October 27, 2003
Happy Ramadan!
In honor of the beginning of Ramadan, I am launching a new contest! Wheeee! A free pork sandwich and glass of wine will go to the winner, as well as bragging rights. This year's Ramadan contest winner will be the one who provides me with the best plan for building the Basilica of Our Lady of Lepanto in Mecca. The criteria are:
It must account for the removal of one large black rock. Ideally the tabernacle or crucifix should be placed on that specific site.
It must be Triumphalist! There must be a lot of statues.
Dante's depiction of Mohammed must be featured somehow in the design, whether as a fresco, a frieze, of a full scale baroque sculpture out in front.
It must be Latin-rite. The easterners can have their own competition. Ideally the pipe organ and bells should be audible for blocks and blocks around the church.
This is partially tongue-in-cheek. I am not yet advocating total crusade against the Mohammedans. At least not on their own turf. Yet. But something like this should inspire us to think grandly, in terms of art as well as evangelization.
Proposals are due by the end of Ramadan.
Eat more pork!
Carthago delenda est!
Gregg,
Excellent! I have always said that the West will need to pulverize the rock into sand, and distribute the sand evenly in the seven seas. Perhaps a little bit will be nice as something to be stepped on (with shoes).
As for the brashness, we need to return to the old fighting spirit of the West.
Posted by: Erik Keilholtz at October 31, 2003 10:09 AMAt the risk of being perhaps a bit too brash for modern tastes, I'd suggest that the famed black rock itself should be smashed to bits and used in a section of terrazzo floor -- preferably near the entrance where many would walk on it.
A chapel to Blessed Antony Neyrot would be an especially fitting.
Posted by: Gregg the obscure at October 31, 2003 9:26 AMPosted on my site. Enjoy!
Posted by: alicia the midwife at October 30, 2003 5:43 PMwant the recipe?
Posted by: alicia the midwife at October 30, 2003 8:07 AMAlicia,
I think the rules require that honorary pork posole be shared with the judge! Yum.
Posted by: Erik Keilholtz at October 28, 2003 11:03 PMI won't enter (not my strength, architecture) but I will make a batch of my pork posole and eat it in honor of the winner.
Posted by: alicia the midwife at October 28, 2003 6:11 PMRyan,
Minarets are fine, as long as they have crosses on top of them.
For you, I will modify the rules. You give me a drawing and you automatically will get a pork sandwich and glass (or three) of wine.
Will I be seeing you tomorrow?
Posted by: Erik Keilholtz at October 28, 2003 11:13 AMI believe I should have something for you within the next couple of weeks. I wanted to asked if you were opposed to me keeping the minarets, in order to blend in with the surroundings. Maybe we should do away with the organs make Christians cry out from them, calling those to proper prayer. I would like to place a grand baldacino where that stupid rock now sits, nothing as ornate as Rome's though.
Posted by: Ryan Muskar at October 28, 2003 11:00 AMVery Good! I was working from memory, and will edit it accordingly. Thank you.
Posted by: Erik Keilholtz at October 28, 2003 10:17 AMIt should be "Carthago delenda est".
Posted by: Hamilcar at October 28, 2003 4:15 AM