Raising a glass
I could use a drink. The commemoration of the eradication of an inferior/non-Christian culture is always a good excuse for a drink.
Yes, St. Patrick's Day has become a celebration of Irish culture, and an excuse for public drunkenness, but the root is still with the civilizing/bringing of Christianity to Ireland.
I don't blame Christianity. I'm not against Christianity. I'm sure that Christianity is very good for some people, but I don't believe that forcing a religion or a culture on a people who already have a culture and belief system(s) in place really needs to have another set of religious and cultural beliefs forced upon them.
Do I think that the average St. Patrick's Day reveler understands that St. Patrick's Day is more than a reason to dress up in a garish costume and consume green colored alcoholic beverages? No.
But until I can come to terms that the holiday is not a means of blazoning the superiority of one culture and religious system over another, I cannot indulge in the revelry of the day.
Yes, St. Patrick's Day has become a celebration of Irish culture, and an excuse for public drunkenness, but the root is still with the civilizing/bringing of Christianity to Ireland.
I don't blame Christianity. I'm not against Christianity. I'm sure that Christianity is very good for some people, but I don't believe that forcing a religion or a culture on a people who already have a culture and belief system(s) in place really needs to have another set of religious and cultural beliefs forced upon them.
Do I think that the average St. Patrick's Day reveler understands that St. Patrick's Day is more than a reason to dress up in a garish costume and consume green colored alcoholic beverages? No.
But until I can come to terms that the holiday is not a means of blazoning the superiority of one culture and religious system over another, I cannot indulge in the revelry of the day.