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Posted on 02/11/2002 4:33:56 AM PST by The American
Christians all over the world start preparations for the miracle of Easter this week. The religious season begins on Ash Wednesday, but the day before -- Fat Tuesday -- now steals the season's thunder. Fat Tuesday serves as a festive break before the forty solemn days of Lent. Over the years, however, this celebration has turned evil. The last day before Lent now plays host to the most vulgar haven of debauchery this side of Hell. Welcome to Mardi Gras.
Drunks and perverts crawl out of the sewers to participate in Mardi Gras, the "greatest free party on earth." Most of these misguided individuals congregate in New Orleans; nearly four million morons journey there for this annual freak show. New Orleans even takes pride in its status as a notorious breeding ground for misbehavior. Twelve days of parades and lax police coverage practically beg infidels to join in the city's Mardi Gras festivities.
Admittedly, New Orleans is not the only city to host Mardi Gras events, but its parties are easily the biggest around ... and the most risqué. So why does this city allow, let alone invite, the world's alcoholics to trash the town? Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in the $500 million the annual event pumps into the local economy. Yes, Nawlins' sold its soul to the devil for some quick cash.
Speaking of the devil, the Prince of Darkness might as well set up shop on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. Forget Vegas, the real Sin City is New Orleans. The French Quarter becomes a massive frat party. Morals and virtues go the way of the dodo, never to be seen again. Cameramen for Girls Gone Wild, on the other hand, sprout up like weeds. Decent people metamorphose into demonic heathens.
Two things catalyze this transformation: beads and booze. Like nearly every other social problem, alcoholism and promiscuity are the lifeblood of this event. The sheer volume of alcohol consumed at Mardi Gras would make Robert Downey, Jr. shudder. It comes as no surprise that Mardi Gras guests, already suffering from lack of judgment, have their common sense further impaired by the overabundance of firewater flowing through their veins. With droves of inebriated partygoers filling the streets, the hedonistic carnival lacks any semblance of decency.
And things only get worse once the beads start flying. Inhibitions are tossed out the window as quickly as cheap necklaces. Women take a page out of Louisiana-native Britney Spears' book, turning into sluts as soon as night falls; exhibitionism becomes commonplace as females expose themselves every other minute. Grown men turn into little boys, ogling women and whining for more. Mardi Gras is no place for a gentleman.
The appalling lack of self-respect displayed at Mardi Gras must be stopped. As the most noteworthy host to the immoral celebrations, New Orleans must make the first move. The Big Easy holds so many conventions that it could expel Mardi Gras with few financial repercussions. Also, since it is already overflowing with culture, the city would not lose its identity from such a move. And a move is necessary because allowing and promoting the celebrations in their current form is equivalent to challenging a child to Russian Roulette -- New Orleans should know better. Mardi Gras, good for nothing except encouraging the destruction of virtues, is a major factor in society's moral decline.
Churches frequently ask patrons to give up something for Lent. Usually little kids give up a luxury like chocolate milk or a toy, while adults are encouraged to give up something that will improve themselves. Maybe that means giving up fatty desserts or the weekly trip to the bar. Along that train of thought, people who destroy themselves every year at the "greatest free party on earth" should give up their travel plans ... and New Orleans should give up Mardi Gras.
There's that word again...
Somebody from Cornell came down to N'Awlins and couldn't get any booze or babes, so he writes this stuff? Please.
And feel...I mean I had to find out if those were real bazongas! It could've been a demonic deception, or something. Just kidding. I wanted to feel (!!!), but I didn't have the cajun cojones...
If you don't want to see it, just don't go. New Orleans will never, ever get rid of this tradition. It's right up there with apple pie.
Mebbie...but dat food....Ahhh...Life IS good!
Made a big Gumbo last week. Gotta go get my King Cake today. Chowing on a Po' Boy raht now. Thinking mebbie for tomorrow I'll make Jambalaya with Chicken, Sausage and Tasso. Mebbie be wearin' my beads tomorrow too. Gonna being happy wit dat warm feeling in my tummy. Be singin' Allons a Lafayette and Bon Ton Roulet! Good cajun n zydeco n blues music...I gaurantee it...hehehe. Bon Ton Roulet!
prisoner6
A casual shoe made for boating?
Americas Greatest President...?
Some of my fondest memories of grade school were during Mardi Gras. Collecting beads, trinkets and dubloons thrown from the parade floats was the name of the game and if you did'nt have a pillow case full of the stuff by the end of the season you were a minor leaguer.
The crown jewel of parade paraphenalia was the Zulu coconut. If you managed to score one of those you were the envy of all your friends.
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