Ethnic parades, especially those that revolve around Blacks and Hispanic cultures, there is always somebody getting stabbed, shot, attacked, harrassed, etc.

Remember several years back at the PR Parade where women were getting their tops ripped off and yet the cops were blamed?

That is why whenever there is one of these Hispanic or Black parades going on, I stayed out of the city. I don't need these obnoxious idiots who are so insecure about themselves jam their "culture" down my throat.

Of course, saying this is racist. I then have to bad-mouth the St. Patrick's Day parade to show I am not a racist. No I am not. I never had a single problem with St. Patty's Day.

Ultimately, I am not the one with the problem. If Blacks and Hispanics in general are complaining that they are being stereotyped, then they should stop perpetuating these stereotypes by acting like idiots.

BTW, I am a Gay Asian male.

i got stuck in this stupid parade last week. what a mess, i hated every second of it. i went for one thing, to go shopping on 5th avenue and i'm greeted by a bunch of wild, out of control, loud, obnoxious people. i really, really wanted out. not only that, but as i'm walking across the street in the midst a sea of all types of people, not just dominicans, i look behind me to see some nasty dominican pervert making jestures, harassing me and dancing behind me in a sexual fashion. i looked at him in disgust and to my delight i watched a cop grab him by the throat and drag him across the street. almost wanted to stay and watch what he did to him. lol.

when i move to the city i'll have to remember to avoid going out on days when these damn parades happen. they're so pointless and only encourage violence.

Well yeah, what do you expect from a bunch of barbaric savages. Fuckin' dummies-in-a-can!

Most people are gloating a big EGO at prades and forget what pride really means. Its just a place where people can go and think there being cool and having so much fun. Pride prades do nothing but celebrate a false sense of being unique. EVERYONE wants to be special. But until we celebrate our similarites and not our diffrences expect for people to be lost in a blaze of self worship and debauchery.

The St. Patrick's day parade has it's share of problems with drunkeness as well.

I am dominican and like #40..call me a classist to as I stay away from low income areas and "pride of the land!" parades as well.

The Ghetto Trash, The Trailer Park Trash are just one unruly bunch and act like a bunch of savages.

It's extremly shameful.

Don't pair us all together..these Dominicans are from poor families who stem from poverty in their homeland and fled and they don't appreciate the country that has given them something (i.e. the US).

thanks for the tip about the metro! too bad that newspaper just fired a columnist. those girls make me proud & i'm not dominican. very nice.

I am Dominican and I live in Washingon Heights (good inexpensive apartments in the gentrifying "Hudson Heights") and I agree with #24, #35 and #38.

The accident of birth reminds me of the movie "The Wild Bunch". As the gang makes its way to the Rio Grande, the Mexican among them exclaims, "Mexico Lindo!". One Texan replies, "What the hell are you talking about? It looks just like more of Texas from here."

I also do stay away from ethnic parades, specially those from low income, low education group; they just embarrass me. Since I'm Dominican, I would think that I can't be accused of being racist. Call me a classist, if you want. I believe that those groups like to pretend that they are very proud of the homeland that couldn't feed them or provide them with economic and/or political freedom as a way to overcompensate and hide what would be a constant shame.

Do I have self-loathing? No, just cold-hearted pragmatism and I sleep very well at night.

@37: Comparing gays to pedophiles isn't funny (how I read the "joke."). I think minority communities can laugh at themselves when the jokes are funny, but when the jokes are based on untrue and offensive stereotypes, it's a lot harder to see the humor.

I am Hispanic and would never go to any Latin themed parade in NYC. I would be too scared to go. I would fear for my safety and even my life.

I'm not being a racist, I'm being honest & real.

Other Islander: relax! How about a sense of humor?? And especially in a thread like this, you should allow these little jokes (even not so funny ones) to keep the mood positive. Don't create unnecessary hostilities by getting nasty.

@JMH: Don't flatter yourself.

I live in Wash Heights, and i am Hispanic. let's get that out there right now. but the way a lot of people in my neighborhood (predominantly Dominican, for those of you that are unaware) behave is an utter embarrassment to me and should be to the Hispanic community in NYC. I returned home late last night and along with the usual loiterers out and about, there were even younger "revelers" making much noise, including many cars driving along the streets (more than usual) blaring ground shaking music at midnight while some of us try to sleep and ready ourselves for the work week. I called the local precinct (because I don't care about the "don't snitch" understanding when I'm tired) and the response from them was that they were bombarded with calls that night and they even had other precincts involved in trying to control the neighborhood.

it is my belief from living here for several years, as well as my family members before me, that a majority of the Dominican population, at least in Wash Heights, need the slightest excuse to cause a ruckus - loud music, pot smoking and heavy drinking alongside children and infants playing at very late hours of the night, and where food items, broken bottles and general trash are left for some poor old man to clean up after in the morning. a dominican day parade being THE best excuse of all. as far as instances of violence, I'm glad Gothamist brought it because maybe, by doing so, the organizers of the parade can prevent events like this from getting to the point the puerto rican parade did a few years back.

but more so, i wanted to comment on the irony of having a heritage pride parade when, generally speaking, in the largest enclave of this community people seem to show the least bit of pride or respect for itself on their own sidewalks. waving a flag around and shaking your "bazungas" to a bachata, or using the occasion as an excuse to drink and get loud (which may lead to violence) does not do service to your community. really take pride in your community every day of the year, encourage culture and education, respect your neighborhood and yearn for a better life... the reasons many of us come to this country, after all.

And by the way, the joke in the HR Ball thread was a lot better than this one.

Wow, I have a stalker.

I'm not racist, I'm being honest and real.

Nothing wrong with posting this. You know what, if I gave damn about the floats, music, etc. I would have gone. The part that effects those of us who did not go was the violence, then extended well beyond the parade. Was on a train at 14th street when it was flooded with young celebrants chanting, yelling, waving flags, and oh yeah rocking the train back and forth, and in other ways causing mayhem. Speaking of which WTF were the parents. No way I let my kid out the door to go to a gathering like this without me. But then again kids like this likely have parents who don't give a shit.

Its not racist to point out the actions of others. Guarantee you if the PR day parade has violence it gets reported. Hell if the lesibians in the gay pride parade attacked others I bet you all the $ in the world it gets written up.

So blame the assholes like 26 for the racism here not the Jen or Gothamist, they are reporting a real story that affected far more people then it should have. Have whatever parade you want, but mob-mentality violence is BS whomever it comes from. So kudos Gothamist.

#21:

0 tax dollars? Ok, Pat Buchanan.

#14

you just got a genuine CHORTLE out of me

well done!

Well isn't it sweet that there is the ability to comment as guests, so that KKK types can make the comments here that they're too sissified too make on the street.

Because mentioning, and calling out, the absurdity of people getting "unruly crowds in Washington Heights, with groups of people, wielding bottles and bats, chasing children in and out of buildings and trapping some residents in their apartments" makes you a racist.

Got it.