Ceci N'est Pas Vert*

Colors as Labels

I tend not to be a follower. I actively avoid most causes or clubs, especially those that choose to associate themselves with a particular color, or combination of colors, as a symbol of support.

The problem I have with colors as group symbols is simple. People see you wearing the color, and assume that you are associated with the group, whether you are or not. Because of the color you wear, you become labeled by them. I don't like being presumed to be a member of a group - or a supporter of even a worthy cause - just because I happened to wear a particular color.

I grew up in Syracuse, NY, home of Syracuse University and the Orangemen athletic teams. Wearing orange, especially combined with navy blue, meant that you were a fan. Wearing orange if you didn't happen to be a fan often induced strangers to start a conversation along the lines of, "How about that game last night? Didn't the Orangemen do great?"

Red and purple was once a passionate color combination, frequently used in Valentine's Day marketing by stores that wanted to have a more modern approach to the holiday. Now, you can't use the colors together without being assumed to be a Red Hat Lady.

Even causes that are otherwise quite worthy can be tainted for me by a declaration of a color association. There's a women's heart health campaign that declares a particular day as "Red Dress" day. Now, I'm not suggesting that anyone could be against better heart health awareness and care for women. But I fear wearing a red dress on that day just by chance becomes an open invitation to others around you to spend the day talking about heart health with you.

Hmm...maybe that's the real issue. I don't want strangers to presume they have a common bond with me - or that they can think they know something about me - just because I happen to wear a certain color. I am a private person. Most people won't believe this after seeing some of the bold things I do for Knitting Around and such, but I'm quite a shy person. I much prefer not to have casual chats with strangers when I'm out running errands.

So I avoid wearing colors that I have heard are associated with certain things on certain days, because I fear that they will be considered an invitation to conversation by strangers around me.

What's My Point?

This is really all a case of the sort of self-examination I find myself doing when I want to explain my position about something in my blog. I want to be sure I have some clue why I feel the way I do before trying to tell you about it.

And the reason it comes up today is simple. I'm not Irish. (If you must know, my mother's side of the family is Swedish with a little French, and my father's side is Scottish via French Canada.) I don't believe in pretending I'm Irish. I've never enjoyed situations where one is called upon to pretend to be something they're not just because "everyone" does it.

All my life, since childhood, I have actively avoided wearing Green on St. Patrick's Day because of it. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with those who choose to celebrate the day by pretending to be Irish, by eating corned beef and cabbage, drinking green beer, or dancing a little jig while they listen to the Clancy's or the Makem's.

But you know that if I happen to wear Green that day, everyone will presume that I'm participating at that level. Mind you, I'm not beyond having a Shamrock Shake at McDonald's or something like that. But the things I like about the Celtic culture, I will enjoy all year long, and not in a concentrated dose on a single day in March just because it happens to be "Everyone is Irish" day.

St. Patrick's Day is a fun concept, and for those who enjoy the excuse for a party, by all means go celebrate in any way you like. And if your upbringing actually has you celebrating it as a Saint's Day, or as a serious celebration of your heritage, then even more kudos to you for defying the American Pop Culture rendition of the day!

It's just not for me. So you won't be finding me wearing green today, and I won't put on a "Kiss me, I'm Irish" button, and I won't play any of the Celtic music we have here in the house.

Though I may still have a cup of green tea at Panera tonight.

*Ceci N'est Pas Vert - trans. "This is Not Green". A nod to Magritte and his painting, "Ceci n'est pas une pipe".

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