Essay 445

An Ashy Wednesday MultiCultclassics Monologue…

• Cardinal Mahony of the Los Angeles Archdiocese is speaking out on impending anti-immigration legislation. Responding to measures designed to zap people aiding illegal immigrants, Mahony remarked, “The whole concept of punishing people who serve immigrants is un-American… If you take this to its logical, ludicrous extreme, every single person who comes up to receive Holy Communion, you have to ask them to show papers. It becomes absurd and the church is not about to get into that. The church is here to serve people… We’re not about to become immigration agents. It just throws more gasoline on the discussion and inflames people.” Maybe the Minutemen will volunteer to serve as altar boys.

• Wonder why Harry Belafonte didn’t attend the services for Coretta Scott King? Belafonte insists President Bush pressured the King family to withdraw their invitation from the legendary performer and civil rights activist. According to Belafonte, the family was “fiercely intimidated by the president’s representatives.” Dick Cheney probably threatened folks with a shotgun.

• A new study found Americans know more about Homer Simpson than about the First Amendment. In the case of President George W. Bush, this is not surprising.

• The riots between Black and Hispanic inmates continue at California prisons, as 13 men were injured in the latest melees on Tuesday. A prison official said, “Ninety-nine percent of these inmates didn’t want to fight, but once a fight begins inmates divide along racial lines and their code demands they fight.” Yeah, most of these guys are law-abiding prisoners.

• There’s a new magazine titled “100 Proof” — a bimonthly publication showcasing the Hip Hop scene in Cleveland. The 52-page magazine highlights Cleveland-based artists, musicians, fashion designers, models and photographers. Publisher Eric Sales said, “The music scene here is horribly overlooked; it’s the perfect place for 100 Proof.” Check the website at www.100proofmagazine.com.