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St. Patrick's Day
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:10 pm
by rabid_fox
My most loathed day of the year.
Context: I'm Irish. As in, I was born in Ireland, raised in Ireland to an Irish family that, as far back as we can see, have lived in Ireland. Pretty gosh-darned Irish. I'm very proud to be Irish.
Then, once a year, the Plastic Paddies come out in force. Around the world, fiddles are taken out and jigs and reels are played to the shamrock-wearing, green-Guinness drinking, leprechaun-cosplaying idiots in a dubious celebration of Irishness that, for all intents and purposes, would be the equivalent shoe-polishing your face, making some tinfoil necklaces and dancing down Harlem singing NWA songs in a folk styling.
And people slap me on the back and expect me to join in.
On St. Patrick's Day, the Western World becomes the big school bully that relentlessly mocks and humiliates a smaller kid and then, when the teacher scolds them, gets away with it by saying they were 'only kiddin', like, jeez, it was all in good fun'.
St. Patrick's Day. Have a care.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:25 am
by Cosmic^Chicory
If we have "St. Patricks Day", why don't we have "African Day"?
We could all dress up like stereotypical 'black people', dance around, throw spears, and other racist stuff in cute celebration.
Me, I'm just in it for the cheap beer. ^^;
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:35 am
by Zaaphod
Kiss Me, I'm An Irish Protestant 
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:46 am
by Ibun
I agree completely with you rabid. The meaning of this holiday has been americanized to a ridiculous point. I have quite a bit of Irish in me, not to the degree that you do of course; but my great grandparents came from Ireland.
Point being, it's just an excuse for people to get shitfaced and act like assholes, rather than celibrating Ireland.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:59 am
by klimt
"
Point being, it's just an excuse for people to get shitfaced and act like assholes"
yes.
and?
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:49 am
by Bocaj Claw
And this is bad. Why, they should become shitfaced and act like assholes at all times of the year, not just when a convienent holiday says so!
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:34 am
by osprey
It's not St. Patrick's day. It's Guinness day.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:15 am
by Arloest
Whatever. I am 70% Irish and couldn't care less about my 'heritage' being 'made fun of'. I am not per se "proud" to be Irish, but I really wouldn't be proud to be anything. It was merely by chance that I was born with some genetic coding that originated from this country, and chance that I put my mother through a horrifying labor experience in that country. So I don't see any harm. Though I am the type that would not be offended by a holiday that just made fun of my parents (who I am close to). So eh.
If this is a holiday that allows me to dye my hair green and get plastered off of Guinness, then bring it the hell on.
I just wish there was an Armenian holiday so another 25% of my heritage can be made fun of. And a worldwide American day would be hilarious.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:57 am
by Dr. Dos
I'm wearing green. That is all.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:57 pm
by GeorgiaCoyote
I'm wearing green. That is all.
That's enough...at least in my opinion. Hard to do though since I really don't have that much green to wear nor that much green to carry around to buy the green clothes. Can't really enjoy it since it's a Monday and I'll be busy practically all day. Still I understand where RF is coming from with his rant. I'd probably get sick of it too if I grew up in Ireland.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:15 pm
by Sage
I wear green cargo jeans a lot. It's a somewhat dull green though, not bright RGB green.
I had a St. Patrick's day themed cake a week ago. That's why I like St. Patrick's day. Cause of that cake.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:20 pm
by Baconsticks
I'm in it for the New York Parade.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:26 pm
by Tom Flapwell
For those who don't like St. Patrick's Day festivities, know that they're a little toned down this year due to it being the last week of Lent. Also, I read recently of a bar banning a particular overdone Irish song.
For those who do like it, now would be a good time to play Green Car Nation.
When I had not yet launched "Downscale," I visualized Aspen's reaction to a day celebrating a man who exiled snakes. But it turns out that the temporal nature of the comic would make the scenario difficult to depict effectively.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:44 pm
by nickspoon
Though I am the type that would not be offended by a holiday that just made fun of my parents (who I am close to). So eh.
I put forward the motion that St. Patrick's Day be replaced with 'make fun of Angela's parents' day.
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:46 pm
by Baconsticks
Though I am the type that would not be offended by a holiday that just made fun of my parents (who I am close to). So eh.
I put forward the motion that St. Patrick's Day be replaced with 'make fun of Angela's parents' day.
Seconded.