Talk:Four Green Fields
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[edit] Makem's emigration
Someone placed a {{fact}} on the statement
(It also reflected the tension of daily life in the face of a military occupation, where one was advised, regardless of politics: "Whatever you say, say nothing", to quote a popular song in Makem's repertoire. On emigrating to the U.S., Makem was astonished to find a cordial relationship between the public and its police force, something he had not experienced in Armagh.)
In performance, Makem would often describe aspects of his emigration. He sometimes told a story about anxiously facing a U.S. Customs official who questioned him about his arrival, sending him off with a warm "Welcome to America. Have a nice life." This was a surprise that made a big and favorable impression. I have looked around for a citation for such information, with no luck as yet. Perhaps somebody can find an interview or publication that deals with this aspect of Makem's life. Obviously the fact that people may remember anecdotes from performances or conversations does not constitute properly-sourced Wikipedia material. Nevertheless, for the present, it may be better to preserve unsourced but uncontested facts. Trevor Hanson (talk) 01:38, 22 March 2008 (UTC)