We are quickly approaching the most racially insensitive celebration of the year: St. Patrick’s Day.
It is common for the media and the public to refer to St. Patrick’s Day as “Patty’s Day.” But I’ve never heard anyone say “Marty Luther King Day,” “Chris Columbus Day” or “Georgie Washington’s Birthday.”
Saint Patrick is not your lovable but idiotic neighbor who once rode his lawn mower to the liquor store. He is the patron saint of Ireland. You should use his name with the same respect that you would want others to use yours.
Even more repulsive is the vulgar mutation “St. Paddy’s Day.” “Paddy” is a racial slur, still used by the British to denigrate the Irish. To the Irish, it is the British “N-word,” and those who use it are ignorant of Irish history. Advertisers who use it in their print ads are beneath contempt, and the editors who approve these ads, to quote State Rep. Alice Madden, are guilty of being “comfortable with their prejudices.”
The bastardization of Saint Patrick’s name is just scratching the surface of the insensitivity that rolls along every March 17. Here are just a few of the fun-filled ways that people celebrate their Irish heritage:
• They dress up as leprechauns. The vulgar, cartoonish stereotypes of blacks, Jews and Hispanics are, thankfully, a thing of the past. However, someone always thinks that slapping on a green suit and a plastic green hat will make them the life of the party. It is no coincidence that the only thing these fools ever carry in their hands is a drink and not a diploma.
• They drag the Irish flag through the street. Nothing shows your love of your heritage like wrapping your ancestral country’s flag around your rump because your hands are too full of liquor to carry it properly. Flags are to be flown with pride. They are not to be used to hide the rip in the seat of your pants.
• They vomit in the street. Let me make this clear. Vomiting is for when you are sick. It is not to be used to mark your territory.
• They put up with the nonsense that is sometimes the Denver St. Patrick’s Day parade. Now, I love St. Patrick’s Day parades. I’ve marched in the parade in New York City. I’ve seen the Boston and Chicago parades and parades in many small towns across America. They’re wonderful celebrations of Irish heritage. But here are some things I have seen in Denver’s parade that I never saw in any of those: men driving around in tiny cars; kegs; floats with sacks of potatoes on them; the Sons of Italy; folding chair precision drill teams; and a man dressed as Saint Patrick wearing a Broncos jersey.
How any of that is supposed to make you beam with Irish pride is beyond me.
Do any of the parade organizers know Irish history and culture, or is it just an excuse to throw a party that often demeans the saint and nation that it is supposed to honor?
I can hear those who disagree with me saying, “Oh, lighten up. It’s just a fun way to celebrate the day. No one takes it seriously.” Dressing up for Halloween is a fun way to celebrate. Going to parties on New Year’s Eve is a fun way to celebrate. Getting puking drunk and using a vulgar word for the patron saint of Ireland is not a fun way to celebrate. It’s self-debasing. It’s ignorant.
Stop it.
And one more thing: St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, not the arbitrary Saturday before so your kids can sit on a filthy curb watching an often undignified parade and bars can rake in the dough.
So this Monday, be proud of your Irish heritage. Lift a glass to Saint Patrick and celebrate his accomplishments and those of the Irish race. You can show the patron saint of Ireland and the Irish their due respect — or you can wish someone a Happy Saint “N-word” Day.
Be smart for a change.
Jimmy Hayde (haydej@earthlink.net) lives in Denver.
