I arrived home after watching the sunset to hear about the argy-bargy between Pope Francis and Donald Trump.
The odd thing is I never thought that either of these men would take up any of my thinking time but they have and they are.
For my non-Irish readers, I should probably draw your attention to the fact that Donald Trump has a toe in Ireland as he bought an Irish golf course and hotel in Co. Clare before he declared his candidacy for the Presidential Election. He got a great welcome here by our Government with red carpets, dancing girls … and now this is part of the dirt that is being flung around in OUR General Election Campaign which is really heating up and due to take place on February 26th.
Pope Francis’ attack on Donald Trump hit me between the two eyes as he drew heavily on the importance of building bridges not walls. And, as you know, I’m all about building bridges! I think this is the first time I’ve cheered a Pope in about fifty years.
I’m beginning to wonder where this is all going to end. Maybe, I’m going to turn into one of those Irish people who gives God credit for sunshine saying: “Lovely day, thank God, ” to everyone I meet. (Normally this drives me bananas as no one ever says: “Rotten day, blast God,” or even ” Terrible day, damn the Divil.” )
Anyway, it’s been a smashing day here in Tramore and I’ve felt totally and utterly spoiled.
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
I think Mr. Trump is stepping on some very tender toes and in the end he will regret some of his remarks as people at first was amused to have someone say what they think , but he is starting to wear himself thin. I wish they would talk about how they are going to handle certain situations and stop nit-picking at each other. So much time is wasted on verbal attacks of one and other…Prove to us that you’re worthy to hold the important job of the President of the USA and act like one…The citizens will have their say in November. Yes and build bridges instead of walls.
Hi Joni, it’s a long campaign alright. You’d wonder how on earth DT can keep this up for much longer.
Ahhhh, don’t be too bothered Jean – over here on the other side of the pond, every waking news hour is filled with the latest antics of Trump, et al. He’s a very rich very narcissistic asshole whose popularity totally befuddles me. Virtually all the comedians here are having as field day. As far as your Government wooing him – that’s just good business and he is very susceptible to that – as a man whose ego has outgrown our continent. He will invest his considerable wealth if you suck up to him enough – your gov’t was right to do so. One of my favorite Canadian blog comedians – Ross Murray – has an awesome tongue in cheek look at Trump just today: https://rossmurray1.wordpress.com/
Don’t let Trump get you down – in comparison to the Democrats currently running (Clinton and Sanders) his following is trivial – he’s just the big man in the Republican party, which says more about the sad state of the republicans than it does about the American political system.
I too heard about the Pope weighing in – a very, very significant event given that in my lifetime I have never heard of the Vatican involving itself with American political candidates.
I hope your day gets better and it is wonderful for me to be back online and reading your blogs from the Emerald Isle. Be well Jean. 😀
A HUGE welcome back , Paul. It’s great to hear from you again and I hope you’re in good fettle.
Thank you so much Jean – I missed everyone. It was a heck of a time but all is well now. it is great to be back. 🙂
Brilliant to have you back. You’ve no idea how much you were missed.
I’ve been to Ireland; it’s a very beautiful place indeed! (Notice that “indeed” was used and not “thank God.”) I don’t belong to any religion, because religions, like separative governments, tend to divide people. What the Pope said (and what some leaders in GB) said about Donald is true, though. He fills people with hatred for certain groups… much like Hitler did. Scary stuff for this supposedly modern and evolved times!
Hi Tom, so glad you liked Ireland. I’m taking note of your every word!
Morning Jean! As you are very aware, I enjoy your blog but now I have a question which I’m not sure I’ve specifically asked you before. So I have sent it in a private email with a couple of poems, (one of the poems was written sitting upstairs in a cafe in Dungarvon -which you may know well). Looking forward to your reply. 🙂
Frances, I hope my reply has made its way to you. It was seeming to be a bit reluctant but I think it should have got there.
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Did you send it to francesmacaulayforde@yahoo.co.uk? Not received yet – now 11.21am in Perth, W.A. on Saturday morning….
Sent another earlier to the address above. Fingers crossed it has arrived.
Received and replied this morning… 🙂
In the summer, I never hear the news. I sit outside in the mornings from before sunrise until I get ready for work, and get home too late for it at night. So, at the end of the summer, when I realized Trump was a serious candidate for president, I was floored. Like, “REALLY?” He is such an obnoxious man. It heartens me to see that I’m not the only one who thinks so. He is exactly what this world doesn’t need. And Pope Francis is exactly what we need. It’s scary. This post gives me heart, since when you live in the middle of the crap it’s hard to see what’s actually real.
It would be fascinating to get an outside perspective on our election campaign that’s currently running in Ireland. I agree that it’s hard to see the wood for the trees when you’re in the middle of it all.
Yes I am pleased to see that the Pope is speaking out on all sorts of issues but I am dumbfounded that Trump has any kind of following. I am not sure if we are about to see a quantam change in how people vote as I have seen some pretty nasty things happen in Australia that I would not have ever expected to see…so, lets hope that sanity prevails:):) love the photos…its warm here and I am getting ready for our trip to Tasmania next week…
Yes, let’s hope sanity prevails.
I hope you’ll be letting us know what Tasmania is like. It seems a long, long way from here but many Irish used to be sent there, if my history is correct?
So glad to hear that you had a smashing day! Yes, bridges instead of walls would be so much better. I grew up 60 miles from Mexico so immigrants from there are nothing new and now live 160 miles from the border. Who would have thought we would be hearing the Pope talk about Trump? I don’t understand his (Trump) appeal. May both of our elections turn out for the best! It has been a strange presidential campaign here and has gone on far too long!!!!
CC, how interesting that you grew up so near to Mexico. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit, if only for the food!
It’s certainly difficult for us to understand such a long presidential campaign in the US. This general election in Ireland is one of the shortest in our history ~ 3 weeks ~ and that seems plenty long!
Ah, I missed that one! But I did note a newspaper article today that said there are far more fact-checking sites than there used to be, and that “the Donald” is one of the biggest reasons we NEED more…
Sandy, that sounds about right!!
I don’t know if you’ve seen it but you get the full measure of the Donald in this film – You’ve been Trumped -recommend it – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27ve_Been_Trumped
(and this from a golfer – nothing would persuade me to play his course)
Robin, it’s a pity about the golf course as it’s in such a stunning part of the country.
I wonder do I want the full measure??? but thanks for the link. Much appreciated.
I’ve been hearing a lot about Trump and while I’d originally considered him as somewhat laughable, I think he’s actually very scary. I haven’t heard anything about his links to Ireland know a lot of questions are being raised on current affairs discussions about his involvement in Scotland – in the golf course that he built on a nature reserve there.
Oh scary is right or beyond scary!
I’m so discouraged by the rhetoric of the politicians that I try to ignore, which is near impossible. Thank goodness 😉 for ‘real’ people like us who go on loving and honoring and respecting ALL people.
When you can view a sunset Ike that, you can dismiss all the bluster that shows up on the news…:)
You’ve certainly got a point there and I’m fortunate to have a whole host of lovely viewing points for both sunrise and sunset close by.