The New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade Lacks True Irish Pride

I used to love St. Patrick's Day. Growing up in an Irish-American household, my mother passed the traditions of soda bread and wearing green that her father instilled in her on to me. We would attend the New York City Parade and smile at those with authentic brogues. As a child it was a pure and joyous holiday. Fast forward two decades and St. Patrick's Day in the United States, New York in particular, has morphed into an uber political showcase for bigotry, buffoonery and boozing. This change saddens me more than even I care to publicly admit.

Edward Cardinal Egan, leader of the New York Archdiocese, declared this year's parade the most diverse in city history. Is he kidding? City Speaker of the House Christine Quinn is certainly not laughing. Quinn, one of the more respected officials in Big Apple politics, proudly accepted an invitation to march in the Dublin parade boycotting the New York event being gays and lesbians are not permitted to participate under their own banner. There is a prevailing notion among some involved in the New York parade including the Ancient Order of Hibernians and parade organizer John Dunleavy that no one group should dominate the parade. Yet how can they justify denying gay Irish-Americans from marching when they allow groups with no discernable link to Irish culture like high school bands and Spanish dancers to march? If the parade were privately funded, then the Hibernians and Dunleavy would have cause to run their parade as they saw fit. However, the event is public and a lobbyist's dream or nightmare depending on personal opinion. Banning gays is blatant discrimination, a shame carried out by those directly involved with the parade and those marchers who silently disagree with the views of the Hibernians and Dunleavy.

In terms of stereotypes, you needn't strain your brain coming up with the most popular one among the Irish. Far be it from me to take the moral high road when it comes to drinking. St. Patrick's Day was a collegiate staple, a day to party with friends and swig a perfect pint of Guinness. When done responsibly, drinking on St. Patrick's Day can be extremely fun especially at a pub playing traditional Irish music with bagpipers in toe. Unfortunately, people have a difficult time waiting until they reach the bar to imbibe.

The parade has become an intoxicated mess and there is plenty of blame to go around. The FDNY and the NYPD are always quick to play the paranoia card accusing parade and city officials of scapegoating and taking their overall sacrifice to the city for granted. The fact is that anyone who has ever been to the parade knows that the Bravest and the Finest are also the Drunkest bumbling about the parade route and city streets well after the event ends. Quite frankly, the departments should be ashamed of themselves for so much as hinting that the city does not appreciate them. If anything, the city and the nation have bent over backwards to extol the virtues of both organizations since September 11th. Enough is enough.

Additionally the city has been lax in enforcing order along the route. Therefore, party goers treat the event as a keg party. Vomiting and looting in the streets is a common occurrence. It is grotesque, rude and has nothing to do with the meaning of St. Patrick's Day.

For the uninitiated, St. Patrick's Day celebrates the patron saint of Ireland on the day he died, March 17th 461 AD. Though folklore states he drove the snakes out of Ireland, paleontologists attest there were no snakes native to Ireland. If only St. Patrick could free the parade of every political and repugnant snake...