Comment by Mary Collins Dolan on January 25, 2014 at 9:32am

@Geraldine - I agree but even here in Ireland the growing trend is "Paddy's Day'.  For the great majority of the time,  using this is not meant to be offensive but rather a short-cut.    However, we do have those whose PC-ness requires them to drop the proper title because it includes the word 'St.' which caters to Christians and therefor may be deemed as non-inclusive of the growing cosmopolitan population of the country.  

Comment by Michael Quane on January 25, 2014 at 9:33am

In New York, teenagers not of drinking age cut school on St. Patrick's Day to go to the parade and drink openly on the streets. Somehow they think there's a license to behave that way on that particular day. Like I said, many of them are not Irish at all. And, by the way, the Puerto Rican Day parade has had similar problems.

Comment by Rose Maurer on January 25, 2014 at 10:25am

A fascinating blog and final comment, Danny. Thank you, Bit Devine for a sensible comment to put things in perspective. Finally, perhaps it is worth 'taking the ridiculous stereotypes from whence they come', although the collective Irish psyche will remain vulnerable and easily wounded until one day there is a united Ireland. I am a supreme optimist . . .

Comment by Geraldine Callaghan on January 25, 2014 at 11:49am

Mary, thank you for clarifying that for me. I grew up in the 50's 60's Ireland and I'm thinking had I referred to St. Patrick as "St. Paddy" the good Sisters of Mercy would promptly correct me. I'm glad it's not meant to disrespect.

Comment by Danny Alexander on January 25, 2014 at 12:18pm

My final comment to everyone would be a challenge everyone worldwide to actively work, though slow it will be and seemly impossible at times, to change the way our neighbors, friends, communities,and indeed the world sees us as a people. Not by physical means, but through peaceful means, such as boycotts of products and vendors who sell and distribute the demeaning items, and attempt to educate our children on the pride of their cultural heritage. These are only two things that could be done. As Geraldine stated earlier, a media blitz, showing the good the Irish have done and continue to do can be another.

It all boils down to this I believe.If we want the world to see us any other way it is up to us!

God Bless each of you for your input and thank to The Wild Geese for allowing me this opportunity!

 

Comment by Geraldine Callaghan on January 25, 2014 at 1:22pm

Good food for thought, a good challenge for each of us. Thanks Danny.

Comment by peadar MacGhabhain on January 25, 2014 at 2:36pm

where did this Irish Character originate ?  why of course THE ENGLISH, especially  the years 1845/52, still referred to as famine years, this was a holocaust, a deliberate attempt by the governing class of England to totally eliminate the Irish, A DECIDED GENOCIDE, yet we have Irish writers, politicians, etc calling it a famine, Of course nothing new, England tried for 800 years to wipe IRISH,off the face of the earth,--YES FAILED--but why does so many IRISH,in politics,eduction, etc try to sanitise our history , by CALLING IT FAMINE, DO THEY NOT KNOW THEIR HISTORY ?

And we Irish know better than to take ourselves too seriously that is why we  are unique, we can laugh at ourselves

Comment by Jim Curley on January 25, 2014 at 3:42pm

Thanks, Danny, for bringing this subject up and thanks everyone for the input. And just kidding about ND, Danny.

A Boston College Eagle.

Comment by Billy (O'Leary) Kurch on January 25, 2014 at 11:10pm

The British and all of their supporters and hanger-on's have been ridiculing the Irish for too long! Now everybody thinks that its fair game to spit out his or her favorite Irish put down. Well, we have been nice about it, and laughing, pretending that we are not hurt by these jabs. However, enough is enough, the world's history books are corrupted against both the Irish and the Celts in general, and the English have pretty much convinced a good percentage of the world that the Irish are too soft in the head to have achieved anything of any merit. Let us turn the tables, not by telling jokes about the British, but to better educate the world on our true record. In addition, not just the amazing history of the Irish in America, but remind everyone about what our cousins have done all over Europe, South America, Australia and more! We are an older race than the British, and much of their present day culture is owed to that of the Irish. Think about! Slan  

Comment by Kathleen Johnston Zane on January 26, 2014 at 10:30am

When we reinforce these stereotypes, we ignore what our ancestors had to overcome in the past.  Yes, it is out nature to find the humor in smart sayings, a bit of a put down on ourselves--but the time does come when funny or cute is DEROGATORY to the point of diminishing us as a culture, as an important of the land we live in--we are teaching others that we are a silly, drunken, unruly people.  This is the knowledge that  future generations will know--not the greatness of who we have been & still are.  Put downs aren't funny when used over & over--they become the basis--or point of reference.

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