Ad in Wildcat for 'Irish Week' uses racist, blasphemous stereotypes

We, the collected members of the University of Arizona Irish Cultural Society, would like to voice our disappointment in the advertisement carried on Page 8 of Monday's Wildcat. The ad proclaims March 10-15 "Irish Week" in the Student Union. This ad is, a t best, in poor taste and, at worst, blasphemous. The Lucky Charms graphics and hackneyed phrasing of the ad are offensive and its use of pointless, racist, Irish stereotypes undermines the importance and sincerity of St. Patrick's Day.

St. Patrick's Day is a celebration of the birth of Christianity in Ireland, it has nothing to do with leprechauns or rainbows. The shamrock and its three-leaf clover was the tool St. Patrick used to introduce the Catholic Trinity to the native Irish, not a food coupon as the Student Union proclaims. As for corned beef and cabbage . perhaps our memory is in error, but did the Union serve fried chicken and watermelon for Black History Month or bagels and lox for Hanukah?

We regret the Union's decision to observe St. Patrick's Day in such a trite and superfluous manner - a manner more befitting an elementary school cafeteria than an institution of higher learning.

By Michael O'Hara, James Lynch (letter)
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 14, 1997