Nuns and knobby knees

[auld argonian]

I'll be spouting off here...you don't have to listen...I'm a middle aged man so I'm used to people ignoring my opinions (in fact, that's what I have a family for)...but...

As some of you may have noted, Chicago Celtic Fest is the weekend of the 13th/14th. I opens the Chicago Tribune today and there's a full page ad sponsored by a restaurant called O'Briens. In the interest of full disclosure, I've eaten there several times and it's pretty good. Anyway, this advert plugs Celtic Fest and the "Men In Kilts Leg Contest" (aka: the knobby knees contest, right?) which will be judged by "Sister Bernie". Sister Bernie is quite obviously an actress playing a nun; she has a show called "Sister Bernie's Bingo" running in town wherein it appears that she presides over a bingo game in a mythical church hall. The advert also includes a photo of four guys posing in their kilts in what looks like Millenium Park.

I'm not a big fan of these knobby knees things...sorry...

Okay...the guys in the kilts. Dudes, I'm sorry but maybe wear a frellin' kilt belt or any belt with the kilts. Something remotely resembling kilt hose would be a plus even if they're scroonched down...wearing your little cotton golf socks and your ban-lons with your penny loafers just don't make it. My guess is that none of these guys are Xsmarksers.

Now the nun thing. I was educated by the Sisters of Mercy and have had many friends who were BVM's (Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the civilians amongst you). I really can't determine from the photo of Sister Bernie just what order she's supposed to belongs to. (I even consulted my copy of Sibley's Guide to North American Nuns and Their Habits: Eastern Regional Edition and I can't fer the life a me figger it out.) Anyway, those of you in the US may be familiar with some of the "nun genre" theatre pieces that have been around..."Nunsense" and "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All"...with all respect to Sister Bernie, I would have thought that the "Nun thing" had run its course. While I am no longer a member of the group that sponsors the Good Sisters, I have gotten past all of my childhood misunderstandings about Nuns and have a very deep respect for them since they are some of the very few people who "walk the walk" in this world. Currently there is a neighborhood group near me that is opposing the construction of a home for retired Sisters in their community...I suppose that they feel that the inevitable racket that retired Nuns make will spoil their idyllic semi-suburban lifestyle...I dunno...but it seems a shabby way to treat women who dedicate their lives to worship and education.

All of this is by way of saying that I hope that this event doesn't capitalize on getting cheap laughs out of the image of Nuns...I suppose that some humor is inevitable but there's a line that maybe shouldn't be crossed, ya know? A joke's a joke but I feel that people forget the true mission and dedication that these ladies live for every day. Maybe they should put a collection box near the stage and everybody who gets a laugh should put the price of a pint in the box and it should go to support the retired members of religious communities.

Best

AA

[Prester John]

I like the way you think.

[Casey_in_Carolina]

Quite well said, and I agree whole-heartedly.

Casey

[ScottEPooh]

Well spoken, great use of the word "frelling", and I also agree. Not that it's any excuse, but many find it easier to poke fun at what they don't understand rather than pause and try to understand. Again, not a justification, just a thought. Oh, and not to hijack, but Proctor John, that is a very curious verse to use for a sig....

[Ozman1944]

Well said; I am in total agreement! The Nuns in my day were indeed very strict, but they sure gave me a great education and certainly formed my character. Of course as a kid I felt it was a "Learn well-or die!" situation, but they certainly 'walked the walk' and I am who I am today because of them.

I do confess to being a bit ambivalent about todays 'Nuns' disguising themselves as Lay people, with permed hair, jewellry etc. (!) but that's just a few Orders: most wear distinctive modernised Habits and are still a comfort when one sees them. Like God still has folk out there.cool:

[george7]

Say it again brother, say it again.

[Standard]

Preachin' to the choir here. And if they (the bar) was going to run an ad you'd have thought that they would have at the least made an attempt to have properly attired models. Oh well... as grandma would say these's no accounting for taste (or lack there-of).

[Carolina Kiltman]

Some more of the "choir" here! It is one thing to have the "Bonnie Knees" contests at the Highland Games, or anywhere else for that matter, but let's show some respect for these dedicated, selfless people! I just hope that Beef O'Brady's gets an ear full at the corporate offices.

[hospitaller]

Agreed, and this kind of stuff always seems to come from people who 'go to church/services' every week. Not in my neighborhood.....

<rolling eyes>

[Galician]

Oh, dear. One of my reasons for going to Chicago is to meet an old and dear friend who is a Franciscan Sister, who served as a missionary in Africa for 25 years. I was going to invite her to join me at the Fest. Now I wonder if it would be an embarrasment.