It is, for the Irish People, the next best thing to Holy Week. The week before St. Patrick's day is generating much more excitement than before. Maybe the weak economy and America's ambivalence towards religion all blends together for "Let's Get Drunk Weekend".
More people than ever are calling off work to celebrate the Holy Day in honor of Ireland's patron saint. The weird thing is that if you haven't heard, some bishops in Ireland were a little upset with St. Patrick's Day falling during Holy Week (for you who are unfamiliar with Catholicism, that is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter).
For this reason they moved it to Saturday, so you can get drunk all you want without being irreligious.
In other stranger Irish American news, Detroit's Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick gave his state-of-the-city address on the news last night. It was a well-written piece about triumphing over adversity, a plan to save the city, an economic stimulus package (sound familiar?), and other nonsense that politicians say to make people like you. It was a good speech until about the last three minutes where he lost his Black-Irish Mind.
This is his idea of a massive distraction from the fact that he committed purgery about his relationship with his chief-of-staff last summer, the fact that he covered up his crime by firing two police officers, obstructed justice etc. I hope the people of Detroit are smarter than that but it reminds me of Marion Barry and the cocaine and hookers he was busted on tape with, and then was re-elected after that.
The city is a mess. The mayor is a joke and it seems like the people of Detroit like wallowing in their own filth because they just love this guy.
However, all of this controversy has spawned a plethera of creativity.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. You have to check some of these out and some of the others. Some real local talent here ripping the mayor a new one. Its a grassroots movement.
and lets see if i can cram one more in here
I know I am the only one who lives near Detroit, but what is going on here?
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6 comments:
I love St. Patricks day. My wife cooks up some corn beef and cabbage. I get together with some of the locals for an Irish vs. the world soccer game. All in an effort to honor the man who brought Jesus to Ireland. What could be better?
As a matter of correction (which I am not fond of), Holy Week (and the whole Christian calender for that matter) is not just for Catholics. Even us rednecks down here in East Tennessee are celebrating with a killer Maundy Thursday service.
not fond of correction or Holy Week? I am with you on both counts. Down with organization and structure!
If you use punctuation and the immediate antecedent as your guide, it is correction. I love the Christian calender.
If you don't watch all of these Youtube links, at least watch the last one. It's only about a minute and worth the time. I saw it about a month ago.
Meanwhile, Michigan's attorney general rips Kilpatrick a new one:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080313/METRO/803130408
Guess we can't leave links in the comments.
I spent four days in Ireland this week, salivating in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day. In some places in southern Ireland (I stayed in Cork), St. Patrick festivities took place a week early because being good-bad Catholics, the church didn't want the boozing on the green holiday coincide with the Holy Week, which begins on Monday. People say in recent years, St. Patrick's Day evolved into a regular, secular holiday,compared to like 20 years ago when it was just a religious holiday.
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