Why I'm not wearing green today.

Please don't pinch me, but I'm just not a fan of this day.  I haven't worn green on St. Patrick's Day (intentionally, that is) for quite a few years now.  I realize many different people celebrate this day for many different reasons.  But when people ask me why I'm not wearing green, I usually find a slew of reasons to give them.  Here are a few:

1. I'm Irish year round.  This day isn't for me, it's for the non-Irish.  So, have fun with it, but I don't need a day set aside for being Irish.  I can wear that Kiss Me I'm Irish pin year round without shame.

2. I'm wearing orange.  I'm flying as much Irish flag as you are, really.  I do have some pride in and affinity with my Irish heritage.  So, it doesn't bother me to identify with it.  But the whole green thing is a bit to sheople-ish for my taste.

3. Celebrating being Irish is one thing.  Celebrating a religious figure is quite another.  Especially when the "snakes" that religious figure drove from Ireland were pagans.  Using your juggernaut of a church to roll over the beliefs of an indigenous people and mass-converting them isn't really the sort of thing I want to celebrate.

4. I can't stand drunks.  And I don't like "drinking holidays."  That means New Years Eve and Independence Day are out too.  And Memorial Day.  These are all thinly veiled excuses for people to get blind stinking drunk during the day.  And then I have to walk amongst them as I go to and from work.  It all just drives me crazy.  Whether it's the benignly stupid "WOOOHOOO" or the maliciously drunken insults hurled from cars, it annoys me.  Seeing people that can barely walk stumble around like idiots sounds funny on the surface, but it's just a whole wealth of problems waiting to happen.

5. Drunk drivers.  This goes hand in hand with number four.  Sure, a lot of people will take a taxi.  But a lot won't.  Drunk drivers are selfish, dangerous people.  Being a pedestrian, I feel especially vulnerable walking home from work on days like today.  All because of a drinking holiday.  How many casualties will there be this year?

So, that's why I don't celebrate this holiday, or even wear green.  But I don't begrudge other people having their fun.  I just hope they do it responsibly.  Get a taxi.  Don't get into fights.  And please for the love of everything you hold dear, don't hurl insults at passersby, especially if it's me.

Be safe.