Protest Against Spencer Gifts
Subj: Doylestown Inteligencer
Irish eyes are crying foul
TEXT SIZE
By: FREDA R. SAVANA
The Intelligencer
'Kiss me, I'm Irish' is a popular sentiment this time of year, but a bawdier version on sale at Spencer Gifts does not have Hibernians' eyes smiling.
Spencer Gifts has taken the expression "Kiss me, I'm Irish" to a new, lewd level, including some less loving expressions that people of Irish descent say are derogatory and demeaning.
The Ancient Order of the Hibernians is mounting a phone and e-mail campaign against the Egg Harbor, N.J.,-based retail chain, telling it to remove the T-shirts, which substitute various profanities for the word "kiss" in the popular St. Patrick's Day slogan.
"It's totally disgusting," said Seamus Boyle, national president of the Order, which supports Irish culture. "They've offended a whole nationality."
Kevin Mahoney, general counsel for Spencer Gifts, said the business, with 600 stores across the country, including in Willow Grove Park, Neshaminy and Oxford Valley malls, never meant to insult the Irish.
"It certainly was not Spencer Gifts' intention to defame anyone. We are known as an irreverent, humor store. (The shirts) are meant to be fun and humorous, not to denigrate the Irish people," Mahoney said.
He said the merchandise is kept in the back of the store and the shirts have sensors to prevent shoplifting. The store has carried similar items for years and has no intention of stopping sales, said Mahoney.
Humor is one thing, said Ed Halligan, president of the Montgomery County chapter of the Hibernians, but the shirts "cross the line."
"This stereotype of the Irish because of a few is a shame," he said. "We've gotten away from a sense of morality in this country and they want to use the Irish as a target."
Halligan pointed out the many good works Irish-Americans and the Hibernians do, including helping the underprivileged.
"We're all Americans first. There's a time you have to say stop. Who knows who's next?"
Denny Gaw, state president of the organization, said the Hibernians, with 10,000 members around the United States, will begin handing out flyers outside Spencer's if the phone calls and e-mails don't work.
This is not the first time Spencer's has come across public opposition.
In 2006, the Oxford Valley Mall store manager and the chain's chief executive officer faced charges for selling drug paraphernalia. Charges were dropped when the retailer agreed to pull the water pipes, or hookahs, from its shops and donated $6,000 to groups that deal with the effects of drug and alcohol abuse.
A public outcry in 2007 over the sale of "adult devices" at the Neshaminy Mall brought a citation to the company's CEO, Steven Silverstein.
There was nothing illegal about the products, but the display violated a township ordinance, according to police.
Freda R. Savana can be reached at 215-345-3061 or fsavana@phillyBurbs.com.
March 10, 2009 01:40 AM
Irish eyes are crying foul
TEXT SIZE
By: FREDA R. SAVANA
The Intelligencer
'Kiss me, I'm Irish' is a popular sentiment this time of year, but a bawdier version on sale at Spencer Gifts does not have Hibernians' eyes smiling.
Spencer Gifts has taken the expression "Kiss me, I'm Irish" to a new, lewd level, including some less loving expressions that people of Irish descent say are derogatory and demeaning.
The Ancient Order of the Hibernians is mounting a phone and e-mail campaign against the Egg Harbor, N.J.,-based retail chain, telling it to remove the T-shirts, which substitute various profanities for the word "kiss" in the popular St. Patrick's Day slogan.
"It's totally disgusting," said Seamus Boyle, national president of the Order, which supports Irish culture. "They've offended a whole nationality."
Kevin Mahoney, general counsel for Spencer Gifts, said the business, with 600 stores across the country, including in Willow Grove Park, Neshaminy and Oxford Valley malls, never meant to insult the Irish.
"It certainly was not Spencer Gifts' intention to defame anyone. We are known as an irreverent, humor store. (The shirts) are meant to be fun and humorous, not to denigrate the Irish people," Mahoney said.
He said the merchandise is kept in the back of the store and the shirts have sensors to prevent shoplifting. The store has carried similar items for years and has no intention of stopping sales, said Mahoney.
Humor is one thing, said Ed Halligan, president of the Montgomery County chapter of the Hibernians, but the shirts "cross the line."
"This stereotype of the Irish because of a few is a shame," he said. "We've gotten away from a sense of morality in this country and they want to use the Irish as a target."
Halligan pointed out the many good works Irish-Americans and the Hibernians do, including helping the underprivileged.
"We're all Americans first. There's a time you have to say stop. Who knows who's next?"
Denny Gaw, state president of the organization, said the Hibernians, with 10,000 members around the United States, will begin handing out flyers outside Spencer's if the phone calls and e-mails don't work.
This is not the first time Spencer's has come across public opposition.
In 2006, the Oxford Valley Mall store manager and the chain's chief executive officer faced charges for selling drug paraphernalia. Charges were dropped when the retailer agreed to pull the water pipes, or hookahs, from its shops and donated $6,000 to groups that deal with the effects of drug and alcohol abuse.
A public outcry in 2007 over the sale of "adult devices" at the Neshaminy Mall brought a citation to the company's CEO, Steven Silverstein.
There was nothing illegal about the products, but the display violated a township ordinance, according to police.
Freda R. Savana can be reached at 215-345-3061 or fsavana@phillyBurbs.com.
March 10, 2009 01:40 AM
Labels: Irish-American news
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