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To the Editor:
It is good to honor St. Patrick, to march in parades, sing the old songs and dance the old dances to celebrate the Irish heritage. But it is important to remember St. Patrick was himself the victim of a modern day horror: human trafficking. He was kidnapped as a boy and sold into slavery. He suffered the pain of separation from his family, his homeland and his Christian beliefs.
He eventually escaped his captors, was ordained a priest and bishop and returned to Ireland to bring the light of Christ to the ancient Druids. He knew their culture and beliefs and adapted them to Christian beliefs. Flexible and approachable he taught the Gospel with conviction and strength and won over the ancient Druids and all of Ireland to the Christian faith.
Before that he was a victim of human trafficking. He knew the suffering of slaves, indentured servants and kidnapped victims. Human trafficking exists today. Young boys and girls are sold into slavery for sexual exploitation, human beings are kidnapped for their body parts. People are sold to toil on land and sea as slaves and discarded when they can no longer work. Many others are victims of economic slavery who are cheated out of their wages or paid so little they can’t climb out of an ever-deepening pit. Human trafficking in all forms is evil and cries out for justice.
As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, let us do so will joy and happiness. And as we honor St. Patrick, let us also resolve to do whatever we can to lift all human beings up to their true worth.
Harry Florentine
Rye Brook
