RUSH OF PRIDE FLOWS FORTH FROM CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IRISH; PLAYING HOOKY FOR ST. PATRICK SEEMED OK.Byline: Dennis McCarthy Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
``May those who love us, love us. And those that don't love us, May God turn their hearts. And if He doesn't turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles, So we'll know them by their limping.'' - an old Irish toast ST. Patrick's St. Patrick's or Saint Patrick's may refer to:
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . The kid is 7, and his last name's McCarthy. He's sitting on the steps of his building in the housing projects trying to put two and two together. ``It ain't right It Ain't Right" - by (Bob Rothberg, Joseph Meyer).
``What ain't right?'' Freddy asks. ``That an Irish kid has to go to school on St. Paddy's Day. It should be a holiday.'' ``Yeah, and Columbus Day Columbus Day, holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus's discovery of America. It has been traditionally celebrated on Oct. 12 throughout most of the United States, parts of Canada, and in several of the Latin American republics. , too,'' agrees Freddy, who happens to be half Italian. McCarthy says he wouldn't be much of an Irishman if he didn't stand up for old St. Patrick on his day, so he decides to play hooky Verb 1. play hooky - play truant from work or school; "The boy often plays hooky" bunk off jargon, lingo, patois, argot, vernacular, slang, cant - a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves); "they don't speak our lingo" . A magnanimous mag·nan·i·mous adj. 1. Courageously noble in mind and heart. 2. Generous in forgiving; eschewing resentment or revenge; unselfish. lad, he offers his pal Freddy special dispensation DISPENSATION. A relaxation of law for the benefit or advantage of an individual. In the United States, no power exists, except in the legislature, to dispense with law, and then it is not so much a dispensation as a change of the law. from school for the day to join him. Freddy gladly accepts the dispensation, promising to return the favor when Columbus Day rolls around. So, there they are, a couple of kids standing up for old St. Patrick on his day by sitting on a stoop playing hooky, killing time until they can go home and hoping they won't get caught. They get caught. Freddy's mom finds it somewhat suspicious that her son has gotten home from school half an hour before school lets out. She squeezes Freddy, who immediately starts crying and spills the beans. By the time McCarthy gets home, his mother's already been filled in by Freddy's mother. ``How was school today?'' she asks, setting the trap. ``Same as always,'' McCarthy says. ``Boring.'' ``Don't lie to me, young man. You and Freddy didn't go to school today. You played hooky. Now go to your room, and wait until your father gets home.'' There is no greater threat to an Irish kid than ``Wait until your father gets home.'' The words carry the weight of a death sentence. We knew it would be days before we could sit down without wincing. McCarthy's father gets home. Through the door, the kid hears his mother telling his father what happened today while he was at work, how his kid played hooky for St. Patrick. The bedroom door opens, and McCarthy crumbles like a year-old cookie, hoping tears and pleas of mercy will lighten the beating he's sure is coming. His old man smiles and tells his son to relax - tells him how he always thought St. Patrick's Day should be a holiday, too. But it ain't, kid, so next St. Paddy's Day, you're going to school, right? Right, McCarthy says. ``Now, what's for dinner?'' McCarthy's old man yells out to his wife. I'm not sure what a shrink would make of that story today, but that's the memory that dwarfs all the others when I think about growing up Irish. My old man not giving me a beating for playing hooky that day - maybe deep down even a little proud of his kid for standing up for old St. Paddy St. Paddy (1957-1984) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned and bred by Sir Victor Sassoon, he was out of the mare Edie Kelly and sired by Aureole, a winner of the Coronation Cup and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. on his day. Pride. I think it defines the Irish more than all the characterizations people use to describe us - notoriously stubborn, hot-tempered, long memories, and love of a good joke and drink. Yeah, I know, it's not politically correct politically correct Politically sensitive adjective Referring to language reflecting awareness and sensitivity to another person's physical, mental, cultural, or other disadvantages or deviations from a norm; a person is not mentally retarded, but to say that anymore, but that's the way it is to me. There's the pride of the Irish that runs through a gut-wrenching book like ``Angela's Ashes,'' and the pride of my Irish ancestors coming through Ellis Island and hitting the shores of America running. And now, 47 years after getting away with playing hooky for the patron saint of Ireland, I still think St. Patrick's Day deserves to be a holiday in this country. Enjoy the story on the Irish in today's L.A. Life, and the PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, special beginning Monday. And let me leave you with this little Irish toast to mull over. Here's to you and yours, And to mine and ours. And if mine and ours, Ever come across to you and yours, I hope you and yours will do As much for mine and ours As mine and ours have done For you and yours Ah, the Irish. You gotta love 'em. |
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