I grew up in Dublin in the 50's and by all accounts I had the worst childhood ever imagined. It was a catholic childhood. I had to go to school and not only learn all the usual subjects, but religon as well. Why I had to learn my catechism, and all my prayers. Then when the time came i had to make my first Communion. Even worse was to follow my Confo. then there was mass on Sunday, enough already. we were taught the ten commandments, crazy stuff, like honour your mother and father, don't steal, that wasn't hard as not many people had anything to steal, except apples from the orchard. That led to confession, I thought if I gave the priest a few I'd be ok.
I could have lived in USSR and shure the state would have looked after me, all I would have to do is know and love Stalin & Karl Marx, and salute their pictures. then I could have been fancy free living my days in the sun in Africa. Or in China holding Chairman Mao's red book and knowing it back to front, and wearing a lovely uniform. great quotes like " power comes from the barrel of a gun " etc. What a brilliant mind.
But no there I was in Dublin growing up in a big family and lots of friends and relations. How was I to know that some people didn't go to mass on Sundays and didn't end up in hell. I was deceived, I tell you.
I could have lived in USSR and shure the state would have looked after me, all I would have to do is know and love Stalin & Karl Marx, and salute their pictures. then I could have been fancy free living my days in the sun in Africa. Or in China holding Chairman Mao's red book and knowing it back to front, and wearing a lovely uniform. great quotes like " power comes from the barrel of a gun " etc. What a brilliant mind.
But no there I was in Dublin growing up in a big family and lots of friends and relations. How was I to know that some people didn't go to mass on Sundays and didn't end up in hell. I was deceived, I tell you.
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