Is the greening of Victoria Falls for St Patrick`s Day appropriate?

realitykeeper · 22-02-2019 11:22PM #1

I read today that there are plans afoot to illuminate the famed Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe with green light on St Patrick`s day. Is this in poor taste in the context of the times we are living in? The reason I ask is because I saw a very disturbing video on youtube recently of a starving and emaciated Polar bear in Alaska. Also, polar bears in Russia scavaging from a town`s rubbish dump because there was no sea ice which they need for hunting. If the Zimbabweans want to shine high powered lights on this natural wonder, I would prefer if this was not because of Ireland or our patron saint. Irish politicians should stop exploiting the patron saint who came to Ireland to spread Christianity.

St Patrick`s day is supposed to be a holy day dedicated to our patron saint and of course it has not been that for a long time. It is just an excuse to drink a lot of beer and for leprechaun politicians to go on junkets at our expense which is a bit cringeworthy. They are making us the laughing stock of the planet.

Bio Mech · 22-02-2019 11:26PM

So because of the polars bears Africans shouldn’t shine a light on a waterfall. Because it’s a Christian thing and too much beer and politicians are making people laugh.

I am not getting this.

mzungu · 22-02-2019 11:35PM

If they want to turn the Vic Falls green, then why not? The falls will flood at that time of year so there might not be much of a visual up close but from a distance it could look pretty spectacular.

elperello · 22-02-2019 11:36PM

Bit beyond parody when we are so insecure that we need to go around the globe turning things green.

I reckon we must be the only country in the world where the entire government decamps for the national feast day.
Having said that calling the trips junkets is far off the mark.
Lot's of air travel, meetings, hand shaking, sleeping in hotels. Give me a weekend at home anytime.

Del2005 · 22-02-2019 11:36PM

There's loads of famous landmarks all over the world being turned green for Paddies day. Is there any other country that has so many others celebrate it's national day? Not turning the buildings green won't save a single polar bear or any other animal.

Like all other "Christian" celebrations Paddies day is a secular celebration, anyway they were festivals before the christians stole them from the pagans so we are just going back to the fun part and let the religious keep their boring parts.

Ninthlife · 22-02-2019 11:38PM

Turn polar bears green then relocate them to the jungle where their new colour will ensure good canoflague for hunting.

Gimme A Pound · 22-02-2019 11:39PM

elperello wrote: »

Bit beyond parody when we are so insecure that we need to go around the globe turning things green.

"We"? Shur it's non Irish people who are into all that stuff.

The OP is probably taking the piss anyway - they tend to operate that way.

And can't see how "they" are making "us" the laughing stock of the planet. A lot of Irish people need to get over their inferiority complex.

Ten of Swords · 22-02-2019 11:40PM

screamer · 22-02-2019 11:42PM

I saw the Vic falls as a child, a small 3 year old child and I remember the roar of it to this day. I can’t wait to see it go green. No problem with it at all, it’s not as if the water is being polluted or anything.

Phileas Frog · 22-02-2019 11:46PM

Are there polar bears in Zimbabwe now or what? I'm confused

jhenno78 · 22-02-2019 11:51PM

I appreciate your thoughtfulness...but there's a hydo power plant in Victoria Falls - it's definitely going to be powered by clean energy.

(also yes, the whole "top 'o the mornin' " crap that comes out at paddy's day is annoying).

Birneybau · 22-02-2019 11:51PM

There's stretches and then there's that.

Ninthlife · 22-02-2019 11:53PM

Water load of sh*te

22-02-2019 11:53PM

Harry Palmr · 22-02-2019 11:53PM

Poor taste? Someone is worrying abut poor taste in connection with Patty's Day?! :pac:

dxhound2005 · 22-02-2019 11:55PM

Phileas Frog wrote: »

Are there polar bears in Zimbabwe now or what? I'm confused

They are in Zambia. It's a frictionless border.

piplip87 · 22-02-2019 11:57PM

I find the comments about junkets a bit OTT and very uneducated.

We have one day a year where our Taoiseach gets a sit down with whoever is in the White House. Not many countries outside NATO get this privilege.

The ministers visiting abroad usually attend events with the purpose of attracting FDI to Ireland. Without multinational investment we would be a lot poorer

pleas advice · 23-02-2019 12:04AM

Ten of Swords wrote: »

Ice Bear does not approve

realitykeeper · 23-02-2019 12:06AM

mzungu wrote: »

If they want to turn the Vic Falls green, then why not? The falls will flood at that time of year so there might not be much of a visual up close but from a distance it could look pretty spectacular.

I am not sure if this decision was exclusively made by the Zimbabweans with no external diplomatic input. This type of low level diplomacy usually has the fingerprints of politically appointed ambassadors all over it.

realitykeeper · 23-02-2019 12:10AM

Ninthlife wrote: »

Turn polar bears green then relocate them to the jungle where their new colour will ensure good canoflague for hunting.

Is this funny? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JhaVNJb3ag

Aidric · 23-02-2019 12:10AM

Any odds on how many lines were sniffed between the first and second full stop on the OP?

realitykeeper · 23-02-2019 12:14AM

screamer wrote: »

I saw the Vic falls as a child, a small 3 year old child and I remember the roar of it to this day. I can’t wait to see it go green. No problem with it at all, it’s not as if the water is being polluted or anything.

I have a more romanticized image of Africa.

Vita nova · 23-02-2019 12:18AM

I couldn't give a rat's ass if they colour the waterfall green for 17/3. However, I wish they'd change the name from Victoria Falls -named after the British queen Victoria- to something more native, especially considering its two proprietors Zimbabwe and Zambia both changed their names from Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia respectively.

23-02-2019 12:18AM

realitykeeper wrote: »

I have a more romanticized image of Africa.

Colonialist?

Franz Von Peppercorn · 23-02-2019 12:19AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Colonialist?

He’s a fan of poverty.

realitykeeper · 23-02-2019 12:21AM

piplip87 wrote: »

I find the comments about junkets a bit OTT and very uneducated.

We have one day a year where our Taoiseach gets a sit down with whoever is in the White House. Not many countries outside NATO get this privilege.

The ministers visiting abroad usually attend events with the purpose of attracting FDI to Ireland. Without multinational investment we would be a lot poorer

I could not disagree more. Junkets are precisely what they are. It is a privilege to sit in Leinster House and considering our 200 billion euro national debt, there is a lot of work to be done to sort the economy out. Luncheon with Trump will not solve these problems.

realitykeeper · 23-02-2019 12:23AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Colonialist?

Naturalist.

listermint · 23-02-2019 12:23AM

Bio Mech wrote: »

So because of the polars bears Africans shouldn’t shine a light on a waterfall. Because it’s a Christian thing and too much beer and politicians are making people laugh.

I am not getting this.

You've obviously never read one of his threads before.

They're a doozey...

Franz Von Peppercorn · 23-02-2019 12:24AM

realitykeeper wrote: »

I could not disagree more. Junkets are precisely what they are. It is a privilege to sit in Leinster House and considering our 200 billion euro national debt, there is a lot of work to be done to sort the economy out. Luncheon with Trump will not solve these problems.

You’re right - our politicians should never meet with any other country’s officials. No point to it. Bring back the workhouses.

realitykeeper · 23-02-2019 12:27AM

Vita nova wrote: »

... However, I wish they'd change the name from Victoria Falls -named after the British queen Victoria- to something more native, especially considering its two proprietors Zimbabwe and Zambia both changed their names from Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia respectively.

Yes I agree with this point. I think the reason it has not been changed is because these countries have yet to agree on a name. This is also why Lake Victoria which borders Tanzania and (I think) Kenya and Uganda is still called after yer wan.

realitykeeper · 23-02-2019 12:32AM

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

You’re right - our politicians should never meet with any other country’s officials. No point to it. Bring back the workhouses.

The fact that Irish politicians now visit Cuba speaks volumes, they are only serious about stupid things.

Is the greening of Victoria Falls for St Patrick`s Day appropriate?

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