St. Patrick's Day Reflection During a Pandemic
Last Fall, Cathe and I discovered the “Ellis Island of Canada” east of Quebec City. Located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, Grosse île was a quarantine station for the port of Québec from 1832 to 1937. At the time, the island was the main point of entry for immigrants coming to Canada. We were moved by the story of Grosse Île, which stands in testament to both human tragedy and exceptional dedication. We learned of the troubling experiences of immigrants who set sail in the hopes of a better future, and those who cared for them upon arrival.
There is an amazing Memorial to the Irish immigrants who arrived in 1847. More than 5000 perished on the island while in quarantine.
Here is a link:
Our forbears left famine, oppression, poverty, and hunger for a better life in America. The conditions on the ships were atrocious. When they arrived, many were isolated and never made it to their destination due to disease. In the midst of that, there were nurses and doctors who risked infection to treat them while quarantined. Many of “our people" lost their lives. Of those listed at the Memorial were 8 HUGHES’S! Among the survivors were our ancestors I’m sure , many of whom then traveled to Michigan to establish their homes and to make a life.
Their story of isolation, suffering, and bravery can speak to us today as we consider how each of us responds to the pandemic the world is facing.
None of us is immune from pain . Everything is not always wonderful. That is the circle of life. We live , we struggle, we savor our families, our nieces and nephews our children and grandchildren.
The Big Ten tournament is cancelled, March Madness is no more, the Masters is postponed, school is closed, I can’t go to Secretary of State without an appointment, the grocery store is out of rice and black beans, the library is shuttered, a person who uses my YMCA tested positive, a case turned up at the barber shop , I’ve lost a whole bunch of $ in the stock market and my kids tell me to stay home and “be safe” since I’m “at risk if I’m over 60, especially with a heart issue.
Like a heart attack or a bout with cancer, our nation has been given a jolt, maybe a “wake up call.”
May each of us use this “hunkering down “ time for good…..read a book, call an old friend, check in on a neighbor, be grateful for what you have. Maybe a “quarantine” can realign our own priorities and our community’s and our nation’s more toward unity than division. Our parents used the last “National Emergency” to grow their own food, save $, conserve and work together for the common good. The Great Depression brought the CCC, national park development, better roads and bridges, Social Security , and a stronger country.
Look at this as a rehab program for all or of us!
Our Irish heritage is deep and proud and a source of pride. But it’s more than a great song or a pint of Guinness. It’s a story of family, and hope and perseverance and faith.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY.
Great piece dad!
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