Aren't there many of us who are 3rd, 4th, or 5th generation Irish, who have just discovered our "Irishness"? And are not most us obsessed with our Irishness? Does that not make us Plastic Paddies? I think probabaly I am, and it does not offend me. I am not one of the ones who stayed, and starved, and slaved for the Occupation Lords, if I had, I am sure I would have died.
Neither could I have personally, have traveled the Oregon(or any other) Trail--I would have been one of those who expired early, and had a wooden grave marker, now rotted to dust. So, what do we do about this? Forget? No, I don't think so.
We remember in pride, those of us who were allowed to survive, and those of us who survived because of the sacrifices of our ancestors, and so, we are (WHATEVER). Read here, Irish, Rom, Native American, Viking, whatever.So, here is a Toast to all our forbears,no matter where from, for having the fortitude to get us all where we are today, whether we are plastic or not.