Americans find much to admire

Today is a special day for many of us, at least those who claim Irish ancestry. If you're among us, welcome to the club.

In fact, some 34 million residents of the United States claim Irish ancestry -- almost nine times the population of Ireland itself, which is only 3.9 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Irish is the second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only German -- something residents of McCook, home to German Heritage Days -- should be able to understand.

The immigration didn't end with the potato famine. Today, there are some 148,000 U.S. residents who were born in Ireland, according to the Census Bureau. In all, some 4.8 million lawful immigrants have come to America since 1820, including more than a thousand in the 2003 fiscal year.

St. Patricks Day is important everywhere in America, but especially in McCook, where St. Patricks Church and school are keystones to the community.

But who are we really celebrating today? According to the Irish Echo online newspaper, much confusion surrounds the real St. Patrick.

As best we know, St. Patrick started as Maewyn Succat, born around 400 AD, and kidnapped from Roman Britain in his teens and held captive in Ireland for six years. Working as a shepherd, he turned to God, escaped and studied to enter the priesthood.

Only after he became a bishop was Ireland's patron saint rechristened Patricuius, or Patrick.

After that, fact and legend may be far appart.

St. Patrick was said to have rid Ireland of snakes, but there is no evidence they ever existed there.

Nor was he the first to introduce Christianity to the Emerald Isle; he was sent there later to minister to Catholics already there and to convert the pagan majority.

But modern Americans can find much to admire in St. Patrick, who condemned slavery, lauded the strength and courage of women and used Irish understandings to teach his faith.

Irish immigrants forced to leave their homeland identified so much with him that the modern American St. Patrick's Day holiday has been celebrated as far back as 1762 in New York.

But don't take the celebration too far.

It's never safe to drink and drive, and law enforcement personnel will be especially vigilant tonight, and the Nebraska State Patrol even has special sobriety checkpoints set up in other parts of the state. So, celebrate sensibly, and Erin go Bragh.