The Irony of Schooling
Day writes, "Tradition! We scarcely know the word any more. We are afraid to be either proud of our ancestors or ashamed of them…These are attitudes the Irish, the Italian, the Lithuanian, the Slovak and all races begin to acquire in school. So they change their names, forget their birthplace, their language, and no longer listen to their mothers when they say." Schooling underwrites the disregard of tradition instead of encouraging the preservation of culture. A curriculum that promotes the subversion of people's Native cultures does not foster absolute learning, it is mere conditioning. Schooling should dwell on motivating individuals to embrace their unique background instead of eliciting shame about ancestors.
The Irony of prayers
Day recounts, "WE did not search for God when we were children. We took Him for granted. We were at some time taught to say our evening prayers. "Now I lay me, "and "Bless my father and mother." Considering the prayer lessons which Day received as a child, it would be projected that her relationship with God would be intimate. However, the prayers are an absolute ritual which does not necessarily encourage children to seek God. Therefore, praying is not tantamount to intimacy with God.
The Irony of Confession
Day concedes, "Going to confession is hard- hard when you have sins to confess, hard when you haven't, and you rack your brain for even the beginnings of sins against charity, chastity, sins or detraction, sloth or gluttony. You do not want to make too much of your constant imperfections and venial sins, but you want to drag them out to light of day as the first step in getting rid of them." Confession should not be difficult for sinless individuals. However, even just individuals are prone to sinning due to the inherent flaws of humanity. So even though one thinks that he hasn't sinned, approaching confession is difficult for he or she may have engaged in sinning unconsciously.
The Irony of Man’s Image
Day quotes the Psalmist: “ Thou (God) hast made him a little less than the angels.” He is made in the image and likeness of God, he is a temple of the Holy spirit.” Man’s similarity to God in terms of image is ironic because it is not reflected in man’s nature. Accordingly, man would not be expected to be sinful if he resembles God and hosts the Holy spirit.
“I did not ask to be born.”
Day admits “I have not always felt the richness of life, its sacredness. I do not see how people can without a religious faith. Children have a sense of joy in life but that soon wears away. One hears adolescents say, “I did not ask to be born.” The adolescents’ ironic remark regarding not sanctioning their births demonstrates that they are no longer delighting in life as they used during their childhoods. They would be expected to be grateful for their survival, but they do not because, at their stage, they are unruly.
