Greetings, readers!
I owe you a big apology right off the bat. I should have let you know I was traveling, and I can imagine my absence was missed—perhaps it caused a bit of panic on your end? It’s been a while since I’ve taken a family trip, almost three years in fact, so it was definitely overdue.
Now, on to the burning question…
WHERE DID I GO?
Traveling on the left side of the road in a small electric “SUV” was quite an adjustment, but that wasn’t the biggest surprise. In Ireland, most petrol stations are still staffed by locals. I only encountered one place on the outskirts of Dublin where the clerk—a rather disengaged individual—was preoccupied with a phone call. When I asked, “Do I need to prepay for gas?” he just stared at me blankly. It was, uh, a little odd. After a pause, he finally acknowledged me, but the interaction was less than smooth.
In contrast, at another rural station, a bright local was more than happy to explain how the nicotine pouches worked. Her English was perfect, and she genuinely seemed to enjoy helping me. This was the case at most of the places we visited over the ten days, with friendly young Irish folks enthusiastically working behind the counters.
I can’t help but remember when young Americans were filling those roles here just a couple of decades ago. I was one of them, in fact. I still recall getting high marks on secret shopper evaluations for my politeness and eagerness to assist—even though I didn’t push extra sales on customers.
Just this morning, I walked into a gas station near work where I witnessed a bit of chaos. An individual was trying to buy four energy drinks and had trouble making his phone payment work. The cashier, an elderly man in worn attire, didn’t step in until needed, and even then, neither of them could quite understand the other. A later customer faced her own struggle with EBT, which almost turned into a scene worthy of a viral video.
This represents the current norm here. The days of local kids with their first jobs—eager, clear-spoken, and hopeful—seem to be a thing of the past.
That said, the Irish appear to be dealing with similar issues. Even mainstream media have taken note. The central government, heavily left-leaning, is relegating “refugees” to small towns across Ireland, which has sparked predictable reactions among locals. Meanwhile, the elites often label them as nativist or bigoted.
It’s a cycle that feels familiar to what we’ve seen here, especially over recent decades.
Now, just to clarify, I’m not advocating for some sort of homogeneity. The Ireland I experienced had a lot more diversity than the cliché image of the red-haired, short-tempered stereotype. One of the first people I met was a tall, tanned young woman with jet-black hair and striking blue eyes.
This isn’t just about race or ethnicity; it’s about shared culture, upbringing, and language. When you grow up and work in a place, interactions tend to be smoother, and there’s a genuine desire to make a good impression on visitors.
I don’t have a catchy close here; it’s just a thought I wanted to share.
While I was off enjoying my vacation, plenty of things have happened. There are ongoing investigations and even an attempted attack on Trump.
I’ll get to those topics soon, but I was keenly aware of something we’ve lost in the U.S. due to unchecked immigration and government support systems.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Also, if there’s anything specific you’d like me to cover in the coming days, let me know. It’s good to be back!
MORE LINKS
Who Are The Prosecutors Going After SPLC?
I’ve missed other significant news too.
Whiskey Business: After Daily Caller Report, French Foreigners Say They’re No Longer Buying Jack Daniel’s
Let’s be thankful for that.
Mamdani And Hochul Keep Trying To Make The Other Look Bad In Fight Over Taxpayer Money
Who didn’t see this coming?
