Courtesy of Josh:
Opinion
St. Patrick's Day revelry shames Irish people, saint
St. Patrick's Day revelry shames Irish people, saint
Politics Without the Party
Matthew Getz
March 02, 2005
Recently, www.thefacebook.com has reminded IUP that racism is alive and strong. Any Irishman could have told you that. Every year, we Irish are forced to endure the most racist of all American institutions -- St. Patrick's Day.
Don't get me wrong, it's always flattering to see the millions of wannabes desperate to pretend that for one day they, too, can be Irish. There's something enchanting in the essence of the Irish, and in my patron saint, Patrick.
Why, then, do I say that St. Patrick's Day is America's most racist institution? Simply put, it's the stereotypes that rob us of our holy day -- and our dignity.
When he arrived in Ireland in 430 as a missionary, St. Patrick confronted an island full of magic, superstition, druids, gods, monsters and barbaric violence. For 30 years, he criss-crossed Ireland, preaching to all. His life was threatened countless times, but he never responded with violence of his own, and never encouraged or allowed his followers to use violence.
The result is astounding. In only three decades, he affected the genuine conversion of an overwhelming majority of the Irish race. Patrick never converted by force. His humility, faith and selfless love were enough to show Christ's love to a people desperately in need of it.
It is said today that there are no truer Catholics in all the world than the Irish. Well, Catholic or not, their unwavering faith in Christ has been the center of the uniquely Irish sense of perseverance and hope in the face of an 800-year English genocide. Without the faith and salvation brought to them by Patrick, the Irish would have been exterminated or culturally assimilated centuries ago by the English.
We remember this man who brought us deliverance every year on the day of his death -- March 17. It is a holy day for the Irish, and for all Christians who celebrate piety and faith. Yet it is treated by millions of Americans as an excuse to indulge in cruel and patronizing racial stereotypes and racist behaviors.
To see millions of non-Irish wearing tacky green plastic shamrocks, or glitzy green glasses and hats, or silly "kiss me, I'm Irish" buttons is insulting. What's worse is to watch as millions treat this holy day as an excuse to drink themselves stupid, then engage in shameful, destructive or violent behaviors. Stereotyping the Irish as violent alcoholics is racist, and using such a stereotype to excuse such behavior is worse.
Not one person reading this can possibly deny that St. Patrick's Day is treated this way. We've all seen it; we've all heard it. I'm just standing up and calling it what it is -- racism.
I, as I said, am Irish. I'm proud of my heritage and the holy man who delivered my race out of darkness and into the light. Thus, March 17 will find me praying, attending mass and gathering with family and friends. That is how we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, not by sitting in a pub or brawling in the street.
Please, IUP, let's make this year different. Let's work against racism in all its forms, most notably in the form we seem to love. Don't have parties that Thursday, and don't insult my patron saint by seeing how much green beer you can drink or buying pathetic green trinkets.
Show respect, love and dignity -- not just for the Irish and our patron saint, but also for yourselves. Getting drunk, gaudy and disgraceful only shames you and perpetuates racism. St. Patrick showed us a better way; let us celebrate him by living it.
Recently, www.thefacebook.com has reminded IUP that racism is alive and strong. Any Irishman could have told you that. Every year, we Irish are forced to endure the most racist of all American institutions -- St. Patrick's Day.
Don't get me wrong, it's always flattering to see the millions of wannabes desperate to pretend that for one day they, too, can be Irish. There's something enchanting in the essence of the Irish, and in my patron saint, Patrick.
Why, then, do I say that St. Patrick's Day is America's most racist institution? Simply put, it's the stereotypes that rob us of our holy day -- and our dignity.
When he arrived in Ireland in 430 as a missionary, St. Patrick confronted an island full of magic, superstition, druids, gods, monsters and barbaric violence. For 30 years, he criss-crossed Ireland, preaching to all. His life was threatened countless times, but he never responded with violence of his own, and never encouraged or allowed his followers to use violence.
The result is astounding. In only three decades, he affected the genuine conversion of an overwhelming majority of the Irish race. Patrick never converted by force. His humility, faith and selfless love were enough to show Christ's love to a people desperately in need of it.
It is said today that there are no truer Catholics in all the world than the Irish. Well, Catholic or not, their unwavering faith in Christ has been the center of the uniquely Irish sense of perseverance and hope in the face of an 800-year English genocide. Without the faith and salvation brought to them by Patrick, the Irish would have been exterminated or culturally assimilated centuries ago by the English.
We remember this man who brought us deliverance every year on the day of his death -- March 17. It is a holy day for the Irish, and for all Christians who celebrate piety and faith. Yet it is treated by millions of Americans as an excuse to indulge in cruel and patronizing racial stereotypes and racist behaviors.
To see millions of non-Irish wearing tacky green plastic shamrocks, or glitzy green glasses and hats, or silly "kiss me, I'm Irish" buttons is insulting. What's worse is to watch as millions treat this holy day as an excuse to drink themselves stupid, then engage in shameful, destructive or violent behaviors. Stereotyping the Irish as violent alcoholics is racist, and using such a stereotype to excuse such behavior is worse.
Not one person reading this can possibly deny that St. Patrick's Day is treated this way. We've all seen it; we've all heard it. I'm just standing up and calling it what it is -- racism.
I, as I said, am Irish. I'm proud of my heritage and the holy man who delivered my race out of darkness and into the light. Thus, March 17 will find me praying, attending mass and gathering with family and friends. That is how we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, not by sitting in a pub or brawling in the street.
Please, IUP, let's make this year different. Let's work against racism in all its forms, most notably in the form we seem to love. Don't have parties that Thursday, and don't insult my patron saint by seeing how much green beer you can drink or buying pathetic green trinkets.
Show respect, love and dignity -- not just for the Irish and our patron saint, but also for yourselves. Getting drunk, gaudy and disgraceful only shames you and perpetuates racism. St. Patrick showed us a better way; let us celebrate him by living it.
1 comment:
Firstly, although I wouldn't swear to this, I think this St. Patrick character, if indeed he did exist, was kidnapped by Christians and converted - so so much for all the peace and love bullshit.
Secondly, I don't know about the other Catholic ethnic groups in the world, so I can't say that the Irish are more or less Catholic than any others, but they have held on to a lot of the Pagan customs the church tried to rid them of.
Thirdly, I challenge all of you to come up with an example of a place where Catholicism, or Christianity in general came and it all of a sudden became peaceful and everyone was happy!
The important part of this article is that it is possible to be racist towards people even if they are white - there are respectful ways of celebrating ethnic holdiays and there are offensive ways. As Josh put it, no one thinks it's OK to have a fried chicken party on Martin Luther King Day. If you would't behave so disrespectfully towards black people, then maybe it's not OK to do it to the Irish either.
So faith and begorrah! Top o' the mornin' to ya and have a happy St. Paddy's day! Erin Go Bragh!
Post a Comment