A Mixed Heritage: Showing Pride on St.

Pattys Day
Mitchell Johnson
Nowadays, March 17 brings up images of green beer, packed pubs, and raging Irish singa-longs. Yet, are these the things that St. Patricks Day should be known for?
The holiday is universally recognized in the Christian religion and celebrates the arrival
of Christianity to Ireland due to the evangelism of St. Patrick.
However, it not only celebrates the Christian faith, it is a general celebration of the Irish
and their rich heritage. It is in this the daylong observance of Irish culture which our
pop culture ideas of St. Patricks Day stem from.
In such a diverse country as the U.S. (ap style?), knowing ones heritage becomes a point
of pride. Connor Halloran, a student at Winona State University, is extremely proud of
his Irish roots saying he loves Irelands history of freedom fighting, love of poetry,
passion for democracy, and standing up for their beliefs.
The U.S. is not a country of purely Irish immigrants, however, and this is may be where
the popular notions of St. Patricks Day get off its base.
Tony Krusenbaum, another Winona State student, comes from a family steeped in
German traditions. His father moved from Germany to Wisconsin in adulthood and
brought over many traditions.
I grew up speaking both German and English, said Krusenbaum. Many holidays
growing up were celebrated through German culture.
He goes on to express the value that comes with cultural diversity saying, Having
exposure to two different sets of cultures throughout my upbringing has made me a wellrounded person and has opened my eyes to other walks of life.
Despite the intense diversity between cultures, the exposure to both proved an invaluable
experience for Krusenbaum.
Its easy to make the excuse that the world is so different, the gap between cultures so
significant, that any real connection is difficult, sometimes impossible.
In response to this assertion is Jaime Ortiz Ruiz, a recent graduate of Winona State, and a
native Spaniard.
Ortiz lived in Minnesota for five years and experienced the culture gap firsthand.
I have to be very well informed about my own country so I can talk about different
topics all the time, said Ortiz. For example: If you are a person interested in history of
art, I try to know at least a little bit of that topic so I can promote Spain that way.

He goes on to discuss how he views culture and heritage not as different country
and race, but in smaller terms like neighborhoods and states.
An example comes in his visits to the southern U.S. where, when he tells people how
much time he has spent in Minnesota, he is greeted with stares of disbelief and the
question: what are you doing there?
I hate that behavior, said Ortiz, I think that people should take pride of their heritage
but be wiling to experience others and don't be as ethnocentric.
Isnt that a lesson that holds true here in America? We are the melting pot, the tossed
salad, the patchwork quiltwe cannot afford to dwell on differences, regional or global.
This St. Patricks Day, while the green beer at the bar loses its fizz, or while a rousing
rendition of Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly is being sung, take a moment to feel
the pride present in not only Irish heritage, but also in the coming together of cultures that
America represents.