I guess I digress, but God Bless Ireland!

If I'm not mistaken, there was a book written some years ago entitled "How The Irish Saved Civilization." I have no idea whether or not the book is any good as history or whether there's any factual truth contained in it, the title would have made an apt newspaper headline in this morning's papers. In my opinion, that great little nation pulled a David to Brussels' Goliath yesterday, and Europe owes them for it big time.

I really had to think a bit before deciding whether or not to post on this subject ... the purpose of this blog really isn't to discuss politics, it's meant to focus on pilgrim spirituality as expressed in the Catholic tradition in general, and as it relates to the Camino de Santiago in particular. But Ireland did a marvellous service to the rest of Europe yesterday, even if not everyone is prepared to recognize, acknowledge or thank them for it.

All I can say is, thank God Ireland's Consititution requires a referendum for decisions as important as whether or not to adopt the Lisbon Treaty. It's a shining example of how a modern democracy ought to work in contemporary Europe. Here in Spain, on the other hand, the "illustrati" who run the Socialist government are simply prepared to roll over and surrender every last vestige of national sovereignty to the planned European superstate, as are most of the other governments of the 27 member states. (That last statement, by the way, should not be regarded as any kind of endorsement of Spain's principal opposition party, the Partido Popular, who have not shown themselves to be any more democratic in this regard, or even the least bit critical of the Lisbon Treaty.)

For an excellent analysis of the Lisbon Treaty and why it had to be rejected, follow this link to an excellent analysis by Professor Anthony Coughlan, a Senior Lecturer Emeritus at Trinity College in Dublin.