St. Patrick's Day as a national holiday in the US...Guinness Proposition 3-17.Well, on its face, this may seem like a silly marketing campaign to promote Guinness, but the more I think on it, the more I'm drawn to the conclusion that this is not so bad an idea and in fact has many justifiable merits.
First off, let me disclose at the start, that I have a vested interest in this movement as I am an Irish musician and anything that puts St. Patrick's Day in the spotlight certainly can't be bad for business. With that said, what is wrong with a national holiday that celebrates the history , culture and contribution of an ethnic group which was instrumental in the creation, growth and sustenance of the United States?
There are estimates that at least twenty-five percent of the Continental Army was comprised of Irish men who had come to the United States as either laborers, servants, farmers or tradesmen or had been transported here against their will as a result of the penal laws of Great Britain. Commodore John Barry and General Richard Montgomery, two Revolutionary War heroes, were of Irish descent along with some 20 or so of Washington's generals.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Irish emigration to America as a result of political, religious or socio-economic circumstances has led us to the fact that Irish-Americans represent between 12 and 15% of our population (approximately 44 million as of 2006) second only to German-Americans.
The Irish diaspora (look it up) has resulted in a wealth of contributions to American society and culture ranging from industry & politics to our civil services and military; from sports & entertainment to our cultural heritage and even our language.
At least twenty-two of our presidents have been of Irish ancestry, while JFK has the most famous associations with Ireland, Andrew Jackson's parents were Irish born making him a first generation Irish American!
Henry Ford, one of the greatest industrialists in our history was the son of Irish immigrants who fled the famine in the 1840's. F. Scott Fitzgerald, Eugene O'Neill, Flannery O'Connor, Walt Disney, Spencer Tracy and a host of others have graced our libraries our stages and the silver screen. From Molly Pitcher (McCauly) to Audie Murphy, the most decorated combat soldier of World War II, Irish-Americans have defended our country's ideals and liberties. James Braddock, Jack Dempsey were kings of the ring. Roger Connor was the original home run king before the Babe later followed by greats like Connie Mack and Tug McGraw. Irish Americans all.
The list goes on and on...examples abound. The question, simply stated, is whether or not this cultural heritage, which is such an integral and vibrant colored thread in the American fabric, should be honored with the recognition of a national holiday.
I, for one, say yes. There will be arguments against this movement, and financial objections to the impact on business and industry by the creation of another federal holiday. Even in light of these objections, in this age of over-sensitivity and hyper political correctness, I think that a holiday to commemorate the contributions of the Irish and celebrate the vibrancy of important part of our national culture is a good idea for us all.
If you want to sign the petition, go to Guinness Proposition 3-17 or visit our Facebook profile and vote from there at Blackwater on Facebook
