Tag: ira

banking, Life, Politics, politics2 Comments

Mixed legacy and cultural appropriation

Mark Cathcart

[3/22/17 Edit to add audio from soundcloud] On Friday I had a half-hearted attempt to explain to our 8-year old why I wouldn’t wear green, and why I could NOT celebrate St Patrick’s Day. It’s really quite staggering the level of cultural appropriation St Patrick’s Day has achieved. A celebration of the worst caricatures of the Irish, drunk, leprechauns, and four leaf clovers Then today, on reporting the death of Martin McGuinness, former deputy first minister, and A former Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) leader. I was listening to BBC Radio, and among the people to be quoted was former … Continue reading Mixed legacy and cultural appropriation

Life1 Comment

NTD or National Taliban Day?

Mark Cathcart

I enjoy a pint of Guinness as much as the next “man”, but I continue to find St Patricks day  troubling. I wonder if in 100 years time the youth of tomorrow will be celebrating national Taliban day? Really, for the most part of the last 100 years St Patricks day has been a major fund raiser for the Irish Republican Army and the Provisional IRA. Until as recently as 5-years ago they used the money to support people who indiscriminately bomb, killed, maimed both innocent civilians, and the families of people who supported the British Government. They also planted … Continue reading NTD or National Taliban Day?