Kiss Me! I'm Irish!

By Danielle Campbell

It's that time of year again--to find my "Kiss Me I'm Irish!" button {although I am mostly Scottish, Danish, Dutch, Italian and a wee bit Irish}!

Saint Patrick happens to be one of my most favorite Saints!

That happened, not because of the parades, the green bagels and beer, the parties, the hats and the buttons.  Saint Patrick's life became a very powerful message of strength, endurance, morality, after I read

How The Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe, a non-fiction historical book written by Thomas Cahill.

Every year millions of Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but they may not be aware of how great an influence St. Patrick was on the subsequent history of civilization.

Not only did he bring Christianity to Ireland, he instilled a sense of literacy and learning that would create the conditions that allowed Ireland to become "the isle of saints and scholars" -- and thus preserve Western culture while Europe was being overrun by barbarians.

During this time cities were ransacked, priceless art was destroyed and libraries were burned to the ground.

 

In other words, as the last vestiges of the Roman Empire fell away, learning was lost. As the libraries and books went up in smoke, the ancient world’s literature, science, math, technology and order quickly followed.   Cahills' account of the young brave Patricious, who returned to Ireland after imprisonment and slavery, is compelling, fascinating, --- a story line that sounds more like a Hollywood movie.

Saint Patrick's Day---celebrates an ancient man --that truly legends are made of!

 However I do believe he would not be so thrilled in some of the ways we celebrate his life--because he dedicated his life to the Gaelic tribes and his life was spent trying to rid them of their ways of debauchery.

And so it was with great honor that I was part of the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Huntington.

Regardless of our faith and heritage, Saint Patrick is a man for all of us to emulate--his life, ----saved civilization.

And I say that's a great reason to wear a "Kiss me, I'm Irish button".

Comments

[BIG Bad Bob]

WOW, how informative. I never knew. Thanks. I think Long Island has better parades than NYC. NYC'S parade looks like a disorlerly union meeting with flags!!!! Maybe if New Yourk would hold their parades on the weekend like they do on Long Island and New Jersey??? Those kids in the drum corps and bands deserve to be seen on tv, don't ou agree?
Thanks...BIG Bad Bob!