Alright, guys…it’s been a slow week. Somehow the world has managed to not irk me in any specific fashion…except St. Patrick’s Day.
This holiday has no purpose or place anywhere except for Ireland and in specifically Christian Irish families and communities. It’s a Christian celebration of how awesome St. Patrick was at converting Irish pagans and nonbelievers to Christianity all those years ago, and killing the ones he failed to. It also is generally about the celebration of Irish heritage. I have an issue with using a Catholic saint to spearhead the celebration of a culture, as Christianity as a general rule does not define Irish history and heritage any more than it defines any other.
There is, however, one thing that this day has nothing to do with. It has nothing to do with alcohol. For too many, it’s really just another excuse for people to get drunk, and that’s f#cked up.
This is where my issue lies with this day most of all. I will never understand what is so appealing about making a complete embarrassment of yourself by being publicly vomit-ready hammered. It’s downright masochistic, and the sheer number of people who voluntarily do this to themselves on a weekly basis, let alone on special days like St. Patrick’s Day defies explanation. Hasn’t the social contract been enough of a deterrent?
The fact that you’re viewed as a disgusting and pitiful excuse for a human by all sober ones around you as you try to miraculously get home inspires no shame? Does the ridicule and shaming of a culture and a heritage by such pathetic behavior not make you dislike yourself even a little?
Perhaps this is the true reason. Too much self-hatred is far too popular in our society. Too much masochism is tolerant amongst us. Too much negativity is turned at ourselves, too much self-pity, too much auto-victimization. Too much relativism, we’re fooled into believing. Haven’t we done enough damage? Isn’t it time we picked ourselves up?
Much love,
Zen Politics
“The Shame of the Irish” – Published March 16, 2014
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