On Getting Your Irish Up

 As millions around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by having some mugs of good cheer along with their corn beef and cabbage, some disgruntled soul in America’s heartland is unhappy. John M. Dooley from Davenport, Iowa took umbrage to a t-shirt for St. Patrick’s Day that showed an alcohol detection meter that marked the Irish as being at the far end of the scale.

 Dooley was offended at the stereotype that the Irish are hard drinkers. His op-ed in the Quad City Times links this slight to the litany of outrages against the Irish throughout history. Dooley inveighed:

My first thought at seeing the shirt was of my immediate family and my ancestors. How could someone - I presume ignorant of the bitter story of the Irish being exiled from their homes and homeland, hungry and diseased - once again use a wicked, stunningly incorrect stereotype to make money?

In closing, Dooley recalled the motto of Irish Brigade of the Civil War–“Gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked.” Even though he wants political correctness and ethnic sensitivity to reign, it still sounds like he is willing to get his Irish up.

The owner of the pub selling the t-shirts diplomatically rejoined: "Every year the Circle Tap offers a St. Patrick's celebration in good faith, good fun and with a light heart. We invite everyone to join us for a responsible good time." Ironically, this hullaballoo gave the supposedly offensive t-shirt more publicity. Many Quad City Times readers who responded indicated that they were of Irish ancestry and thought that Dooley should lighten up. 

 h/t: Quad City Times h/t: American Thinker