Sorority suspended for "Indian Party."

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I've mentioned before that I object to "fake marriage" parties because they are taking a holy sacrament and using it for entertainment. It's insutling to Christians. I also hate the way St. Patrick's Day has become an exercise in singing American vaudeville-era songs which used really insulting Irish stereotypes, drinking "green beer", which isn't Irish at all, and furthering the image of the Irish as feckless drunks.
But I'd never ask the administration to crack down on the parties - I'd just hope to be able to register my objection, and maybe educate a few people.

I think the Irish-Americans did that themselves. And non Irish-Americans just use it as an excuse to go out and get insanely wasted and stupid. Same with Cinco de Mayo. Most people don't know the meaning of it, but they still go out and "celebrate" it.

[SWTXBelle]

Um, no. The Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day as a religious holiday. Only recently have the American-style celebrations made it over to the Emerald Isle. Those songs I mentioned - "Danny Boy", "When Irish Eyes are Smiling", etc. - came from a vaudeville tradition that was no more Irish than Al Jolson's "Mammy" was African. You can read Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" to get a sense of how the English in the 18th century regarded the Irish - yes, he uses ironic hyperbole, but it works because it is a simply a logical extension of English policy. (and stereotypes)
My family is proudly Irish, with a long association with real Celtic music and an understanding of our history. Most of the so-called "Irish for a day" who swill green beer have no understanding of either.Actually, it is statistically impossible for all those who claim Irish ancestry to actually be Irish, according to one study.
I find it ironic that the same people who will loudly decry the use of various stereotypes in the name of entertainment find no problem with trampling on my heritage, be it Irish, Christian or southern.

eta - and I think that if you cannot correctly name the country Mexico defeated on the 5th of May, no margaritas for you!

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I think the Irish-Americans did that themselves. And non Irish-Americans just use it as an excuse to go out and get insanely wasted and stupid. Same with Cinco de Mayo. Most people don't know the meaning of it, but they still go out and "celebrate" it.

agreed.

In college Cinco de Mayo was called Cinco de Drinco

Just an excuse to go out, get insanely wasted on Dos X's, and take advantage of drink specials.

[SWTXBelle]

At what point does a theme go bad? For example, many proms and formals may have "A Night in Paris" or some such theme - the food will be ethnic, but everyone wears formal wear. I don't think anyone objects to those - or do they? Is the problem when they bring in costumes and cheesy pseudo-ethnic music?

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

That is what is neat, You are overly kool! So now Kevin is a bad guy? Why, is it because he has Male member and you don't?

I highly appreciate your kind rendition of my words. It is more than I deserve. Would you like a cigarette? Please focus on Kevin instead of me if you don't mind. I naturally assume that everyone wishes they had a penis despite the fact that they're evolutionarily backward by having the excretory function use the same tract as the reproductive function. Oh well.

Oh, as I take it from your post that women are not equal to men?

I can't possibly fathom a universe where women are .. EQUAL.. to men. Ugh, that made me ill just saying it! I mean then I couldn't whine about Hillary and get my post deleted in my OWN FORUM.

When in doubt? Making Snide remarks seems to be you forte!

Snide Remarks

But of course, you do it so well!

Again thank you kindly for your kind remarks. Please enjoy my smilies.

[nittanyalum]

LOL, Drole.

[gtdxeric]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I naturally assume that everyone wishes they had a penis despite the fact that they're evolutionarily backward by having the excretory function use the same tract as the reproductive function. Oh well.

Three engineers are sitting in a pub arguing the nature of God. Thus far they have been able to agree only that God is undoubtedly an engineer, but can't agree on which kind.

The mechanical engineer argues that God must be a mechanical engineer because the body is a complex system of levers and pulleys, magnifying forces generated by contracting muscles.

The electrical engineer argues that the body is dependent on a central processing unit and nervous system, transmitting electrical impulses which ultimately control everything.

The civil engineer listens to this with interest, and says "you both make persuasive arguments, but it's obvious that God was a civil engineer."

"How so?" reply his confused colleagues.

"Who else but a civil engineer would run a sewage line through a recreation area?"

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

At what point does a theme go bad? For example, many proms and formals may have "A Night in Paris" or some such theme - the food will be ethnic, but everyone wears formal wear. I don't think anyone objects to those - or do they? Is the problem when they bring in costumes and cheesy pseudo-ethnic music?

Well, for the most part those are being given by a bunch of kids who have never been to Paris and just think Paris = love and classy. So they don't really do anything other than stick a fake Eiffel Tower in the middle of the gym. (I am assuming you are talking about Paris the city, not Paris Hilton's tape. That would be a fun prom theme.)

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Well, for the most part those are being given by a bunch of kids who have never been to Paris and just think Paris = love and classy. So they don't really do anything other than stick a fake Eiffel Tower in the middle of the gym. (I am assuming you are talking about Paris the city, not Paris Hilton's tape. That would be a fun prom theme.)

I don't think anyone would mean Paris, TN - unless they really, really liked catfish (this is World's Largest Fish Fry weekend. Sigh. Some things I won't miss about TN . . . )

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Um, no. The Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day as a religious holiday.

Really? Come to Detroit.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Really? Come to Detroit.

Detroit's in Ireland?

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

At what point does a theme go bad? For example, many proms and formals may have "A Night in Paris" or some such theme - the food will be ethnic, but everyone wears formal wear. I don't think anyone objects to those - or do they? Is the problem when they bring in costumes and cheesy pseudo-ethnic music?

If you "object" to something like that you need to reevaluate your life. (not YOU, just "you" in general).

Same goes for just about everything.

Sorry, I just find it really dumb when people get up in arms about "themed" parties, celebrations like cinco de mayo, St. Patricks Day, etc. etc. etc.

Sorry if it offends you, or anybody for that matter. Maybe I'm just an asshole. Maybe I'm just not very sensitive. Whatever.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by macallan25

If you "object" to something like that you need to reevaluate your life. (not YOU, just "you" in general).

Same goes for just about everything.

Sorry, I just find it really dumb when people get up in arms about "themed" parties, celebrations like cinco de mayo, St. Patricks Day, etc. etc. etc.

Sorry if it offends you, or anybody for that matter. Maybe I'm just an asshole. Maybe I'm just not very sensitive. Whatever.

Dumb? Naw. I find it dumb that some people feel they can take an observance that means something to a group and use it as an excuse to get drunk. I don't know that I'm "up in arms." I actually think I'm pretty reasonable. I believe that most people do their celebrating unthinkingly - without considering that the "trappings" they appropriate might have a sincere meaning. It would be like another fraternity using your ritual in a mocking way, and as an excuse to drink (do fraternities need an excuse? I digress. ) So I'm more disappointed than anything else. It is tough to see something that is meaningful to you degraded.

[Drolefille]

I'm not sure how one can be reasonably offended by other people partying on Mardi Gras. There's nothing sacred about the day itself, and it is in fact, Fat Tuesday with the purpose of getting all that having fun stuff out of your system. (Of course having fun was limited to the people who could afford it in centuries gone by, now anyone can buy some beer for the job)

[SWTXBelle]

Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) is an actual church observance for many. I actually don't have a problem with using the theme of Mardi Gras as celebrated in New Orleans for a formal theme - the beads, masks, colours, etc. That's really more of a regional than a religious observance. It's the debauchery on Shrove Tuesday itself which gives me pause. And even that doesn't more than mildly annoy (and amuse) me.