Last night I posted something that has been getting re-posted for a long time on my personal Facebook page: It was from CRACKED, and it was the ‘8 insulting ways people act ‘Irish’ on St. Patrick’s Day’.. What sort of astounded me was the reaction it got from someone.. She was hardcore angry over the content. She is Irish, I am just about 50% if you would measure me, so I offered up the article because a friend of mine did and I found it interesting…
But her ferocious outrage and indignation with the article was obvious from her lengthy post about the author .. corned beef.. and cabbage. Perhaps I should have linked up this article by Seamus McKiernan on the HUFFINGTON POST. He has dual citizenship, here in the United States and also in Ireland. He is not celebrating St. Patrick’s Day because he fears that the events occurring at local watering holes and parades across the US of A have become a ‘cartoonish’ farce.. He also pointed out that St. Patrick’s colors were blue, not green.. and that the good Irish saint may not have even been Irish!
The HUFFINGTON POST isn’t done yet.. another blogger, Bill Stieger, writes about the American version of drinking the holiday to death.. He says,
“Do you think I exaggerate? Read the messages on the horrific buttons and sweatshirts these revelers wear to degrade the tribe: “10 percent Irish/90 percent beer,” or “Member of the official Irish drinking team!” Check out pervy intonations, like “Erin Go Braghless,” or “Kiss my Shamrocks,” or my favorite of all: “I’m starting a drunken brawl with the first person who stereotypes the Irish.” I mean, please!
Can you name another ethnic group so bent on its own self abasement? Imagine any other culture or ethnic group frolicking in costumes and behaving in a manner that perpetuates the stereotypes of bigots. None do it. But Irish Americans insist on acting like the clowns at their own circus.”
For the purpose of appeasing all readers, I’ll keep Irish related content to a minimum this March 17th. But my font will still be green because blue just doesn’t seem right.. Hopefully that will not offend anyone Irish or not.