Get Smart, Stupid: Cesar Chavez Day Is No St. Pat’s
Published on April 2, 2012 by Eric · 4 Comments
By Jacob Sprecher
Last week I happened to read an extremely unfortunate opinion piece in The Orion. Titled “Sombreros, mustaches acceptable on Chavez,” the column defended the recent Chico State tradition of dressing up like a bandito, beating piñatas and shooting tequila on Cesar Chavez Day.
“I don’t see the hate, and I disagree with the racism associated with Cesar Chavez Day,” writes Lucas Meeks. “It’s a custom on St. Patrick’s Day to dress in as much green as possible to show Irish holiday cheer, yet on Cesar Chavez Day, wearing a sombrero or poncho is seen as racially insensitive.”
Okay. I’m not gonna kneejerk and accuse Meeks of being a racist or, for that matter, a dumb-ass college kid that has no idea who Cesar Chavez even was. Meeks acknowledges Chavez as a “great man,” but simply doesn’t “understand the outrage over our treatment of his legacy.” Time to fix that.
Let’s begin with Meeks’ comparison of Cesar Chavez Day to St. Paddy’s. Unfortunately for Meeks, there is no logical comparison. St. Patrick’s Day is a 1,300-year-old religious holiday that, until 20th century Irish-Americans altered it, was nothing more than a simple feast in their homeland. This “holiday” is a complete sham in the first place, as St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish; he was born and raised on a wealthy, slave-owning farm in Britain. As for his teachings, there are two—and only two—letters in existence actually written by the patron saint. He was not sent to Ireland by the Pope, he did not introduce Christianity or drive snakes out of Ireland, nor did he use a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. In reality, St. Patrick was a missionary; he anointed clergy and performed baptisms, nothing more.
I can already hear people saying I’m simply proving Meeks’ point, that our present celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is a bastardization of a noble man. But what exactly are we bastardizing here? A hagiographical saint that’s been dead for 1,500 years? A hagiographical saint whose pop-culture relevance was brought to the forefront by immigrants of the same country that granted his sainthood? Well, even if we’re not downgrading St. Patrick and all his devout followers, I guess we’re probably still offending all the leprechauns. Because leprechauns are real. Okay, so then it’s offensive to wear the color green. Nope. Alright, so then it’s offensive to get blind drunk on a day revered with sanctity to native Irish peoples. Have you ever spent St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland? Well I have, and everybody gets fucking wasted, just like they do here. St. Patricks’ Day is an accepted, worldwide party whose religious significance never existed in the first place.
Now let’s look at Cesar Chavez Day. This a day dedicated to a very real person; a person that fought tirelessly for the labor/civil rights of Mexican-Americans; a person who passed just 19 years prior; a person that is entirely relevant to modern society and, more specifically, Chico, CA, home to thousands of blue-collar migrant workers. Cesar Chavez Day is a legitimate celebration honoring the continued fight for Mexican Americans’ civil equality. Last time I checked, there isn’t a whole lot hindering job prospects for people with white skin named O’Brien, nor are there cries to deport Irish immigrants back across the sea, nor are there proposed laws attempting to put a physical blockade between the United States and the island of Eire. So when you go to the bars on Cesar Chavez Day with a sombrero on your head and a bandolier strapped across your chest, you’re outright mocking the very substance of the occasion. This is a day to commemorate the progress made in defeating those same racially divisive stereotypes! By this same logic, anyone that thinks it’s okay to do the Mexican hat dance while shooting tequila on Cesar Chavez Day should also think it’s okay to have a party that serves fried chicken and watermelon on Martin Luther King Day!
So Meeks and whoever else: Next year, before the Jose Cuervo wets the glue on your fake ‘stache, take a glance in the mirror. You look like an ignorant fool.
Tags: Cesar Chavez Day, St. Patricks Day
Readers Comments (4)
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Im a Chico state student, ive read Lucas’ article and the other two Chico articles that disagree with Mr. Meek. While i like yours better and think you prove more points than the other article that references Lucas’ original article i think his argument still holds some merit. Its not as if we as students are partying to disgrace Cesar Chavez, we are partying because the school gives us the day off, The day off just happens to have a theme. Besides if you walked around the college streets of Chico this past weekend you would of seen a much more subdued party crowd. Chico students know who Cesar Chavez is, most know his legacy and understand why the community has a problem with the partying but Chico students will be Chico students and a 3 day weekend is reason enough to party regardless of any unintended implications. Even the students who dress up dont mean it to be racist and racism is all in the intentions. I see your point i just think its seen from a different perspective.
I see below even the Irish now are arguing points made inaccurately. This is not racism it is insensitivity to cultural differences and perspectives.
I love a good argument and culture clashes are unavoidable. Latino culture give importance to respecting others especially those who have earned it.
American culture prizes itself to be controversial in the name of individual freedom to express themselves.
I think most young people have the sensitivity to discern what is appropriate and few do not.
I say the golden rule always applies: do unto others and being a student is not an excuse.In fact it should make you more aware of the sacredness of humanity and how your thoughts, actions and words affect the world…because it does.
For you is not a big deal well then, soon nothing will be a big deal.
Learn, research and use critical thinking before too late.
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As an Irish American with ties to Ireland I find your descriptions of St Patrick’s Day inaccurate. We do have more than two letters from the Saint. We have the Confessions of St Patrick which he wrote about his life. He details his conversion to Christ while he was a slave and his actions in Ireland. He converted the Irish people to Christianity and is revered by the Irish. The US practice of celebrating his feast day is about defiance and celebration. The Irish were made worse than slaves in their own land, worse because while slave masters feed and clothe their slaves, the Irish worked as slaves but had to feed themselves of their own labor on land confiscated from them. A million left a million stayed and two million died in the Irish famine, while the british exported record levels of food. The party and the corned beef consumed by the Irish for the very first time in America were a celebration of survival from famine the death ships and the hatred and abuse the Irish suffered in America. The importance of Patrick to the Irish cannot be summed up and I see no reason to diminish St Patrick’s Day to celebrate your holiday. We all struggled, we all came for freedom and economic opportunity, we are all in this together. After silently suffering genocide and quietly making it in America and sending the money to Eire to buy back the land the Irish continue to quietly get on with things. Perhaps if they made the story big enough for everyone’s ears people might be shocked and see the victims they were, but in my experience my people suffer quietly, work hard, try to be cheerful and don’t dwell. The formula has made them tremendously successful.