3.17.2014

St. Patrick's Day vs Cinco de Mayo Stereotypes

I did a lot of thinking about this over the weekend... seeing all the Beer Tents, jabs at the stereotypes of the "Irish Drunk" and all the carrying on about Leprechauns, wearing Shamrocks, pinching people, wearing lots of Green, talking about pots of gold, but most importantly drinking lots and lots of green alcohol.

What really got me was when I saw what I think would be considered racist posts like this one:

But no one seemed to find anything wrong with it, and the comments on Facebook posts were mostly about how drunk they also got this weekend and how much they love the Irish. And no, they weren't Notre Dame fans. 
It got me thinking... why is that okay? Why aren't Fraternity St. Patrick's Day parties making the Huffington Post? Why isn't the person posting the image above being berated by their friends? Where is the Politically Correct police on this? 

So I start comparing this to Cinco de Mayo... also an American Fabricated Cultural Holiday that has become a drinking celebration of which most people have no idea the original significance (no its not Mexican Independence Day). 

If on Cinco de Mayo... people put on big Sombreros, wore "Mexican Outfits" of lets say a Textile Poncho, got super drunk on Mexican themed drinks (Corona and Tequila) and drew on a nice black Pancho Villa mustache... if a Fraternity threw a party like that it would make the Huffington post (in fact several have, many just in recent years). 

So I googled Mexican Yoga and found this exact photo to exhibit A above: 

Well did that pic make you mad? Especially to my Latino and Mexican friends out there I am sure it does and I apologize for the re-post. However that is point, why is what was posted up top socially acceptable and this image is not? 

While I appreciate that the Politically Correct police are out there watching out for us Latinos, why isn't someone watching out for the Irish? Maybe I will start and say that any negative cultural stereotypes should not be accepted. So lets cut it all out. 

Lately I have been talking a lot about my post theme from the other day about the history of Racism in the College Fraternity system (Times are changing...). This is one of my small steps to help end that fraternity reputation. I think if we stop all the ways we continue that fraternity stereotype, even how we portray the Irish, it will help bring us all together more. 

Finally to my Latino friends... I have never celebrated St. Patty's day much mostly out of bad timing, but now I won't celebrate like that out of respect to the Irish. Let's remember that we if expect people to respect our culture, we need to respect others, all others. 

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