Tuesday, March 06, 2007
"Kiss Me, I'm ..."
Hi My St. Paddy's Day pals! The holiday is coming up, and as communication scholars, I want you to ponder the following: Is the American celebration of St Patrick's Day "stereotypical"? Does it promote awareness and appreciation of Irish culture, or just a lot of green beer swigging and cultural sterotypes? Use your critical thinking skills to express your opinion!
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15 comments:
Very interesting question ! I find myself a bit flummoxed and embarrassed by this holiday; I have celebrated this "holiday" with as much as the next fellow with about 10% or less Irish blood in my veins (but there is verified geneological Irish ancestry. Even more of a smoke signal to me is the way my English Language Learning students react to this holiday, they are even more flummoxed than I am; the whole bit about Green, the snakes, etc. they find rather non-sensical, though they would never tell me so. I look at this holiday much as I look to Columbus day (which is, in fact, an official holiday in the city of San Francisco). We have established a celebration around an event(s)/personages which no longer have relevant and/or valid historical credibility or value to the current population. After all, Chris Columbus was a Scooter Libby of Imperialism, i.e. both an agent and a fall guy of the Shadowy Powers that be. Cesar Chavez Day ? Yes. Even John Kennedy Day Yes. Sacagawea Day? Sure. Columbus Day? NO. "St. Patrick's Day?" Ah, gosh and beglory, 'tis a fine fine day for the pubs, eh?
----Paul DeLong
I happen to feel you can get what you want out of any holiday. It all depends on where you go and when. Of course if you go to the bar it will just be green beer and toasting but if you go to a place or gathering where the Irish culture is exibited, you may learn something.
I absolutely love gatherings. I have seen men in kelts that have made my toes curl with delight. I have watched them "TOSS" what look like telephone poles. I have seen the different family flags of the past and read about individual families that have fought in wars. It is a great thing to see and experience.
Kelley
PS I am part Irish!
That is a hard question to answer for me, because I am not Irish, and don't know much about the Irish culture. I am an Black American of African descent,and is ground well in the American Culture{cuctom, habit, and believe}. I am aware that Americans take bits and pieces of different culture and modify them to their liking and say that their way is the original way. For example if you had a frind from Mexico City, Mexico come and visit you here in the United States, and you decide to take him\her out for lunch. You being a good host and want him/her to feel comfortable; so you take him/her to Taco Bell or any Mexican Restaurant and order a burrito or a taco for them. Thinking they are accustom to this kind of food. You are surprise when they don't even recogniz whot it is, because we American have change it so much, to be successful commercially. American have different taste then Mexican people Mexican like thing hot & spicy that would be to much for the average American to eat. So we modify it to reach the largest group of people.
The same is true with many other things.{Dance: Samba in Brazil and Samba in America, Music etc.
So I think we celebrate St.Paddy's Day the American way which is fine with me.
---Salih Qawi
Well, Kelley, perhaps I stand a bit corrected, but I wish that general culture were more oriented towards the type of event you are speaking of, as opposed to the revelry of a less educational kind.
However, for the record, perhaps it's gender orientation bias to say so, but my toes have never curled to men in tights, kilts, or any other legwear. To each his own? Vive La Differance? LOL
Paul
st.patrick's day to me has came to be more associated with everything Irish, anything green or gold, shamrocks and luck. And most importantly, to those who celebrates its intended meaning, st.patrick's day is a more traditional day or spiritual renewal and offoring prayers to the people worldwide.
fatana amin
St. patrick's day does have some kind of background. Valentines day should be the so called "holiday" to be the first to be kicked off of the calender because there in no significance for one day of love; you should show that kind of love every day... St. Patrick's day is a holiday mostly devoted to irish heritage and culture based on a religious sense. We irish get the stereotype of big beer drinkers just from this day but in all essence, this day does have a significant story behind it to give it a national holiday..
--Kevin^^^^^
Well said Kevin! I to agree that love should be given everyday. Hope you get a cornbeef brisket and cabage for St. Paties day. I know I will!! yuuummmm!!
Kelley Linn
of the Lynn Clan
I think that the original intention of Americans celebrating St Patricks day was to promote an appreciation for the culture. Now i'm finding that its taken a bit out of context.
When I was younger, it was all about the pinch. You know, "if you don't wear green, you'll get a pinch". Now i'm finding that the day brings humor with people running around with green hair, green beer, and candy stores cashing in with gold wrappers representing the pot of gold.
Enough I say. If we're going to celebrate the culture, lets learn from the Irish the correct way to celebrate. This way we don't show our ignorance and Mc Donalds can quit making those dreadful green shamrock shakes.
Alicia
I do not think celebrating St. Patrick's Day is stereotypical. Every holiday has a meaning behind it. Whether a person celebrates it or not, it is important to know why this holiday or any other holiday exist.
-See Hang
it's not sterotypical to celerbrate the st patrick's holiday. It's just another reason for kids to have a party and fun with it. St patricks day doesn't bring much info to me other than luck, beer, leparcons, etc. For this hoilday, i don't know what meaning it has to be celebrated. i believe soon that this holiday will fade away like columbus day unless the ancestral irish people continue to educate everyone about this particular day.
hoa
as an asian american, i believe in saint patrick's day celebration of Irish heritage. Just like the cinco de mayo of mexico, hanukkah of Israel, ramadan of Muslim, Quanza of Africa, Chinese New Year in February and the rest of celebration of all American with different ethnic backgrounds. I believe that we need to preserve this heritage for the next generation to come, I also believe that in the next three hundred years my great great great grandkids will be descendant of Asian, African, Arab, Russian, Engish, and Irish American. Saint Patrick's day is only one of the thousand ethnic celebration that we need to enjoy.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all!
Lito
Happy Holiday, I love reading your opinions!--SANDRA
"ONLY IN AMERICA"
Saint Patricks day to me is more of one of those holidays that Americans celebrate more than the real owners of the festival. If we think of Cinco de mayo, Halloween and some other festivals, you will agree with me that it is only in America that people exaggerate festivities just for sake of it. I think the reason is that we are streesed out so much and any opportunity to let out the stress becomes very important.I therefore don't think it will be fair to single out St Patricks Day for sharring in the American opportunity. Afterall everybody else takes advantage of it.
Euchay.
Wow... After after having so many internet issues, my internet is up and running once again. I was unable to respond to the last two blogs, and I would like to put my input into this one.
I particularly agree with many people and their opinions on Saint Patricks day in general. Like Lito explained... each culture and religious/ethnic group has its own traditions. And based on that, Saint patricks day is the day to celebrate that of the Irish people. I however, dont know very much about the holiday in general other than the sense that wearing green is the trend. I have noticed the tradions continuing as generations go on, but the significance seems to be dwindling away. Most people these days cant even explain what the christmas tree signifies.
-barira rashid
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