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Rommy Computer Repair

Hello all!
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Saint Patrick's Day Carousing!

Listening to a podcast from Vatican Radio, I'm hearing a lot of "the church needs to take back Saint Patrick's day." And, "if you really knew about Saint Patrick, you'd spend the day in fasting, prayer and penance..." Now, it may be true that reflecting on Saint Patrick's life, one would find prayer, fasting and penance more appropriate than gregarious celebration (not to mention drunken carousing...), but I think we may be missing something pastorally significant in this suggested approach. I'm thinking of something I've learned from contemplation and discussion of Santa Clause and G. K. Chesterton. G.K. Chesterton is famously in favor of encouraging parents to allow their children to celebrate Santa Clause. Whatever disillusionment comes from finding out the story of Santa Clause taught by society at large is not real should be overwhelmed by the joy of the celebration. In other words, allowing children to believe in Santa as he is understood in movies and stories is not just okay, it is preferred. The magic, mystery, joy and anticipation of Santa Clause can inform the theological imagination of children, opening the way for the very real Christ to live in their hearts in a similar (albeit far greater) way.

One of the chief principles we can learn here is acknowledging when the society we live in throws us a bone! Yes, the drunkenness and carousing often associated with Saint Patrick's Day crosses a line, but that doesn't mean we need to approach society with an antidote of sobriety and penance. We certainly don't have to succumb to drunkenness to enjoy drink, and we don't have to carouse to engage in celebration. And if we reject these things, secluding ourselves in our homes and in our parishes, away from the celebrations of our neighbors, we will allow the further secularization of this holy day. Society is celebrating the man, along with his legend, and upholding the symbols that he upheld. Rather than rejecting society's approach here, why don't we celebrate the man with the legend!

Look, I try...

But seriously?! There's no reason why Democrats can't try to court the Catholic vote. There's a number of issues that Catholics can and should fully support on the local level that would fit squarely in a Democratic platform. But, no! Our new Archbishop addresses the problem of luke-warm, half-hearted Catholics and the DFL responds with this garbage. Now, I don't normally vote for Democrats, but I often consider it in local elections.
Now, not only will Democrats have to convince me of their basic competency, integrity and the effectiveness of their platform, but they'll also have to denounce this aggressively antagonistic ad.

New Blog, Cuz I Wish I Could Blog

So, I'm starting yet another blog. This time, it will cover everything. I've tried a political blog, a blog about being a dad and a group blog, but I've never been able to remain consistent. This is because, like every human being, my interests change. So, I'm starting a blog that will incorporate all of my interests: politics, theology, family, everything. I hope it remains interesting. I plan to post at least once per week. If I run out of things to say, or if I'm busy, I'll repost things from my old blogs. Why? Cuz, they're pretty good. The quality of my posts wasn't really the issue, it was the quantity. All right, I'll have another post up soon.