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Employing a phrase that might have been drawn from FDR's playbook, President Michael D. Higgins told an audience in New York Monday evening that the Irish people possess "a righteous anger" after various institutions and individuals had betrayed the trust placed in them.
Higgins was speaking at a reception hosted by the Irish Consulate and held in the foyer of the Park Avenue building where the consulate is located.
"We live in uncertain and challenging times. Ireland and the Irish people have come through a period of deep distress and have been faced with economic uncertainty and the scourge of high levels of unemployment and many challenges remain for both Ireland as a society and for Irish people as individuals," Higgins told the gathering.
"People in Ireland are hurting from the recession. They are dismayed that the transient, artificially-based, property-based economic bubble, itself within a global economic recession based on speculation, has turned into ashes. They have a righteous anger that various institutions and individuals, betrayed the trust placed in them.
"Yet, as our history shows, and as the history of the Irish in America attests, we are a strong and resilient people, with a great sense of community and creativity. Far from being defeated by circumstances, the Irish people are, for the most part, moving on getting stuck into what they can do and are good at, and not allowing themselves to sink into any disabling cynicism or fatalism."
The president said he was particularly conscious of those for whom the future had remained uncertain due to their immigration status in the U.S.
"I want to express my thanks to elected representatives at national and local levels here in the U.S. who are continuing to work towards political outcomes which will help alleviate the problems arising for Irish people in that category. I hope that these efforts will meet with success, and I also wish to acknowledge those in the U.S. political system and throughout Irish America who are helping the Irish government in respect of other initiatives, such as in the area of E-3 visas, which would assure future flows of people between our two countries." he said.
The president has a packed schedule for the week in both New York and Boston where he will attend events including a Great Hunger commemoration.
On Tuesday, at a business breakfast hosted by Irish Network NYC, Higgins praised IN-NYC, and also the Irish International Business Network and the Irish Business Organization, for the "vital role" they play in helping to connect young professionals, entrepreneurs and business people. "Anyone who knows the Irish will know that it is part of our instinct to get together and talk and listen," he said.
