PJ Soul, I would ask why they feel the need that they have to have a float in this type of parade. Aren't there all ready many gay rights parades out there specifically for the gay community? Are actions like this no different from seeing Al Sharpton on tv turning everything into a racial issue? To me there is a time and a place for everything. I would say that the GLBT used the victim card in this situation.
PJ Soul, I would ask why they feel the need that they have to have a float in this type of parade. Aren't there all ready many gay rights parades out there specifically for the gay community? Are actions like this no different from seeing Al Sharpton on tv turning everything into a racial issue? To me there is a time and a place for everything. I would say that the GLBT used the victim card in this situation.
Why not have a float? Ironworkers, police, firemen and women, boyscouts/girlscouts, polish falcons, etc...all have floats and all promote a lifestyle or a certain part of our greater culture. So why can't the LGBT have a float? Must they keep to their own parades like African Americans keeping to their own buses/fountains? If you ask me, Bachmann is the one pulling a card to promote her agenda and she can fuck right off. All bigots, fuck off.
PJ Soul, I would ask why they feel the need that they have to have a float in this type of parade. Aren't there all ready many gay rights parades out there specifically for the gay community? Are actions like this no different from seeing Al Sharpton on tv turning everything into a racial issue? To me there is a time and a place for everything. I would say that the GLBT used the victim card in this situation.
you can at least get the terminology correct. it is LGBT.
do you really think that "al sharpton would be on tv turning everything into a racial issue" if there were not grounds for him to do so?
people like bachmann want us to believe that we are in a post racial world and we are not. people are still saying obama is from kenya, that he is muslim, and that black people are the ones living off welfare, when it is proven that there are more white people on welfare today.
how about if we said nobody with the name matts can post on these forums simply because their name is matts. would that be discrimination? that is the same thing these organizers are saying be not allowing the LGBT community to participate in the parade. would you speak out for your right to post here? i would speak out for your right to post here because you are a member of this community, the same that the LGBT community are members of the community where the parade is held.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
Buses, fountains, no Matts, girls scouts have one. Man you guys take it to the extreme huh? Please inform me how St Patricks day is about sexuality? And if you can make a real argument on how St Patricks day is about sexuality, and then the gay float wasn't allowed, then yes that would be discrimination. As it is right now, I don't see it as discrimination, because St Patricks day has nothing to do with sexuality. My opinion anyways. And if we turn it into something about sexuality, we can turn everything into an issue of sexuality. Is this the direction you would like to see society move towards? It's worked out so well with that mentality about race and affirmative action.
It's not a "day of sexuality", you're right about that. It's an Irish holiday celebrated by people from all walks of life. So if a float full of people want to say "hey, look at us! It's okay to be gay and celebrate being Irish or the people we love being Irish" then there's really nothing wrong with that.
Unless the organizers wanted to keep the event as sexually neutral and not be used as a vehicle for interest groups agendas. If that is/was the case then I think they have the right to say no to float the celebrates any type of sexual lifestyle, gay or straight.
PJ Soul, I would ask why they feel the need that they have to have a float in this type of parade. Aren't there all ready many gay rights parades out there specifically for the gay community? Are actions like this no different from seeing Al Sharpton on tv turning everything into a racial issue? To me there is a time and a place for everything. I would say that the GLBT used the victim card in this situation.
Why not have a float? Ironworkers, police, firemen and women, boyscouts/girlscouts, polish falcons, etc...all have floats and all promote a lifestyle or a certain part of our greater culture. So why can't the LGBT have a float? Must they keep to their own parades like African Americans keeping to their own buses/fountains? If you ask me, Bachmann is the one pulling a card to promote her agenda and she can fuck right off. All bigots, fuck off.
Yup, exactly what I would have said. Again Matt, why single out the gay float?? What you're talking about is discrimination.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Unless the organizers wanted to keep the event as sexually neutral and not be used as a vehicle for interest groups agendas. If that is/was the case then I think they have the right to say no to float the celebrates any type of sexual lifestyle, gay or straight.
There is no such thing as a parade free of interest groups! And i think that you are a bit confused here if you think the LBGT community is about a "sexual lifestyle". There is NO difference between this float being denied and, say, a float promoting racial diversity (of which there are many in the St. Paddy's parade) or women's rights being turned down. How do you think that would go over?? You have put the gay rights cause into its own little corner, away from other human rights, equality, and diversity issues, because you're focusing on the sex part and ignoring the fact that the LGBT community is a cultural group that lacks equal rights in the same way that ethnic minorities have in the past. I suggest to you that you change your mindset on that one, because you're missing the point.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
I don't think I'm missing any point. If any organized event wishes to stay away from promoting any type of sexuality, either gay or straight, I think they should have that right. If they or any organization wanted to stay neutral on the subject, I think they should have that right. If they were allowing a "proud to be straight" float and denied a "proud to be gay float" then yes, that would be discrimination. A police, or fire department, or Girl Scout float is not comparable to a float that involves a sexual lifestyle. Trying to turn it into a human rights issue in my eyes is wrong, unless they had the proud to be straight and denied the proud to be gay floats.
I don't think I'm missing any point. If any organized event wishes to stay away from promoting any type of sexuality, either gay or straight, I think they should have that right. If they or any organization wanted to stay neutral on the subject, I think they should have that right. If they were allowing a "proud to be straight" float and denied a "proud to be gay float" then yes, that would be discrimination. A police, or fire department, or Girl Scout float is not comparable to a float that involves a sexual lifestyle. Trying to turn it into a human rights issue in my eyes is wrong, unless they had the proud to be straight and denied the proud to be gay floats.
But it kind of IS a human rights issue and it's as simple as wanting to march in a goddamned parade.
Also, a "proud to be straight" float makes as much sense as having a White Entertainment Television, as opposed to BET. Straight people and white people, generally, have jackshit to complain about or fight for.
I don't think I'm missing any point. If any organized event wishes to stay away from promoting any type of sexuality, either gay or straight, I think they should have that right. If they or any organization wanted to stay neutral on the subject, I think they should have that right. If they were allowing a "proud to be straight" float and denied a "proud to be gay float" then yes, that would be discrimination. A police, or fire department, or Girl Scout float is not comparable to a float that involves a sexual lifestyle. Trying to turn it into a human rights issue in my eyes is wrong, unless they had the proud to be straight and denied the proud to be gay floats.
I think you are missing the point, because the point definitely is not to "promote a kind of sexuality". It sounds like you think they wanted an LGBT float as an advertisement for gay, lol. Again, replace an LGBT float with some women's group or ethnic community group or some organization for thenrights of people with disabilities and how does it look if they are denied a float purely because it is about a women's group or a particular ethnic group or an organization for disabled people... Does that still seem acceptable to you in our society and under the laws of equal rights?
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
The St. Patrick's Day Parade is one of New York City's greatest traditions. On this day, everyone is Irish in the Big Apple! The Parade marched for the first time on March 17, 1762 - fourteen Years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence and today it is the largest Parade in the World.
This annual parade has been held for more than 250 years in honor of the Patron Saint of Ireland and the Archdiocese of New York. The Parade is reviewed from the steps of Saint Patrick's Cathedral by His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York. This tradition has remained unchanged since the early days of the parade when the Archbishop of New York observed marchers from Old St. Patrick's Cathedral in historic Greenwich Village. The Parade was originally held in Lower Manhattan before the new Cathedral was built on Fifth Avenue.
Often regarded as the most popular parade in New York City, the Parade is the largest and most famous of the many parades held in the city each year.
The Parade starts at 44th Street at 11 am and is held every March 17th except when March 17th falls on a Sunday; it is celebrated the day before, Saturday the 16th, because of religious observances. The parade marches up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick's Cathedral at 50th Street all the way up 79th Street and the Irish Historical Society, where the parade finishes around 4:30 - 5:00 pm
To this day, the St. Patrick's Day Parade remains true to its roots as a true marchers Parade by not allowing floats, automobiles and other commercial aspects in the Parade. Every year the Parade Committee hosts the 150,000- 250,000 marchers, along with many great bands; bagpipes, high school bands and the ever-present politicians in front of the approx 2 million spectators lining Fifth Avenue. The Parade is televised for four hours on WNBC Channel Four to over a million and a half households and was web streamed for the first time in 2008.
The first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York was held on lower Broadway in 1762 by a band of homesick Irish ex-patriots and Irish military serving with the British Army stationed in the American colonies in New York City. This was a time when the wearing of green was a sign of Irish pride and was banned in Ireland. The parade participants reveled in the freedom to speak Irish, wear the green, sing Irish songs and play the pipes to Irish tunes that were very meaningful to the Irish immigrants who had fled their homeland.
For the first few years of its existence, the parade was organized by military units. After the war of 1812, the Irish fraternal and beneficial societies took over the duties of hosting and sponsoring the event. Originally, the Irish societies joined together at their respective meeting places and moved in a procession toward Old St. Patrick's Cathedral in Lower Manhattan on Mott & Prince Streets where the Archbishop of New York would address the crowd before revelers dispersed to celebrate.
Around 1851 the individual societies merged under a single grand marshal and the size of the parade grew sharply. This was when the "Irish" 69th Regiment began to lead the marchers and the Ancient Order of Hibernians became the official sponsor. In the early 90's, the Parade was attacked for its traditional values and in the resulting law suites the organizers rights were up held all the way to the US Supreme court.
In 1992 the National AOH directed all AOH organizations to form separate corporations to run events such as the Parade. The Parade is run today by members of the AOH under a separate corporation, St Patrick’s Day Parade Inc. Since the first Parade, 253 years ago, the Parade today is still escorted by a unit of soldiers; and for the past 162 years “The Irish Infantry” National Guard 69th Regiment (Fighting 69th) have lead the Parade up Fifth Avenue, and they are followed by the various Irish societies of the city, the thirty two Irish county societies, and various Schools, collages, Emerald societies, Irish-language, and nationalist societies.
The 2002 parade was dedicated to the 'Heroes of 9/11, ' honoring the police, fire and all rescue workers. At midday, the entire parade paused for two minutes; the Parade at that time stretched one and a half miles and the entire Parade turned around and faced south towards the “TWIN TOWERS” as Edward Cardinal Egan said a prayer for all the victims of 9/11. This was the first time in history, in the City that never sleeps; one could hear a pin drop on Fifth Avenue, a fitting tribute to the men and women who lost their lives on that fateful day in 2001.
The 2002 Parade was the largest Parade to date with an estimated 300,000 marchers and three million spectators lining Fifth Avenue. This was the first time in history, the President of Ireland (Mary Mc Aleese) reviewed the Parade.
In 2011, the Parade celebrated its 250th anniversary with the world renowned author Mary Higgins Clark serving as Grand Marshal.
Hmmm, wonder how that travesty has been allowed to continue.......
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
There is a whole lot of shamrock green on full display this weekend, as cities around the country hold their annual St. Patrick's Day parades. But several high profile regulars have decided to sit out the events because of a ban on gays marching openly as a group in the parades. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is one of those boycotting his city's events, which will be held tomorrow.
For more, we turn to Peter Quinn. He's a former speechwriter for New York Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo. He's now a novelist who writes books about Irish America. He joins us from New York. Thanks so much for being with us, Mr. Quinn.
PETER QUINN: Thanks, Rachel, for having me.
MARTIN: So, first off, can you just tell us a little bit about what the New York in Manhattan parade is like and what it means to march in it?
QUINN: It's a pretty astounding event. I think people who come from outside of the city or from Ireland are kind of incredulous of the sheer size of the. It, you know, stretches for blocks. It's 200,000 people march, maybe a million watch it. So it's pretty spectacular event as far as parades go - ethnic parades. And it's, you know, been a traditional assertion of Irish identity and Irish presence in New York, especially for the immigrant community which came here and felt that it was very unwelcome.
And there was a whole nativist movement in America to turn around. So this was, in the beginning, it was like we're not ever leaving, we're here to stay and, you know, we're proud of who we are and we're continuing to go into America. And this parade is symbolic of that. It's as much an immigrant event, I think, is an Irish event.
MARTIN: And what about this particular ban? There are gay rights groups who have been protesting this ban for years. But, as I understand it, it's not specific to gay rights groups. This is a general blanket ban against any kind of politically aligned group of people marching in the parade, right?
QUINN: Yeah, it's a complicated thing. You know, it's not a ban. It's not like if you're gay you can't march in the parade. You know, there's many gay Irish people as there are gay anything. It's about identifying themselves as gays marching - which, I for one, have no problem with especially because of the way they were treated and made to feel outcast.
You know, the parade is about inclusion. I think that was in the beginning, about immigrant communities trying to find its way in. And I think that immigrant community should be inclusive within its own borders. Times have changed.
MARTIN: What is the church's position been on this particular ban?
QUINN: The general attitude of the Catholic Church towards gays in general, which seems to be changing under the present pope - you know, that that's an unacceptable lifestyle, that homosexuality itself isn't a sin. You know, I only get into theological elements of this because I think that's not what this parade is about. It's about an ethnic identity. It's a celebration. And I don't think it's that hard to solve.
Actually, the chaplain of the fire department who died on 9/11, Michael Judge, was a Franciscan priest who had come out of the closet. And he was gay man, a Catholic priest. You could have a gender equality banner under Michael Judge, so they could march in the parade. I wouldn't, you know, I wouldn't think a lot of people would have any problem with that.
MARTIN: You were the grand marshal of an alternative parade that's held in Queens called the St. Pat's For All Parade. And there are several of these alternative parades. Can you describe that particular event? What's that like?
QUINN: Well, that was founded to say if we can't march under our own banner in Manhattan, we'll march in Queens. And the parade seems to get bigger every year. And some people just march in a parade. Other people just march in the one in Manhattan. And other people march in both.
And, you know, this hurling excommunications at each other is, I think, just useless in the end. And my own suspicion is that within 10 years, there'd be one parade again. And 20 years, will people looking back and until say, you know, I don't really know what that was about.
MARTIN: Irish-American writer Peter Quinn. Thanks so much for talking with us, Peter.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
As for the OP and Mrs Bachman , well I look forward to the time where I dont have to turn the channel when she is interviewed or otherwise in the news.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
As for the OP and Mrs Bachman , well I look forward to the time where I dont have to turn the channel when she is interviewed or otherwise in the news.
A teacher I know had a student stand up and say he had an announcement to make. he said he was gay. then another student,who was really shy raised his hand and stood up. He said he was sexually attracted to owls.
the students aren't allowed to share their personal life with class anymore.
A teacher I know had a student stand up and say he had an announcement to make. he said he was gay. then another student,who was really shy raised his hand and stood up. He said he was sexually attracted to owls.
the students aren't allowed to share their personal life with class anymore.
i can't decipher your point, but the second kid is a twatface. Kids show the most compassion and the most brutality of us all! Its called freedom of speech and it works both ways mr matts... We get bullied by special interest groups constantly, get over it. If you don't like the al sharptons and the pride communities I am guessing you have little injustice to fight against or you might sympathize a little.
To play devils advocate here, I can possibly understand what maybe she meant by her statement. I'm just assuming what she possibly might have wanted to point out; it is becoming a little ridiculous that now everything is about gay rights. It's the new racial issue. An example is Sam Adams had to pull sponsorship to the Boston St Patricks day parade due to a large organized GLBT outcry. Apparently the parade organizers denied a GLBT rights float in the parade. I've never seen St Patricks day as a day about sexuality or lifestyle. For the GLBT to turn it into one, I think was wrong. If what her point was is things like that, I could agree with her. If not, then I have no idea what she means by saying that. Just a different view point, I support equal rights for all, but I do despise interest groups using irrelevant situations to push their agendas.
Gay people have not bullied the American people. However, special interest groups are a different story. Look how they used Tracey Morgan to push their agenda.
Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
A teacher I know had a student stand up and say he had an announcement to make. he said he was gay. then another student,who was really shy raised his hand and stood up. He said he was sexually attracted to owls.
the students aren't allowed to share their personal life with class anymore.
i can't decipher your point, but the second kid is a twatface. Kids show the most compassion and the most brutality of us all! Its called freedom of speech and it works both ways mr matts... We get bullied by special interest groups constantly, get over it. If you don't like the al sharptons and the pride communities I am guessing you have little injustice to fight against or you might sympathize a little.
A teacher I know had a student stand up and say he had an announcement to make. he said he was gay. then another student,who was really shy raised his hand and stood up. He said he was sexually attracted to owls.
the students aren't allowed to share their personal life with class anymore.
i can't decipher your point, but the second kid is a twatface. Kids show the most compassion and the most brutality of us all! Its called freedom of speech and it works both ways mr matts... We get bullied by special interest groups constantly, get over it. If you don't like the al sharptons and the pride communities I am guessing you have little injustice to fight against or you might sympathize a little.
Does a person's sexual preference need to be announced to the class? that's the moral of the made up story.
does it NEED to be? No it doesn't. Does that student feel the need? Yes. Isn't this called freedom of speech? Oh that's right, we censor our students so they will grow up to be good little workers who won't speak up or out. Please the "it's not a sexual issue" thing is lame. Life is a god damned sexual experience and it is only the old shrivs who aren't gettin any that care who else is and from who.
does it NEED to be? No it doesn't. Does that student feel the need? Yes. Isn't this called freedom of speech? Oh that's right, we censor our students so they will grow up to be good little workers who won't speak up or out. Please the "it's not a sexual issue" thing is lame. Life is a god damned sexual experience and it is only the old shrivs who aren't gettin any that care who else is and from who.
does it NEED to be? No it doesn't. Does that student feel the need? Yes. Isn't this called freedom of speech? Oh that's right, we censor our students so they will grow up to be good little workers who won't speak up or out. Please the "it's not a sexual issue" thing is lame. Life is a god damned sexual experience and it is only the old shrivs who aren't gettin any that care who else is and from who.
I am not an old shriv I am not an old shriv I am not an old shriv...
) )
...but I was a teacher once and I never stifled any students desire to honestly express feelings about anything. The kid claiming to be sexually attracted to owls would get an "Ok, yuk yuk, yeah, let's move on".
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
It doesn't bother me in the least what your sexual preference is...whatever makes you happy, go for it.
My point, does that need to be announced? Do women, stand up and claim, "hey,I"m a dominatrix" and i like to control men during sex. or...whatever...the examples are endless.
sexual orientation, whatever it may be, is for an individual, for some reason people feel they need to share it with the world. a classroom is is not the best place to announce something like that.
hahhahhhahhhahha anything said even slightly unfavorable towards the gay community will be look upon as bullying, when a group brings their dirty laundry to the front of the public eye then this will happen because someone somewhere will get tired of hearing their constant complaining...welcome to the real world........
It doesn't bother me in the least what your sexual preference is...whatever makes you happy, go for it.
My point, does that need to be announced? Do women, stand up and claim, "hey,I"m a dominatrix" and i like to control men during sex. or...whatever...the examples are endless.
sexual orientation, whatever it may be, is for an individual, for some reason people feel they need to share it with the world. a classroom is is not the best place to announce something like that.
would you feel the same if the statement was about the student's religion? What if the student was speaking out against corporate control of the government. Lots of statements make people uncomfortable, doesn't mean we should censor them. Being a teenager is largely about finding oneself and finding people to fit in with and thats why teenagers make dramatic statements!
This country is beyond messed in the head...the media is plastered with images of sex constantly and yet we try to treat sex as a taboo, secret event. People talk about "protecting marriage" when the divorce rate is over 50% middle aged straight white males who don't understand adversity are deluded, by seeing bigot shrivs like themsellves on tv, into thinking their opinion is worth more than the toilet paper it is expressed on!
Comments
Afterall she represents a district with an unusually high rate of teen gay suicides.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
do you really think that "al sharpton would be on tv turning everything into a racial issue" if there were not grounds for him to do so?
people like bachmann want us to believe that we are in a post racial world and we are not. people are still saying obama is from kenya, that he is muslim, and that black people are the ones living off welfare, when it is proven that there are more white people on welfare today.
how about if we said nobody with the name matts can post on these forums simply because their name is matts. would that be discrimination? that is the same thing these organizers are saying be not allowing the LGBT community to participate in the parade. would you speak out for your right to post here? i would speak out for your right to post here because you are a member of this community, the same that the LGBT community are members of the community where the parade is held.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Also, a "proud to be straight" float makes as much sense as having a White Entertainment Television, as opposed to BET. Straight people and white people, generally, have jackshit to complain about or fight for.
Again, replace an LGBT float with some women's group or ethnic community group or some organization for thenrights of people with disabilities and how does it look if they are denied a float purely because it is about a women's group or a particular ethnic group or an organization for disabled people... Does that still seem acceptable to you in our society and under the laws of equal rights?
http://nycstpatricksparade.org/about.html
The St. Patrick's Day Parade is one of New York City's greatest traditions. On this day, everyone is Irish in the Big Apple! The Parade marched for the first time on March 17, 1762 - fourteen Years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence and today it is the largest Parade in the World.
This annual parade has been held for more than 250 years in honor of the Patron Saint of Ireland and the Archdiocese of New York. The Parade is reviewed from the steps of Saint Patrick's Cathedral by His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York. This tradition has remained unchanged since the early days of the parade when the Archbishop of New York observed marchers from Old St. Patrick's Cathedral in historic Greenwich Village. The Parade was originally held in Lower Manhattan before the new Cathedral was built on Fifth Avenue.
Often regarded as the most popular parade in New York City, the Parade is the largest and most famous of the many parades held in the city each year.
The Parade starts at 44th Street at 11 am and is held every March 17th except when March 17th falls on a Sunday; it is celebrated the day before, Saturday the 16th, because of religious observances. The parade marches up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick's Cathedral at 50th Street all the way up 79th Street and the Irish Historical Society, where the parade finishes around 4:30 - 5:00 pm
To this day, the St. Patrick's Day Parade remains true to its roots as a true marchers Parade by not allowing floats, automobiles and other commercial aspects in the Parade. Every year the Parade Committee hosts the 150,000- 250,000 marchers, along with many great bands; bagpipes, high school bands and the ever-present politicians in front of the approx 2 million spectators lining Fifth Avenue. The Parade is televised for four hours on WNBC Channel Four to over a million and a half households and was web streamed for the first time in 2008.
The first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York was held on lower Broadway in 1762 by a band of homesick Irish ex-patriots and Irish military serving with the British Army stationed in the American colonies in New York City. This was a time when the wearing of green was a sign of Irish pride and was banned in Ireland. The parade participants reveled in the freedom to speak Irish, wear the green, sing Irish songs and play the pipes to Irish tunes that were very meaningful to the Irish immigrants who had fled their homeland.
For the first few years of its existence, the parade was organized by military units. After the war of 1812, the Irish fraternal and beneficial societies took over the duties of hosting and sponsoring the event. Originally, the Irish societies joined together at their respective meeting places and moved in a procession toward Old St. Patrick's Cathedral in Lower Manhattan on Mott & Prince Streets where the Archbishop of New York would address the crowd before revelers dispersed to celebrate.
Around 1851 the individual societies merged under a single grand marshal and the size of the parade grew sharply. This was when the "Irish" 69th Regiment began to lead the marchers and the Ancient Order of Hibernians became the official sponsor. In the early 90's, the Parade was attacked for its traditional values and in the resulting law suites the organizers rights were up held all the way to the US Supreme court.
In 1992 the National AOH directed all AOH organizations to form separate corporations to run events such as the Parade. The Parade is run today by members of the AOH under a separate corporation, St Patrick’s Day Parade Inc.
Since the first Parade, 253 years ago, the Parade today is still escorted by a unit of soldiers; and for the past 162 years “The Irish Infantry” National Guard 69th Regiment (Fighting 69th) have lead the Parade up Fifth Avenue, and they are followed by the various Irish societies of the city, the thirty two Irish county societies, and various Schools, collages, Emerald societies, Irish-language, and nationalist societies.
The 2002 parade was dedicated to the 'Heroes of 9/11, ' honoring the police, fire and all rescue workers. At midday, the entire parade paused for two minutes; the Parade at that time stretched one and a half miles and the entire Parade turned around and faced south towards the “TWIN TOWERS” as Edward Cardinal Egan said a prayer for all the victims of 9/11. This was the first time in history, in the City that never sleeps; one could hear a pin drop on Fifth Avenue, a fitting tribute to the men and women who lost their lives on that fateful day in 2001.
The 2002 Parade was the largest Parade to date with an estimated 300,000 marchers and three million spectators lining Fifth Avenue. This was the first time in history, the President of Ireland (Mary Mc Aleese) reviewed the Parade.
In 2011, the Parade celebrated its 250th anniversary with the world renowned author Mary Higgins Clark serving as Grand Marshal.
Hmmm, wonder how that travesty has been allowed to continue.......
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
http://www.npr.org/2014/03/16/290614987/new-york-st-patricks-parade-bars-gay-pride-groups
Copyright © 2014 NPR. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
There is a whole lot of shamrock green on full display this weekend, as cities around the country hold their annual St. Patrick's Day parades. But several high profile regulars have decided to sit out the events because of a ban on gays marching openly as a group in the parades. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is one of those boycotting his city's events, which will be held tomorrow.
For more, we turn to Peter Quinn. He's a former speechwriter for New York Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo. He's now a novelist who writes books about Irish America. He joins us from New York. Thanks so much for being with us, Mr. Quinn.
PETER QUINN: Thanks, Rachel, for having me.
MARTIN: So, first off, can you just tell us a little bit about what the New York in Manhattan parade is like and what it means to march in it?
QUINN: It's a pretty astounding event. I think people who come from outside of the city or from Ireland are kind of incredulous of the sheer size of the. It, you know, stretches for blocks. It's 200,000 people march, maybe a million watch it. So it's pretty spectacular event as far as parades go - ethnic parades. And it's, you know, been a traditional assertion of Irish identity and Irish presence in New York, especially for the immigrant community which came here and felt that it was very unwelcome.
And there was a whole nativist movement in America to turn around. So this was, in the beginning, it was like we're not ever leaving, we're here to stay and, you know, we're proud of who we are and we're continuing to go into America. And this parade is symbolic of that. It's as much an immigrant event, I think, is an Irish event.
MARTIN: And what about this particular ban? There are gay rights groups who have been protesting this ban for years. But, as I understand it, it's not specific to gay rights groups. This is a general blanket ban against any kind of politically aligned group of people marching in the parade, right?
QUINN: Yeah, it's a complicated thing. You know, it's not a ban. It's not like if you're gay you can't march in the parade. You know, there's many gay Irish people as there are gay anything. It's about identifying themselves as gays marching - which, I for one, have no problem with especially because of the way they were treated and made to feel outcast.
You know, the parade is about inclusion. I think that was in the beginning, about immigrant communities trying to find its way in. And I think that immigrant community should be inclusive within its own borders. Times have changed.
MARTIN: What is the church's position been on this particular ban?
QUINN: The general attitude of the Catholic Church towards gays in general, which seems to be changing under the present pope - you know, that that's an unacceptable lifestyle, that homosexuality itself isn't a sin. You know, I only get into theological elements of this because I think that's not what this parade is about. It's about an ethnic identity. It's a celebration. And I don't think it's that hard to solve.
Actually, the chaplain of the fire department who died on 9/11, Michael Judge, was a Franciscan priest who had come out of the closet. And he was gay man, a Catholic priest. You could have a gender equality banner under Michael Judge, so they could march in the parade. I wouldn't, you know, I wouldn't think a lot of people would have any problem with that.
MARTIN: You were the grand marshal of an alternative parade that's held in Queens called the St. Pat's For All Parade. And there are several of these alternative parades. Can you describe that particular event? What's that like?
QUINN: Well, that was founded to say if we can't march under our own banner in Manhattan, we'll march in Queens. And the parade seems to get bigger every year. And some people just march in a parade. Other people just march in the one in Manhattan. And other people march in both.
And, you know, this hurling excommunications at each other is, I think, just useless in the end. And my own suspicion is that within 10 years, there'd be one parade again. And 20 years, will people looking back and until say, you know, I don't really know what that was about.
MARTIN: Irish-American writer Peter Quinn. Thanks so much for talking with us, Peter.
QUINN: Thank you, Rachel.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
the students aren't allowed to share their personal life with class anymore.
i can't decipher your point, but the second kid is a twatface. Kids show the most compassion and the most brutality of us all!
Its called freedom of speech and it works both ways mr matts... We get bullied by special interest groups constantly, get over it. If you don't like the al sharptons and the pride communities I am guessing you have little injustice to fight against or you might sympathize a little.
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
I am not an old shriv
I am not an old shriv...
...but I was a teacher once and I never stifled any students desire to honestly express feelings about anything. The kid claiming to be sexually attracted to owls would get an "Ok, yuk yuk, yeah, let's move on".
My point, does that need to be announced? Do women, stand up and claim, "hey,I"m a dominatrix" and i like to control men during sex. or...whatever...the examples are endless.
sexual orientation, whatever it may be, is for an individual, for some reason people feel they need to share it with the world. a classroom is is not the best place to announce something like that.
Godfather.
would you feel the same if the statement was about the student's religion? What if the student was speaking out against corporate control of the government. Lots of statements make people uncomfortable, doesn't mean we should censor them. Being a teenager is largely about finding oneself and finding people to fit in with and thats why teenagers make dramatic statements!
This country is beyond messed in the head...the media is plastered with images of sex constantly and yet we try to treat sex as a taboo, secret event. People talk about "protecting marriage" when the divorce rate is over 50%
middle aged straight white males who don't understand adversity are deluded, by seeing bigot shrivs like themsellves on tv, into thinking their opinion is worth more than the toilet paper it is expressed on!