Can't say it much better than those above. And I was speaking more to the Spitzer thang thing than the Parade itself. And for the record- no I am not big fan of parades - except mardi gras- now the good people in NOLA know how to throw a parade.

Not really sure that I have to critize all parades if I critize one- that seems like pretty bogus logic to me. Also not my place as I am neither Dominican, Peurto Rican, Italian, etc. Although seeing how parades tend to bring out the JV drinking squads for each ethinicity, I guess you could say that they dont do a great job of presenting great images of their cultures. Happy now?

Kevin, your comment reminded me of that Simpsons episode, when they were parading through Springfield: "Oh, and there's the Gay Irish. Of course, we can't let them march, they reinforce stereotypes. And look, here come the drunken Irishmen!" Funny.

I see your point, but to me, being of Irish decent, I've seen the parade come to represent the worst of our culture, and then be co-opted by beer companies. It may happen in other parades and celebrations (though I haven't seen any bars hanging banners sponsored by chianti makers on Columbus day) but I guess I feel it more because its "our" group. So, yeah, it's only one man's opinion, but I guess it is just this one parade, and how silly people get over it (green berets? c'mon!) that bothers me.

Whatever. I'll still probably march next year, it's on a Friday.

Max, if you are going to criticize the st. Patrick's Day Parade, you're also going to have to criticize the panoply of other parades by NYC's multitudes of ethnic groups, all of which feature cultural elements that may appear stereotypical to you.

Or is it just this parade you don't like?

It would have been nice to see Spitzer at the parade, it's face time and tradition if nothing else, but I don't think its going to hurt him in the long run. The race isn't until '06, he can march next year.

As for the parade, speaking as an Irishman, I was listening to this madness involving the FDNY and their hats, thinking about how I could smell the stale beer and urp coming across the bridges and tunnels even last night, and I remember what Pete Hamill once wrote to my daughter, who's b-day is today:

"Dear Olivia, Stay home on your birthday!"

To really appreciate what Ireland and Irish heritage is all about, gather in libraries and read Joyce and Yeates and Beckett aloud. Say a prayer and skip a meal in memory of people who were killed by Cromwell, or in the famine, or in the latest IRA/UDL madness. Put on a Black 47 album. And think about all the stupid stereotypes being pushed from every quarter and think how you can do the opposite.

Ranting. It's another Irish tradition.

Critics of Spitzer are complaining that he is doing his job instead of indulging in a pointless parade that highlights some of the worst stereotypes of Irish people? Man, he has this race locked up. Good for Spitzer, last thing I need is another baby kissing moron, I want a serious man in office up in Albany.

Good Op-Ed piece in the Times today about what real Irish American power is/was about.