As far back as I can recollect, Saint Patrick's Day has been a sanctimonious holiday full of honor and tradition. We would go to Mass, say our prayers, eat a huge meal, and then the boys would hit the pub and we would talk about the old times over a few pints. That is all that Saint Patrick's Day was, and it was enough. It was a day to honor our homeland with good stories and prayer to God, and it was really good. These days, I don't see anything even resembling what I knew. I see drunkards in offensive Irish tee shirts, and I'm not sure I like it.
I can't even tell you when the change happened that took us from the time-honored traditions of Ireland to just partying like fools on St. Patrick's Day. For goodness' sake, the holiday is meant to be a religious day! I don't know how that translates to drunken frivolity and crazy Irish tshirts, but it certainly has become that way. It has transferred from a day that dwells on the past to a day that is all about living in the moment. That is a change that I cannot abide.
If these kids were actually honoring the Irish people and our heritage, then I would be willing to let the debauchery and craziness slide. Most of these kids only celebrate the holiday as a cartoonish version of what it was meant to be. Their drinking Irish tshirts are nothing but offensive caricatures of what the holiday is all about. Most of them aren't even Irish, for goodness sake! All of the leprechauns and shamrock business is just offensive to me.
What would really calm my nerves about the whole problem I have with what St. Patrick's has turned into, is if any of these youth would show even the slightest interest in learning something about Ireland or its people. Instead of showing even the tiniest bit of interest, they seem to look at the new incarnation of the holiday as just another reason the get drunk and flirt with each other. You don't need my holiday and you don't need offensive Irish t-shirts for that.
I can't help but come across as a grumpy old man who is mad at the world. I say what I mean, and I write what I know about. It needs to be mentioned that once I have had a few tall glasses of beer, the kids don't bother me quite so much. I probably should just get over the silly Irish clothes and get busy enjoying myself. Then again, maybe I should just show up to the bar drunk.
I can't even tell you when the change happened that took us from the time-honored traditions of Ireland to just partying like fools on St. Patrick's Day. For goodness' sake, the holiday is meant to be a religious day! I don't know how that translates to drunken frivolity and crazy Irish tshirts, but it certainly has become that way. It has transferred from a day that dwells on the past to a day that is all about living in the moment. That is a change that I cannot abide.
If these kids were actually honoring the Irish people and our heritage, then I would be willing to let the debauchery and craziness slide. Most of these kids only celebrate the holiday as a cartoonish version of what it was meant to be. Their drinking Irish tshirts are nothing but offensive caricatures of what the holiday is all about. Most of them aren't even Irish, for goodness sake! All of the leprechauns and shamrock business is just offensive to me.
What would really calm my nerves about the whole problem I have with what St. Patrick's has turned into, is if any of these youth would show even the slightest interest in learning something about Ireland or its people. Instead of showing even the tiniest bit of interest, they seem to look at the new incarnation of the holiday as just another reason the get drunk and flirt with each other. You don't need my holiday and you don't need offensive Irish t-shirts for that.
I can't help but come across as a grumpy old man who is mad at the world. I say what I mean, and I write what I know about. It needs to be mentioned that once I have had a few tall glasses of beer, the kids don't bother me quite so much. I probably should just get over the silly Irish clothes and get busy enjoying myself. Then again, maybe I should just show up to the bar drunk.
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