lt's Lent, of course, and f0r those raised in the Catholic tradition, it's six weeks of sackcloth, ashes, and repentance, until Jesus pops up out of his tomb on Easter and looks for his shadow...?
I've clearly forgotten some of my Catholic upbringing. But I do remember that Lent is a time of sacrifice, a time to give something up--desserts, for instance, in Newt Gingrich's case, or opinions, in the case of his lovely wife Callista. So I've been pondering these past few days what I should give up for Lent. I considered following the advice of St. Paul (and James Mc Murtry) and putting away childish things; but what exactly would that leave me? I could give up blogging, but I'm afraid that would make too many other people unhappy; my sacrifice shouldn't hurt others. I could give up reading, but I think I've made it clear that I'm addicted to it; you'd have to pry my books from my cold dead fingers. I could give up beer, I suppose, or TV, or the internet, or Reese Cups...but I won't.
Instead, what I've decided to forsake, in the spirit of both Lenten self-mortification and of simple Christian charity, is making fun of Rick Santorum. Not that I won't mention him, or even criticize him, but I promise I'll do so fairly and without engaging in undue* ridicule or mockery. The man is a former United States Senator, after all, and he has a right to be taken seriously, regardless of the ridiculous things he says.** So from here until Easter, I'm declaring a personal "Santorum moratorium": Rick shall not be mocked, at least not by me.
Unless, of course, he deserves it. I'm only human, after all...
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*Yes, I know that's quite a loophole I'm leaving myself. Sister Mary Josephine would not approve.
**A recent example, in a Santorum interview with Glenn Beck (!): "Studies show that 62% of young people who go off to college lose their religious faith as a result. No wonder President Obama wants to make it easier for young people to attend college..." Really: that's what he said. And quoting someone accurately doesn't count as mocking them, right? (Implied mockery, perhaps...)
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