Today, March 17, I will not be wearing green for 2 reasons. First, it's a christian holiday. Second, "saint" Patrick was no saint. If you read the actual historical reports, you will find that he was the leader of a mercenary army that was hired to commit what we now call the crime of genocide. His job was to eliminate all the Druids from Ireland.
I'm totally anti-genocide. All people should be able to live their lives the way they wish to, regardless of what they believe. That includes those of us in this group that choose not to believe in what everyone else chooses to believe through their washed brains.
My great-grandmother was anti-genocide, too. She was murdered by the Gestapo in 1941 for what they called high crimes against the Third Reich. No arrest. No trial. Just an execution. She was a part of the German underground railroad, smuggling Jews out of Germany.
For these reasons, I will not be wearing green on March 17 of any year.
I'm wearing green 'cause it's my favorite color. Happy Saturday every body!!!!!
@AncientNight I love purple more than green, but don't have much in my wardrobe as of yet.
For us kids, it was just a day to wear green, or get pinched by your classmates. So much about St. Patrick is legend, some aren't sure he even existed.
Also, some say the "snakes" Patrick drove out of Ireland were people of ancient African descent called the "twa" which means "snake."
My Great Grandfather was a police chief in the USSR and survived Holodomor 1932-1933 perpetrated by Joseph Stalin and his cronies (considered a genocide by many). As soon as the Nazi's occupied his town he was given an ultimatum, tell them where all the town jews live or else your family will be shot. War is the essence of human degradation and so is genocide. We should never seek to glorify any of it.
First, I'm sorry that happened to your great grandmother, that is horrible. Second, I applaud your historical knowledge and your personal integrity, both are in high demand and shockingly short supply. I've never worn green on March 17, mostly because I'm not Irish, but partly because I am not a big fan of cultural appropriation. Though you could make an argument that the decline of the day into an excuse for open drunkenness is not culture, and it isn't uniquely Irish. Druids live on, though, in spite of old saint paddy.