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                         NYC Hosts St. Patrick's Parade

   by Adam Phillips

   March 17 is Saint Patrick's Day, and for millions of Americans of Irish
   descent and others in search of a good time, that means a razzle-dazzle
   parade up New York's Fifth Avenue.  Organizers say it is the oldest and
   largest parade in the world, and he tasted a bit of controversy along
   with the beer.
   The weather was bitter cold on Saint Patrick's Day, but that didn't
   stop an estimated 150,000 marchers and musicians from processing up
   Fifth Avenue, just as they have every year since 1762.
   Many bore Irish and American flags, and the banners of their Irish or
   Gaelic organizations, such as police, firefighter clubs and area high
   schools.
   Rick Burns was one of the estimated million spectators at the parade.
   "We're here because of Jackson Memorial High School, in Jackson, New
   Jersey.  My son and Fatima's daughter march, and we're here to watch
   and root them on," said Burns.
   REPORTER: What's the Irish thing about all this? I guess it's all
   Irish, huh?
   BURNS: Everybody's a little Irish today, even if you're not Irish. So,
   yeah.
   REPORTER: They say this a bigger deal here than in Dublin. Is that
   true?
   BURNS:  It's very true. This is an American tradition.
   It's also a New York tradition. These college boys were proud that the
   Big Apple boasts a much larger parade than the one in Dublin, Ireland's
   capital.
   YOUNG MAN #1:  They probably hate us.
   YOUNG MAN #2:  Shut up!  New York is everything bigger than anywhere
   else.  It's the best city in the world. So it does everything bigger, I
   don't know.
   These girls, costumed and made up in the green and orange of the Irish
   flag looked both sober and very happy.
   GIRL: Because it's our heritage. It's awesome. A little cold. But it's
   awesome.
   REPORTER: You're Irish?
   GIRL: Yes. The three of us are.
   REPORTER:  What does it mean to be Irish in America?
   IRISH WOMAN:  Irish people are happy no matter where they are. They
   celebrate St. Patrick's no matter where they are, because its part of
   who we are!
   Parade organizers excluded Irish Americans who say they are gay.  It's
   a controversial position that prompted Guinness, the Irish beer
   company, to withdraw its sponsorship.  Bill de Blasio, New York's new
   mayor, also opted out of the march in protest.
   This lady sympathized with the mayor's position.
   "I don't think they should stop them.  Why just pick on one particular
   group," she said. "I would be for it. I think everybody should be
   allowed the freedom to march if they want. Why not?"
   This man disagreed.
   "Why? Because God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve," said an
   anti-gay spectator. "The Bible says seven times against it and man
   wants to go with it!"
   Controversy and celebration, music, revelry and complaint. On Saint
   Patrick's Day and every day in New York, it's all part of the passing
   parade.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/nyc-hosts-st-patricks-parade/1873351.html