CHANGING HISTORY

Reuters had a very interesting story regarding the use of new symbolism in loyalist graffiti. In Northern Ireland both the loyalist and the republican sides in Belfast paint graffiti with their imagery on the walls. Traditionally the republicans use Celtic themes and scenes from Irish history. The loyalists were somewhat more limited in that they generally used British themes. Now, in an effort to reinvigorate the Ulster-Scots identity of (most) of the loyalists, Americans with Northern Irish (Protestant) connections are being used. The funniest example is Davy Crockett, whose people come from County Derry. Crockett died at the Alamo defending the right of the local population to leave an oppressive country and pursue their destiny on their own. How this applies to the loyalist cause, which seeks to keep the republican population in Britain against its will, is beyond me.

In the same vein, today is Columbus Day. Maybe someday our kids will be shocked that we ever celebrated Columbus. We are now taught that he (a) didn't discover anything, since people living here already knew about what he "discovered", (b) brought the slave trade to the New World, and (c) launched the beginning of the native genocide in the Western Hemisphere. It seems to me that the historical record is a little more ambiguous than that, and that Columbus was a creature of his age. Thus, blaming him for cultural insensitivity in 1492 with regard to slaves and natives seems a little unfair. Similarly, blaming him for discovering in a southern European context what was apparently well known to the Norse and western hemisphere natives just means that the Norse and Natives failed to propagate their knowledge. Again, not Columbus's fault. Therefore, in sum, leave poor old Cristobal alone and teach the real good and bad of history without attacking him.

WHEN DOES SPACECRAFT JESUS ARRIVE?

The Denver Post ran a story about some of the Catholic movements that are based in Denver. Apparently, the Pope's visit to Denver in 1993 inspired people to change the nature of their worship, and to do it in Denver. One is the Community of the Beatitudes, which apparently calls for laity and religious to live together committed to poverty, prayer, and obedience. I thought it sounded kind of cultish. Then the article talked about Sarah Conley. She was a member of the Colorado University Gold Rush Dance Team, which means she dressed like an exotic dancer at sports events. She says she is there because, "she wanted to wear a habit." She also said, "I don't want to be rebellious," Conley said. "I don't want to be anybody who changes anything. I want to follow the tradition in all of its beauty."

Next the article talked about how the Denver community honored its antecedents. For instance, the community holds Shabbat dinner on Fridays and stages Jewish dance on Saturday nights in the convent basement to honor the Jewish roots of Christianity. The white walls of its chapel are lined with the icons of saints, an Orthodox tradition to honor Catholicism's history with the Orthodox churches. Community members dress only in brown, symbolizing the earth, and white, for the Resurrection. They live simply, sharing a Toyota Corolla with 248,000 miles and a broken taillight. Their modest budget relies on donations, marriage preparation classes run by a founder, and two priests' diocesan salaries.

Finally, the article discussed the only single lay man in the house, Patrick Mercado. He said he never felt drawn to poverty. But he too said he wasn't satisfied with his work as a stockbroker, paralegal and writer - a common refrain among adults in their 20s and 30s drawn to the new movements. "I just got tired of finding the right job, the right wife," said Mercado, who still hopes to marry and have children. "With the economy going bad, I thought I would at least give it a try. I don't know if this is it. My ultimate goal is my relationship with God, and right now, the community is where I am finding that."

And now I know that we Catholics DO have our own cult right here in America. What a relief!

SPEAKING OF CULTS

The Chicago Sun-Times has a very disturbing story about a family in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Both of the parents are big Cubs fans. I understand this. I am a big Cubs fan. Their oldest son's name in Addison Buck Dynek. Their second son is Clark Dynek. Their third son is named Sheffield Dynek. Their daughter is Grace Dynek, after the street that held the convent I wrote about a few days ago. They parked there too. Their last daughter is Ivy Marie Wrigley Dynek. Thus, Addison Street (south edge of Wrigley Field), Clark Street (west edge), Sheffield Avenue (east edge), and Grace Street (perpendicular to north edge) are all honored in their kid's names. How they failed to name a child Waveland is beyond me. And L thought I was bad for wanting to name a son Ryne.