St. Patrick: history vs. here and now

One of my great friends posted something interesting last Saturday about St. Patrick's Day, something that made me pause and think.  (No flames allowed!)

"Today is a sad day. Today is not a day to celebrate. Today is not a day to drink, get shitty, puke, all under the guise of celebrating a man. One who condoned genocide."

I really don't agree with her sentiments, at least not all of them.  And because I didn't want to spam her journal, I saved the bulk for right here. 

I totally agree that St. Patrick should not be a celebrated hero (we're still trying to deal with the realities of Columbus, let alone Patrick).  But I also do not believe that America's St. Patrick festival, or at least the one that I celebrate in Chicago, has *anything* to do with that historical figure.  Which is why I feel completely free in celebrating it.  It actually is more a Spring Equinox bacchanal-like celebration for me.

But back to history and my own thoughts.. If we were to study history in great great detail, we would find it very difficult to find joy at any time of the year.  I agree that history has lessons that we must learn from, and I am *not* a fan of re-writing history, but I guess I also feel it is unhealthy to dwell, and unhelpful to ram down the throats of the idiotic Xtians their horrible history if they don't want to listen.  I have hope that they will eventually learn more of the truth of St. Patrick, and come to appreciate that their hero is my villain. 

March 17th definitely had a period of quiet and a period of discussion on the historical basis of it.  But then it was on with Spring Celebration, for me.