 |
| Pink: November 2014 |
And when you consider the infinite size and immense scope of the universe, and our truly insignificant and eternally bumbling role in it, this makes any acts of mercy even more remarkable. I cannot for the life of me imagine why any being having such ineffable powers would even want to bother with us. Certainly there must be far more interesting things for the Master of the Universe to do.
So much for my religious illiteracy. But there is something happening in Sierra Madre of spiritual significance that I can wrap my head around. And that is the continued presence of the pink cow in the Kersting Court creche. We posted an article about the original appearance of this vividly colored bovine in the Nativity Scene back on December 23, 2013, and assumed it would have had enough of an effect that natural earth tones in the form of paint would be brought to bear and things returned to what they had always been.
The picture in the upper left hand side of this post was taken just a few days ago. It shows our unfortunate creche cow, back where it was first spotted last year, and still colored a shocking pink.
We're not quite sure what to do here. Maybe someone could form a subcommittee for Friends of the Arts. Call it Friends of the Pink Cow, perhaps. Mission Statement: raise enough money to paint him brown and restore his dignity. All donations are tax deductible. Yes, we do take VISA. Think pink thoughts.
What follows is the story we told last year about our Nativity Scene's shocking Pink Cow. I guess we'll just have to keep telling this one until things finally get put right.
What's Up With the Pink Cow in the Nativity Scene? (Dec 23, 2013): This will be a story told in 4 photographs. An alert and not especially happy resident of our fine community stopped by my house Saturday morning with some pictures related to the creche (or nativity scene if you prefer) currently set up in the park at Kersting Court. The complaint being the inclusion of a bright pink cow.
Picture 1: This was taken in 2008, and before the pink deed was done. If you look to the lower right, you will see the creche cow in question, seated placidly behind the long nose of one of the camels. It is a very traditional look for this kind of statuary, and how our cow had appeared for quite some years.
Picture 3: Situated behind the cow from our community creche were signs that exhorted us to "think pink cow." I do not know what was actually meant by this. Maybe it is an absurdist art statement? Having gone to a state college, I can kind of get that. Certainly it does have a derivative Ubu Roi sort of Dada feel.
Picture 4: This photo was taken just last Friday. It shows our pink cow back in the creche and awaiting the arrival of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, it is still painted prison holding cell pink, and now wears false oversized eyelashes as well. Making her look a little bit like a tramp.
So here are my observations. I hope that this was not intended to be some sort of misguided mockery of Sierra Madre's traditional Christmas Nativity Scene. The manger scene has religious significance for many in our town. Last evening the Candlelight Walk took place, and many of this community's most devout believers solemnly marched down Baldwin Avenue and to this very site.
I am not certain that having a tarted up pink painted version of our once traditional creche cow in this year's Nativity Scene is quite what those who participated in this walk would have hoped to see upon their arrival.
Perhaps there is an intended message in this somewhere. If so, I am sure that in its proper place this could be discussed and perhaps even appreciated. I understand that. But I don't think Sierra Madre's Christmas Creche in Kersting Court is that place.
It also makes me wonder what has become of this town. We seem to be careening out of control lately.
http://sierramadretattler.blogspot.com