In a few days, we will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday can trigger several potential topics that are relevant to our profession. Those could conceivably include different historical views about whether a governmental entity’s celebration of such a holiday involves an inappropriate co-mingling of church and state. Or we could consider the impact that an activity often associated with the day — alcohol consumption — has had on our profession, something that ironically yields some sobering thoughts. But, for me, it also serves as a reminder to celebrate the American immigration story.
Despite the fact that St. Patrick’s Day dates back to the ninth or tenth century and was established as a religious holiday in 1631, it has become more of an American holiday than an Irish one. But the Irish were not always celebrated in America. Despite the debate regarding the prevalence of “No Irish Need Apply” signs, there are few who dispute that there was widespread prejudice against the Irish when the potato famine resulted in a wave of immigration in the mid-19th century. Some have identified this as the first group of Americans who were labeled as “immigrants” in a pejorative way. St. Patrick’s Day offered a way to celebrate who they were, rather than to feel limited by it.
Irish Americans also quickly learned to resist discrimination as they experienced it. They used libel lawsuits, protests, and strikes to address the unfair circumstances associated with being an “immigrant.” Perhaps their story can serve as a reminder that a person’s character and competency should be assessed by metrics other than how long their family has lived in a particular geographic area.
Yours,
David Majchrzak
2022 SDCBA President