March 12, 2006

Before the parade.

I didn't know there was a Madison St. Patrick's Day parade. I guess when I move downtown and live on the Capitol Square, I'll know more about such things. Obviously, it's not St. Patrick's Day yet, but apparently, they want a weekend day. Anyway, I was just downtown to take a walk and to sit in a café for a little while, and I happened to see some pre-parade things.

A kid, already hoisted onto parental shoulders, with the appropriate balloon headgear:

Waiting for the parade

Note the guys with placards bearing religious messages. "The fool hath said in his heart 'There is no God.'" That ought to unnerve you. Think there's no God? You've just pegged yourself a fool! And if you buy that logic, you are a fool. One of the guys was playing an accordian, and they were all singing. What were they singing? I don't know. I was wearing "earbuds" and listening to a podcast.

The Madison Area Technical College Mascot was stirring up some excitement:

Waiting for the parade

Come on, everybody. It's about green and balloons and hats:

Waiting for the parade

9 comments:

Gaius Arbo said...

The definition of perfect pitch:

Tossing a banjo into a dumpster and hitting an accordion.

Unknown said...

A St. Paddy's day parade that is NOT on March 17th is just wrong, wrong, wrong . . .

It's like fireworks on July 2nd. Just don't do it.

X said...

Here in Philly, center city was full of tubby drunkeneers in green Mardi Gras beads all yesterday afternoon. What really worries me is the possibility that it's going to happen NEXT week as well.

mtrobertsattorney said...

"The fool hath said in his heart that 'There is no God'". It's funny to see this scriptural quotation in a St. Patrick's Day parade.

In fact, this quotation is responsible for one of the most intriguing arguments in western philosophy.

St. Anslem, upon reading this psalm back in the 11th century, was puzzled why one who denied the existence of God would be a fool. He concluded that a person who made such an assertion would necessarliy be contradicting himself in a logical sense. And since he would be contradicting himself, he would be a "fool".

Anslem developed a complicated and sophisticated argument that he thought proved this. Philosophers to this day have been arguing over whether his argument is valid.

tiggeril said...

Chicago had the traditional parade and dyeing of the river yesterday.

I always picture an army of ninja turtles rising out of the neon green river at this time of year.

Falter Ego said...

I always find it ammusing how some people here in Boston take such a perfectly good holiday intended for dressing in green clothes and drinking until everyone has an irish accent, and use it as the battle ground for abortion and homosexuality.

As we learned on 60 minutes tonight, there is a statistical link between male homosexuality and the number of older brothers a man has. (not kidding here)

So, I'd say the religious right has a paradox on their hands.

vbspurs said...

It looks like the religious signs are made from PVC pipe. I guess that guy plans to be there for awhile.

*LOL*

Also el-oh-el at Gaius Arbo and Brendan's comments.

At least Brendan has a suitably Irish name.

Cheers,
Victoria

Finn Alexander Kristiansen said...

"The fool hath said in his heart 'There is no God.'"

Maybe because when one declares there is no God, absent any evidence in either direction, and without even contemplating various sourcebooks on God (Torah, Bible, Qu'ran), such is akin to saying, "I won't ever have a car accident" when driving down the road, evidence of coming accidents not necessarily announcing their impending crash into your life.

Then too, some things, if proven true the way we imagine, are entirely benign- like if death turns out to be gentle rest, what we believe and how we live are entirely meaningless. One need not believe in sleep, love sleep, or want to engage in sleep, in order to have a happy sleep outcome, if sleep proves to be the unknown x factor of the afterlife.

Other things, if proven true, may not be benign, like if a pure God really wants us back, and yet, needs people at least willing to approach and accept his ways; so if the Bible is even remotely accurate, then the result of not believing God's existence may indeed have negative potential.

It's probably just not good to have a firm opinion, or absolute arrogance, over anything that is behind a door, and when multiple outcomes are possible. And especially when, invariably, you have to walk through that door at some point in life. In fact, one ought to engage the theories of what may be behind that door, ignoring those outcomes (like gentle rest) that your way of life will not causally affect.

The man who is sure, absent facts, is, in fact, a moron.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Nice pictures Ann- thanks for sharing.

I live in a small town outside of Philly and the local chapter of AOH had a gigantic parade. It was neat the parts I saw cause they did not advertise too well and I did not know about it until I came back from my hike and could not park my car. Not complaining it was nice.

In fact, my 96 year old neighbor came home for the first time from her nursing home just to see it; if I had known I would have asked paraders to give her flowers and say the parade was in her honor.