Pat Coyle

[Pat Coyle @coylep]

@SuppressedNws1 Beyond words. Pure evil.

[Pat Coyle @coylep]

@JamesMartinSJ Rest assured of those prayers Jim. Sincere condolences. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis

[Pat Coyle @coylep]

@_ZachFoster @BarackObama Well said. Agree completely.

[James Martin, SJ @JamesMartinSJ]

It's probably best to assume that President Trump was ignorant of the meaning of the image that he retweeted this week: the pink triangle, the mark used by the Nazis to identify gay men, including in concentration camps, where they were subject to horrific "scientific" experiments, castration and finally execution.

This, however, is part of a larger effort to demonize all LGBTQ people and turn Americans against them, especially against transgender people.

Mr. Trump said recently, "Everything is transgender, everybody transgender, that is all you hear about — and that is why we won the election in record numbers." The irony is that this is "all we hear about" mainly because of his administration. And, indeed, demonizing a minority group is one way to win elections.

Nonetheless, turning people against a minority group (and one that already suffers disproportionate levels of bullying, violence and harassment) is profoundly unchristian. Many Christian philosophers and theologians (including, most prominently, René Girard) have written about how easy it is for societies to scapegoat minorities. And how difficult it is for people to stand up for scapegoats, out of fear that they too will be attacked.

Of course, world history is filled with nations and societies deeming people subhuman, from the Third Reich calling Jews "vermin," to Hutus in Rwanda calling Tutsis "cockroaches," to Americans calling Native Americans and African enslaved people "savages." When you dehumanize someone, it's easier to do violence to them, and to execute them, because they have ceased to be human. They are not only a threat; they are vermin that must be exterminated.

In the end, as Girard points out, the ultimate scapegoat is Jesus, who through his unwillingness to perpetuate this hate-fueled cycle of violence, willingly accepts death on a cross. But the message of Jesus is clear: all are deserving of God's love, all are beloved children of God and no one deserves to be scapegoated.

"Go," says Jesus, "and learn the meaning of these words: "I desire mercy not sacrifice'" (Mt. 9:13).

[Mary Lou McDonald @MaryLouMcDonald]

TJ & Me. The main man is an absolutely warrior! 💙

TJ Coughlan waited 4 years for scoliosis surgery and at the age of 13 he was told it was too late. Now, aged 19, he champions children left waiting for their operations. He doesn't want them to go through what he went through.

Today, I told him we would, if we get our chance, build a health service in which no child is left behind. We'll keep that commitment to TJ and his family.

[Women On Air @WomenOnAirIE]

In collab with @women4election, we ran an intensive radio & TV training session yesterday for councillors from a wide range of parties and parts of the country running for the upcoming election. Focus was on practical skills - radio & TV interviews
w/ @coylep & @BryanNewsatOne

[Mick Caul @caulmick]

Well considered contribution from @paulmurphy_TD 👏

Child protection is too important important to be used as a political football.

#Dáil #ChildProtection

[Pat Coyle @coylep]

@SarahFitzWiMIN @Womens_Aid @DerekChambers11 You’re some woman Sarah. Well done! 👏👏👏

[Miriam O'Callaghan @MiriamOCal]

Incredible work and courage went into the making of that #rteinvestigates - outstanding investigation from an ace team headed up by @barryokellyrte , Lydia Murphy & David Doran.

[Danny Morrison @molloy1916]

This is a fascinating analysis - https://t.co/Fh9VfkL9Yt

[BUCHANAN: Dublin Time Machine @RobLooseCannon]

This is the last cigarette 18 year old student Kevin Barry smoked before being hanged at Mountjoy Gaol in 1920. Dublin-born Barry spent a lot of his childhood in Carlow. He was an IRA volunteer who attended Belvedere College and UCD to study medicine.

On the 20th of September, 1920, he took part in an IRA raid on a British army supply truck at Monk's Bakery on North King Street, Dublin. The ambush went wrong, and three British soldiers were killed. Barry was captured at the scene after his revolver jammed, preventing him from escaping.

Despite his youth, he was tried by court-martial under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Act. His execution caused outrage across the country and became a rallying point in the War of Independence. The youth smoked this cigarette just before mounting the gallows.

[Pat Coyle @coylep]

@ClaireGHarrison A lovely wee northern suburb city!

[Wallace Thompson @wallyt53]

From this week’s Impartial Reporter

[Pat Coyle @coylep]

@SarahFitzWiMIN I love an afternoon nap! When I can get it!

[Martin Leahy @TheNewReview2]

I’ve put new lyrics to this year’s Israeli Eurovision entry. I’ve recorded it and called it ‘You Will Never Bury Palestine’.
@Eurovision should be boycotted this year by Ireland and all the other countries because of Israel being allowed to compete.
#BoycottEurovision2024

[Aamer Anwar✊🏾🏳️‍🌈#BlackLivesMatter @AamerAnwar]

Proud moment as fellow alumni Palestinian Dr. Abu-Sittah becomes Rector @UofGlasgow & addresses students “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children” dedicates his victory to over 40,000 dead in Gaza, members of his family & colleagues murdered by the state of Israel 🇵🇸❤️

[Fascinating @fasc1nate]

JFK and Jackie at a diner in Oregon, 1959. As Kennedy sat in the diner, he was a senator at the time and still relatively unknown in most parts of the country. He hadn't even officially announced that he was running for president.

However, during this photo, he was on an unofficial campaign trail, and most members of the Democratic Party knew he would run. In fact, back in Washington, a "Stop Kennedy" movement was already underway from his competitors.

Throughout 1959, Kennedy traveled the length and breadth of the land, with a full schedule of speeches and public appearances, combating critics and challengers attempting to derail his bid to win the Democratic nomination.

He traveled all over: the Midwest, California, attended a Cubs game, met Stan Musial (famous Cardinals baseball player), and visited a West Virginia coal factory. Interestingly, he faced smaller crowds out west, and in this photo, taken in Oregon, he was a virtual unknown.

"In Oregon," recalled photographer Jacques Lowe, who traveled with JFK for part of 1959, "Kennedy walked into a union hall to find eleven men waiting to hear him." Undeterred, according to Lowe, JFK didn't miss a step. "Without hesitation, he launched into his speech."

[Pat Coyle @coylep]

@blader Me too

[Patrick Dexter @patrickdextervc]

Amazing Grace. Happy Easter weekend from the west of Ireland 🌈

[Fascinating @fasc1nate]

Hattie McDaniel accepted her Oscar at a segregated "No Blacks" hotel in Los Angeles for her role in "Gone with the Wind."

She made history as the first Black American to win an Oscar. Sadly, all of the film's Black actors, including McDaniel, were prohibited from attending the film's premiere in 1939 at the Loew's Grand Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.

Clark Gable, one of the film's stars, refused to attend if Hattie wasn't allowed, but she convinced him to go without her.

Even though McDaniel was eventually allowed into the hotel, she had to be escorted and was relegated to the back of the room, separated from her white co-stars.