Equitable Editing and Irish that Don't Fight

September 29, 2021

Shared dinner with a mate from my hostel tonight, a fella named James from Ireland. We talked about stereotypes outsiders have about different countries, and discussed which broad generalizations about nations are true and which aren’t.

It made me wonder about how equitable our recent editing has been. While we’ve been busy changing team names, syrup bottles, and monuments, have we done so with an equally sensitive lens?

There, talking with a man from Ireland about how the world automatically assumes he’s cantankerous and has a drinking problem (neither true), I wondered why we got rid of the Redskins, Indians, and Aunt Jemima but Notre Dame is okay in keeping their Fighting Irish? Is it because Ireland is an ocean removed? Is it because bashing the Irish isn’t as socially taboo?

Curiosities raised in conversation.

James also mentioned that America celebrates St Patrick’s Day in a bigger and better way than even the Irish do. He’s seen pictures of Chicago’s parade and green-dyed river and commented that USA has the infrastructure to do that while Ireland does not.

By the way, dinner was delightful. A Pilgrim's meal with three courses and beverage will cost you less than 15-bucks, tax included and tipping not allowed. The carbonara ands salad were delightful and cod was tasty. It was swimming in oil or something and too rich to finish. For my dessert I chose a fruit plate while someone at another table chose walnuts and cream, which is literally a bowl of whipped cream topped with walnuts. If you come to my house for dinner after I get home, we’re trying this.

It’s 1:25 am and I am laying in bed wearing almost every stitch of clothing I brought. It's about 47-degrees Farenheit in the albergue, because, as I've learned, the "in" thing is to sleep with the windows open regardless of weather.

The info pages that said I do not need a sleeping bag clearly didn’t know me. I’ll take a detour from the trail on Friday and see if I can find a place to buy some warmth. In the meantime, Buen Camino!