It’s A Culture, Not A Costume
As many of you know, my dad is an immigrant from Samoa. I often talk about his and his family’s assimilation into American culture and how much he values the society we’ve built.
But what I don’t talk about as often is my mom’s side of the family, who are made up of heavy Irish descent. That makes me half Samoan, half Irish, and a WHOLE LOTTA pissed off when St. Patricks Day comes around…
I want you all to know that St. Patrick was a real person. He wasn’t a leprechaun who danced around a gold pot with an exclusive lucky charms endorsement contract, as it appears all you non-Irish folk believe. He was of normal height and, contrary to popular belief, was not easily trapped by a third-grader.
What St. Patrick’s Day has become is an abomination- with your green outfits, green beer, and pilgrim shoes. People celebrate and have a good time and possibly partake in a minor acknowledgment in St. Patrick himself. Disgusting.
I just have one thing to say. It’s CULTURE… NOT a COSTUME.
Who cares that nobody is in any way disparaging Irish people? It’s MY culture, and unless you’re Irish, I don’t want you taking part in any of my family’s heritage. It doesn’t matter this seemingly innocuous day brings people of all cultures, backgrounds, ages, and ethnicities together… It can’t continue under my watch. NO celebrating St. Patrick or building community on St. Patrick’s Day unless you’re Irish!!!!!
(see how silly that sounds?)