St Patricks Day

[Billy Budd]

I've been hearing all this @#!!!e about St Patricks day, and it's really pissing me off. If it ain't got nothing to do with yer, why are people still banging on about it. And as for the advertisers cashing in, they make me sick.

 

[suzanne]

> I've been hearing all this @#!!! e about St Patricks day, and
> it's really pissing me off. If it ain't got nothing to do with
> yer, why are people still banging on about it. And as for the
> advertisers cashing in, they make me sick.

I'm trying to figure out why everyone i know is suddenly making a big deal about it this year.

But someone told me something strange about it: if you are protestant, you are supposed to wear orange.

I've never heard this one before, but I keep thinking that if that is observed, then it's sort of a piss take on catholic traditions, yes?

 

[WorkingGirl]

> I'm trying to figure out why everyone i know is suddenly making
> a big deal about it this year.

> But someone told me something strange about it: if you are
> protestant, you are supposed to wear orange.

> I've never heard this one before, but I keep thinking that if
> that is observed, then it's sort of a piss take on catholic
> traditions, yes?

Being in England, unless your Irish, St Patrick's day isn't celebrated here, It appears to be a public holiday in the States right?

My Father is of Belfast Orange Protestant stock, enlightened by experience although understanding of the history that makes both sides stubborn in their dislike and distrust of each other.
I believe, the Irish Protestant community wouldn't want to be part of any St Patrick's day celebrations so the wearing of Orange today would be to provoke rather than to join in.

If anyone thinks I'm wrong please reply.

WorkingGirlx

 

[Bertrand]

> Being in England, unless your Irish, St Patrick's day isn't
> celebrated here, It appears to be a public holiday in the States
> right?

You have to remember the only green that we Americans care about is on the dollar bill. It's not a public holiday - banks don't close!- it's a commercial holiday. "We gotta move that green beer!...I want to see a 15% growth in the funny leprechaun hat sales or someone's gonna to get fired!"

Nearly every holiday in the States has no actual meaning, or if it did, it has long been consumed by the needs of various industries to sell product. For example, I believe that Easter has become the second most profitable holiday and what do chocolate bunnies and jellybeans have to do with the christian fatih?

I'm rambling, but sometimes I just despise comtemparary American society.....

Besides which, Patrick wasn't Irish.

> My Father is of Belfast Orange Protestant stock, enlightened by
> experience although understanding of the history that makes both
> sides stubborn in their dislike and distrust of each other.
> I believe, the Irish Protestant community wouldn't want to be
> part of any St Patrick's day celebrations so the wearing of
> Orange today would be to provoke rather than to join in.

> If anyone thinks I'm wrong please reply.

> WorkingGirlx

 

[WorkingGirl]

>Patrick wasn't Irish.

Very true.

An early English colonialist, spreading social control to the heathen.

Do as you're told or God will get you.

Religion, don't you just love it?

WorkingGirlx

 

[Kirstie]

yes I agree

> You have to remember the only green that we Americans care about
> is on the dollar bill. It's not a public holiday - banks don't
> close!- it's a commercial holiday. "We gotta move that
> green beer!...I want to see a 15% growth in the funny leprechaun
> hat sales or someone's gonna to get fired!"

ugh. I hate this country

> Nearly every holiday in the States has no actual meaning, or if
> it did, it has long been consumed by the needs of various
> industries to sell product. For example, I believe that Easter
> has become the second most profitable holiday and what do
> chocolate bunnies and jellybeans have to do with the christian
> fatih?

it's so sad to think of it like that but you are right

> I'm rambling, but sometimes I just despise comtemparary American
> society.....

me too

> Besides which, Patrick wasn't Irish.

yeah and columbus didn't discover america either. We're so pitiful sometimes.

Kirstie

 

[Kirstie]

religion

> Very true.

> An early English colonialist, spreading social control to the
> heathen.

> Do as you're told or God will get you.

> Religion, don't you just love it?

well not all religions preach that and not all churches preach that either. I actually have to say that I am sort of inbetween faiths (protestant NOT catholic) and some are way better than others. I don't like generalizations because of it. All churches aren't bad. there are a few great exceptions.

And I have to say on a personal note that my faith in God has helped me tremendously in life.

Kirstie

 

[Bertrand]

Re: religion

> well not all religions preach that and not all churches preach
> that either. I actually have to say that I am sort of inbetween
> faiths (protestant NOT catholic) and some are way better than
> others. I don't like generalizations because of it. All churches
> aren't bad. there are a few great exceptions.

> And I have to say on a personal note that my faith in God has
> helped me tremendously in life.

> Kirstie

I'm agnostic, so this religions often just bemuses me, but on St Patrick's Day I think it should be noted that Patrick would probably have found much in the current catholic church and everything going on in Ireland to be wrong.

 

[suzanne]

> You have to remember the only green that we Americans care about
> is on the dollar bill. It's not a public holiday - banks don't
> close!- it's a commercial holiday. "We gotta move that
> green beer!...I want to see a 15% growth in the funny leprechaun
> hat sales or someone's gonna to get fired!"

well, I've really noticed over the past few years that there has really been a move to turn everything into a national past time. Remember how Mardi Gras only happened in New Orleans? Now, it's a cheap cash-in all over the country. And it's not specifically beer makers doing it. Local bar owners come together (the Austin's group called "Friends of 6th Street") and think of new ways outside of new years eve to shake people down of their beer money.

They aren't dumb. They know if they put a meaning to it where part of the celebration is to splurge, you will be suckered in. "hey, it's St. Patrick's day. I'm supposed to be drunk and vomiting all over my friends."

But of course, now we have new problems as all of these places, full of people trying to make their mardi gras a big wild party, end up pushing it into riots.

I remember how my grandma used to mention the Easter Catholics, but I find the protestants who nyah nyah on the catholics all year, but then turn up in droves for St. Patrick's day and mardi gras because the catholics know how to throw parties a bit sickening.

> Nearly every holiday in the States has no actual meaning, or if
> it did, it has long been consumed by the needs of various
> industries to sell product. For example, I believe that Easter
> has become the second most profitable holiday and what do
> chocolate bunnies and jellybeans have to do with the christian
> fatih?

Easter?

I think Halloween is probably past that. NOt only do you have candy, but you have expensive costumes.

> I'm rambling, but sometimes I just despise comtemparary American
> society.....

> Besides which, Patrick wasn't Irish.

But he came to Ireland to drive the snakes out.

 

[WorkingGirl]

Re: religion

> well not all religions preach that and not all churches preach
> that either. I actually have to say that I am sort of inbetween
> faiths (protestant NOT catholic) and some are way better than
> others. I don't like generalizations because of it. All churches
> aren't bad. there are a few great exceptions.

> And I have to say on a personal note that my faith in God has
> helped me tremendously in life.

> Kirstie

I like to believe that there has to be a greater purpose than just to live and then die.

I respect the fact that you have found something in your faith that helps you, perhaps my cynicism comes from not having found that, who knows?

WorkingGirlx

 

[Kirstie]

Re: religion

> I like to believe that there has to be a greater purpose than
> just to live and then die.

> I respect the fact that you have found something in your faith
> that helps you, perhaps my cynicism comes from not having found
> that, who knows?

> WorkingGirlx

yeah but you know I have to say I am kindof pissed off right now. I hate catholicism because I think it's sexist and methodism seems a bit closed minded and meat loving to me but seventh day adventists, although vegetarians, are homophobes (atleast in their official chruch doctrine) and unitarians seem more open minded but don't believe in the trinity. Ok there's a bunch of incredibly contradicting statements considering they are from someone who has said not to generalize whole religions. Ah well. God is everywhere. i just need to find a church/religion I can be really spiritual in.

Kirstie

 

[Bertrand]

Re: religion

> yeah but you know I have to say I am kindof pissed off right
> now. I hate catholicism because I think it's sexist and
> methodism seems a bit closed minded and meat loving to me but
> seventh day adventists, although vegetarians, are homophobes
> (atleast in their official chruch doctrine) and unitarians seem
> more open minded but don't believe in the trinity. Ok there's a
> bunch of incredibly contradicting statements considering they
> are from someone who has said not to generalize whole religions.
> Ah well. God is everywhere. i just need to find a
> church/religion I can be really spiritual in.

> Kirstie

Are you a lapsed catholic, Kirstie? As someone reaised protestant, I can't think of another christian denomination that believes in the trinity - maybe some of the eastern ones, but those are much more repressive than catholicism.

You can be spiritual anywhere - you don't need a church for that.

 

[Kirstie]

Re: religion

> Are you a lapsed catholic, Kirstie? As someone reaised
> protestant, I can't think of another christian denomination that
> believes in the trinity - maybe some of the eastern ones, but
> those are much more repressive than catholicism.

> You can be spiritual anywhere - you don't need a church for
> that.

No I went to catholic school but I was baptised and raised methodist (we do believe in the trinity btw). I know I can be spritual anywhere but sometimes I need a bit more guidance. Plus, I'd like to belong to a church that really gets out in the community and does stuff. My last church didn't do enough. The only real thing that church did was food pantry and it was more the baptist church across the street running it. i want to help out in soup kitchens and stuff like that-you know. I want to get involved in helping out members of the community. That's what christianity is all about to me.

Kirstie

 

[Bertrand]

Re: religion

> i want to help out in soup kitchens and stuff like that-you know. I > want to get nvolved in helping out members of the community. That's > what christianity is all about to me.

I wished more people thought that way. My sister and brother are both born agains, and they and their families act as if anyone who does not share their beliefs are not to be consorted with. Which seems to me to be a direct contradiction to Jesus' teachings, but what do I know, I'm just an agnostic heathen.

 

[WorkingGirl]

Re: religion

i just need to find a
> church/religion I can be really spiritual in.

> Kirstie

Your body is your temple.

You don't need to find a gang to join.

You sound spiritual to me, was what's the problem?

WorkingGirlx

 

[WorkingGirl]

Re: religion

You don't need to join a church to help out.

If you see some people doing something, ask to join in.

You do need an offical badge or membership.....

WorkingGirlx

 

[WorkingGirl]

Re: religion

>Agnostic heathen.

Me too.

WorkingGirlx

 

[Kirstie]

Re: religion

> I wished more people thought that way. My sister and brother are
> both born agains, and they and their families act as if anyone
> who does not share their beliefs are not to be consorted with.
> Which seems to me to be a direct contradiction to Jesus'
> teachings, but what do I know, I'm just an agnostic heathen.

well i have met born again christians that i liked but it seems as if your sister and brother have it all wrong. How in the world can you get out in the community to help people when you are only associating with people exactly like you? That's not God's work at all. I mean God did say to Jonah-Hey Jonah I'm going to sendyou out to talk to a bunch of people just like you. He sent him to Ninevah for crying out loud!

And I can identify with being agnostic. There's nothing bad about it. It's a very difficult decision. As long as you believe and act through faith, that is the main idea.

Kirstie

 

[Kirstie]

Re: religion

> You don't need to join a church to help out.

> If you see some people doing something, ask to join in.

> You do need an offical badge or membership.....

> WorkingGirlx

yeah but i like structure

Kirstie

 

[Somnium]

Re: religion

> yeah but i like structure

> Kirstie

i am a catholic man, my family is catholic, but i don't like organizations. you most of time give your heart to someone that doen't know what you need, and if you don't have a strong personality, you become just a useful naive. sometimes i read the psalms, they are really pretty, but i can't make an idea of god. it's hard to believe when you don't have so much faith, i guess.