I wish i'd seen Pope Benedict
Would've been nice. I'm not religious, but I like Big Once In A Lifetime Events like that. Alas, his schedule just didn't fit with mine. That is, he was either too far or too early or both. If, say, his popemobile was going down 5th Ave at 5pm yesterday, I'd have been there trying to score a viewing. 1:15pm, however, was far too early...after going to bed at like 4:30am. Too bad. I saw Pope John Paul II...well, waved to his tinted-glassed limo...back in '95, so I have indeed been in the presence of a Holy Father.
It's tempting to be cynical about it all. The pope's presence here doesn't change my non-beliefs. Or my raised eyebrows about all these sobbing people, some traveling from other states and other COUNTRIES. Or my eyerolling over the saturation media coverage. I wondered if a Papal Expert was gonna come on TV and reverently discuss Papal Shitting Protocol with one of the many fawning, suddenly deeply Catholic local news anchors. I also wondered what the Jews or Protestants or Muslims thought about Catholicism taking center stage. I mean, is there a Chief Jew? Or Papa Protestant? Or Mr. Muslim? I have no damn clue, because only the Catholics' Pope is so made out to be a superhero. There certainly wouldn't be preemptions of your fave TV shows to show Rabbi Rick landing at JFK and, I don't know, smashing a glass on the ground? It's why I'm glad I'm Catholic...it's so damn easy. You're automatically with the In Crowd. It's all about US...even when we're not religious. There's no jealousy or annoyance of some other religion getting all the attention.
However he got to be The King of Religion, the Pope is about what he represents. For ALL. For the world, no matter what your faith. Peace, hope, love. Bringing us all together. It transcends religion. He's about as mythic a figure as the world has. So I get it. I put it in its proper perspective, but I get why people are drawn to him. I understand how the thousands at Yankee Stadium felt today...the feeling of everyone being one...mere fellow humans, no matter your race, age, gender, economic standing, sexual preference. All wanting the same things out of life. I certainly understand the importance of the Pope's presence at the World Trade Center site...how unspeakably comforting that must have been to the victims' families and friends. How could you NOT be moved by that footage? So i'm sorry I didn't get to share in all that firsthand. Guess i'm not THAT much of a fanatic that I'd deign to wake earlier to run around to MAYBE catch a passing few seconds of Pope Benedict. But I'm glad he came to America. And i'm glad he brought so much unification and hope...if only for a few days.
It wasn't mentioned often in all the pro-Pope media hoopla, but there's actually MANY who just didn't give a damn that he was here. Who were annoyed by the security measures. Or simply non-impressed with such reverence paid to a man in a white robe and red shoes (!?) chosen by committee to be The Voice of God. But i'm not one of those people. I'd have been as overjoyed as anyone if I got to meet him. See, i'm NOT actually that cynical. Thanks for visiting, Benny.
It's tempting to be cynical about it all. The pope's presence here doesn't change my non-beliefs. Or my raised eyebrows about all these sobbing people, some traveling from other states and other COUNTRIES. Or my eyerolling over the saturation media coverage. I wondered if a Papal Expert was gonna come on TV and reverently discuss Papal Shitting Protocol with one of the many fawning, suddenly deeply Catholic local news anchors. I also wondered what the Jews or Protestants or Muslims thought about Catholicism taking center stage. I mean, is there a Chief Jew? Or Papa Protestant? Or Mr. Muslim? I have no damn clue, because only the Catholics' Pope is so made out to be a superhero. There certainly wouldn't be preemptions of your fave TV shows to show Rabbi Rick landing at JFK and, I don't know, smashing a glass on the ground? It's why I'm glad I'm Catholic...it's so damn easy. You're automatically with the In Crowd. It's all about US...even when we're not religious. There's no jealousy or annoyance of some other religion getting all the attention.
However he got to be The King of Religion, the Pope is about what he represents. For ALL. For the world, no matter what your faith. Peace, hope, love. Bringing us all together. It transcends religion. He's about as mythic a figure as the world has. So I get it. I put it in its proper perspective, but I get why people are drawn to him. I understand how the thousands at Yankee Stadium felt today...the feeling of everyone being one...mere fellow humans, no matter your race, age, gender, economic standing, sexual preference. All wanting the same things out of life. I certainly understand the importance of the Pope's presence at the World Trade Center site...how unspeakably comforting that must have been to the victims' families and friends. How could you NOT be moved by that footage? So i'm sorry I didn't get to share in all that firsthand. Guess i'm not THAT much of a fanatic that I'd deign to wake earlier to run around to MAYBE catch a passing few seconds of Pope Benedict. But I'm glad he came to America. And i'm glad he brought so much unification and hope...if only for a few days.
It wasn't mentioned often in all the pro-Pope media hoopla, but there's actually MANY who just didn't give a damn that he was here. Who were annoyed by the security measures. Or simply non-impressed with such reverence paid to a man in a white robe and red shoes (!?) chosen by committee to be The Voice of God. But i'm not one of those people. I'd have been as overjoyed as anyone if I got to meet him. See, i'm NOT actually that cynical. Thanks for visiting, Benny.
posted by Gregoire at 8:21 PM
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