By Chairman Tim Wilson

10/8/2011

I’d like to welcome all National, State, County, Division Officers, and AOH members. In the past 8 months the PA AOH has been very active with Anti-Defamation. We have protested at Spencer’s Gifts, we have done email campaigns to numerous organizations that slander our name and heritage. We have set up Irish Anti-Defamation tables at Irish events and festivals to not only educate the general public on negative stereotypes of the Irish, but to promote positive ways to celebrate our Irish Heritage.  We were told by the Spencer’s Gifts legal representative that we don’t represent the whole Irish community. So we identified the need to get a broader support for our cause, we then reached out to all Irish organizations for their support and started the Irish Anti-Defamation Federation. The board members of this organization are: Chairman: Tim Wilson (Phila. AOH), Vice Chairman: John Ragen (Delco. AOH), Recording Secretary: Marybeth Phillips (Irish Edition), Treasurer: Kathy McGee Burns (St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association), and Marshall: Jay McCarrie (Phila. AOH). The IADF has members from the Brehon Law Society, Irish Philadelphia, Irish Radio, Clan Na Gael, Irish Center, and numerous other Irish organizations. We are standing united as one representing the Irish Community, to combat these negative stereotypes and defamation of our race and heritage. But, as you all know, this is an uphill battle, and some of the biggest offenders that promote defamation and stereotypes of the Irish, are our own people of Irish descent. Whether it be Irish Pubs or organizations using our Patron Saint to make a buck, and having mardi gra types of celebrations,  calling it Halfway to St. Paddy’s Day, or our own members, family members, or friends wearing shirts that depict the Irish as drunks, like that Irish Yoga shirt that shows an Irishman with a bottle of liquor crawling, falling flat on his face, with puke next to him. Some of the people doing this don’t even realize how it affects the reputation of the Irish. One of the things in our Order that we all took an Oath on was not to support the caricaturing and debasing of the Irish people. Most of you are the leaders and Officers of the AOH, and you have members that are willing and want to get involved in something, and you’re in a position to help them do that. With the permission of our State President, I would like to ask all PA County boards and Divisions to appoint an Anti-Defamation Chairman. To change the stereotypes of the Irish, we need the grassroots to be active, and need to have large numbers to get the word out that the Irish are no longer going to be the only race that you can make fun of and ridicule in public. We can also educate the people of Irish descent that think being Irish is wearing big green hats and drinking, so that they learn why these things are offensive and defamatory, and also teach them how to respectfully celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and take pride in their Irish heritage.