A BIZARRE Twitter account calling for an end to St Patrick's Day has attracted widespread comment online.
The profile, @endstpats, condemns the Irish celebration as a "holiday based in white pride" that promotes xenophobia.
Catholicism also comes under fire as a "white organisation oppressing millions", while Irish pride is compared to the rise of Nazism.
German pride, Irish pride, white pride. Now that we're seeing a rise of Nazism in the U.S., we can't let white supremacy remain normalized. pic.twitter.com/54VODFUvHr
— End St.Patrick's Day (@endstpats) February 4, 2017
Though some speculated that the account was satire in light of the history of persecution and ill-fortune suffered by the Irish, the account seemed to directly deny this.
@chelmsdeep @endstpats Exactly. Because the Irish have NEVER been discriminated against... right?
— Grant Fletcher (@FletchersAlibi) March 17, 2017
One Tweet read: "People asking if this is a joke: it isnot. The idea of white ethnic pride is rooted in oppression. You can't celebrate oppression in 2017."
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St. Patrick's day encourages and perpetuates the idea of whiteness and white culture. It otherizes non-whites and promotes nationalism. pic.twitter.com/AL2QQRJCk7
— End St.Patrick's Day (@endstpats) February 4, 2017
Either:
— End St.Patrick's Day (@endstpats) February 7, 2017
A) We're all the same (equal) no matter our ethnicity.
or
B) You think you're different because you're Irish, so you're racist.
@endstpats How dare you compare celebrating a national saint to an evil, fascist, murderous regime. Shame on you, this is a joke end of
— laura buckley (@BuckleyLaura) February 9, 2017
Amongst the ridiculing of the campaign online were spoof calls to end Christmas as a "Roman holiday" too.
Saint Patrick's Day is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.
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The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.
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