I know I am a day late.
But better late than never, right?
So….
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
That day when you get…
To wear something green.
And, to drink green beer (or a Guinness).
And when a green river flows through downtown Chicago.
I am glad we can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but here is my back story.
When I was a little boy we never celebrated St. Patrick’s Day.
I never wore something green to school.
Why?
We were/are Protestants, not Roman Catholic.
In Northern Ireland, Roman Catholics wore green.
Protestant Irish wore orange.
Almost like gang colors so you would know who was who.
All of this is rooted in the sectarian violence which plagued Ireland until the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
I am glad we are past all that.
I am glad we are past the hatred and discrimination which the Irish faced when the immigrated to this country. I am glad, for a day, we can all wear green and celebrate with parades, and for a moment all be Irish.
Thinking about St.Patrick’s Day yesterday prompted this dream.
That before too long, with the same enthusiasm we bring to St. Patrick’s Day, we will celebrate…
African Heritage Day.
Puerto Rican Heritage Day.
Mexican Heritage Day.
Filipino Heritage Day.
Korean Heritage Day.
I could go on, but you get the idea.
We would sing and dance, share special food and, for a moment, all be xxxxx.
When that moment comes we will be that much closer to the world God intends.
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