good and bad, and many goals still to achieve. But we're very happy. I looked at this as an adventure. What amazes me is how different America is to other cultures I've experienced. If nothing else it has helpped me to figure out who I am, and how I fit into this world.

We returned to Dublin to visit family and friends in the Jan.'05. There a friend asked how I was doing? I told him I had grown; I feel a little wiser as many things have been put into perspective for me.

I'm an Outsider Looking In at what's called the last Super-Power. A European in America; an Irishman amoungst Irish-Americans; from a land that is so left of american liberalism, it doesn't even register. This blog will examine my views of the culture-clash; and maybe I'll learn a little something sbout this place and myself as we go.