America enthralled as Irish eyes are smiling once again

“Let’s face it,” reasoned Time Magazine, with its online readership on Monday, “It’s good to have the Irish back.”

Tradition is a funny thing in America. Those who treasure it most tend to have some salty views on how the old ways should be maintained. President Obama’s election and reelection were each mortal affronts to the belief systems of a large swath of the population.

Those are many of the same ‘down home folks’ whose lives are enriched every Saturday by American football. Drive through the most conservative areas of the heartland and you’ll know by the bumper stickers which large college campus you’re closest to.