Irish Thought for May 3...

Irish History

A story of hope....

In 1847, midway through the Great Famine, a group of Native American Choctaws collected money (either $710 or $170 - the amount is debateable but rather moot) and sent it to help starving men, women, and children in Ireland.  For them, it had been just 16 years since they exprerienced the Trail of Tears (a horrible time for American history) and witnessed their families dying of starvation.  Either amount might not seem like much to us today, but as many of you have learned in school or will learn, to them it was the same as donating what they earn over the course of YEARS.  For the 150th anniversary of this donation, eight Irish people, who felt the same level of amazement and hope that I hope you are feeling, retraced the Trail of Tears and the donation was publicly commememorated by Irish President Mary Robinson.

This story moves me to tears.  Tears for the hardship I know both groups of people faced during these times - and many Native Americans still face today.  Tears for what the Choctaws must have sacrificed in order to send money to Ireland.  But most of all tears of AWE... for one group who had just experienced their own years of starvation and forced eviction from their homes can feel so much empathy for a group of unknowns that they are prompted to do what they can for others who share their plight.  It is a story that touches you and stays with you.  That is the heart we all should hope to have.  The spirit we aspire towards.  The generousity that is so rare when you hear of it, you are forever changed.