If ever there's a culture that's face front to politics, it's the Irish. We were born into it. It's no wonder then that Queens County NYC is home to two St. Patty's Day Parades. Sunday, March 1st was the 15th, or 16th, annual "all inclusive" packed-snow trek that included the LGBT community and ran from Sunnyside to Woodside. 'Tis grand in 2015 that one Grand Marshall was a woman, Kerry Kennedy [think RFK...civil rights; ex of NY Gov. Andrew Curmo; Kennedys from Limerick], with the other being actor Brian F. O’Byrne. None, nor 6'5" NYC Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio* aka Warren Wilhelm, Jr, were stars of the day. The "Sunnyside Stars" were NYC Horse drawn carriages! PHOTO> http://www.irishcentral.com/news/irishvoice/NYC-horse-and-carriages-welcomed-at-Queens-St-Patricks-Day-For-All-Parade.html Neither snow, nor rain, nor gloom prevented NYC's oldest inhabitants from trotting on by in spite of de Blasio's cold shoulder to carriage drivers. The de Blasio brouhaha continues: Remove some horses from Manhattan streets [not NYPD's] and un-employ predominantly Irish drivers. Why? To build exclusive condos on the stables' footprints. What's next? Bread pretzels? Just because he's a Massachusetts native is no excuse for de Blasio to eradicate NYC traditions. Reminder: THE ASPCA was founded in New York City in April 1866, prior to laws protecting its children. Why? Horses & commerce, horses and the rich. What's with today's elected politicos polarizing folks? Because they are doesn't mean we have to follow suit like a bunch of lambs. De Blasio marches with gays, but he won't march with Rockaway police and fire officers, our hurricane victims. Why should any elected official's personal agenda override respect for all New Yorkers? Leaders should be neutral and attend all or none. In NYC tradition LaGuardia and FDR sought to unify people and diminish fear. Today's politicos promote stereotyping others and shoving people into labels. Since controversial de Blasio* St. Patty's Parade RSVPs hinge on the disenfranchised. It's time to send HizHonor back to school to freshen up his Irish History e.g. NYC & Irish prejudice at Gucksman Irish House. Saturday, March 7th 1pm Rockaway Parade led by Grand Marshall Stephen J. Cassidy [son of Limerick & Cork], President of Uniformed Firefighters. Starts at Beach 129th St and Newport Ave and ends at St. Camillus parking lot. Subway/Directions: The A train to Beach 116th St. BIO: Bill deBlasio, aka http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_de_Blasio Barb