Anyway, this is why we celebrate St. Patrick's Day. www.thefamineshiphannah.com
I think it is not a mostly recreational day, nor a mostly spiritual or religious day. I think it is in USA and probably Canada and elsewhere a day almost of passover..we survived..we made it..and lots did not on their journey. These were not sophisticated people for the most part and they did what they could. They are the ones, or their sons and daughters are ones more likely, who escalated St. Patrick's Day celebrations in US. In time it became ritualized..again by not very sophisticated people. People who painted green stripes down the streets and drank green beer and ate green mashed potatoes and wore green tiaras. But at the very heart of it all is a very tragic history. So I just can not see insulting people at this time. mg