From St. Patrick's Day to Shamrock Day?
By Terri Jo Ryan
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Faith and begorrah, is nothing sacred?
Some folks are trying to transform the name of Tuesday's holiday from St. Patrick's Day to "Shamrock Day."
Card shops have banners proclaiming the occasion; the Disney Channel is using the term; and some places in this country have changed the name of their community celebrations of Celtic heritage to the "nonoffending" terminology.
And that offends some folks.
"I'm afraid I could use all kinds of expressions that wouldn't be principled to describe this trend," said Monsignor Mark Deering, 88, senior-most Catholic cleric in these parts.
Deering, retired pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church of Waco, came here from Ireland in 1953 as a freshly minted missionary priest and never left.
"I don't think that would ever be a success to call it Shamrock Day," he said.
People the world over, of every culture and race, enjoy being Irish for the day, he added. And he said he's heard no one take great umbrage before at having a Christian saint's name attached to the day of merriment.
"In fact, in New York City, when the parade comes down Fifth Avenue, the Jews take more joy in it than almost anyone," Deering said.
But the organizers of Shamrock Day celebrations, such as the Habitot Children's Museum in California, cite the need for "cultural diversity to our audience without broaching religious boundaries."
"A number of modern-day celebrations have their origins in religious holidays but have become broadly celebrated by everyone. Halloween and Mardi Gras are prime examples," the Habitot spokeswoman said, as reported on CustosFidei.blogspot.com on March 14, 2007.
But according to Robert Flynn, a novelist and 1954 Baylor University graduate, that's a lot of blarney.
"I don't see what is so wrong about having a saint's name in the holiday. It has no real religious connotation anymore, especially in this country, where it's entirely a secular celebration," Flynn said. "I mean, what will these people do with Rosh Hashana or some other Jewish holiday? Call it Mitzvah Day?"
Flynn, a retired Trinity University professor who lives in San Antonio, said he likes to claim all religions and their holidays as his own.
"It gives you more days off," he said. "Definitely, all Irish need to take the day off Tuesday."
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My Thoughts
Geez! They have too much time on their hands, if they're worried about St. Patrick. Why must the overly sensitive few offend the majority to save themselves from a minor discomfort? What about the majority's sensitivities and discomfort brought about by taking away our traditions, holidays, and culture?
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