Quote Originally Posted by RAF View Post
Are ignorance, tom-foolery, and debauchery manifestations of racism in this case? I don't know that I'd go that far. At least I hope not. But they can be disappointing to witness en masse.
I don't think I'd go as far as calling it racism, but from what I've seen on TV and the Internet, the Paddy's day celebrations in North American have evolved so much that they have very little to do with Oreland anymore.
The idea that it should be spent getting as drunk as possible is very much an American invention (in recent years anyway).
I think the majority of Irish people have mixed feelings about these celebrations, myself included. It's one thing celebrating the fact that you're descended from Irish people, and a completely different thing to use the day as an excuse to get drunk.
It seems that in Ireland, we are moving more and more towards the American idea of the celebration, and losing all sight of the original point of St. Patrick's day.