Papal Exclamation Point

In a recent New York Times article about a Vatican envoy sent to Iraq in order to prevent war, the Pope was quoted as saying “No to war!” Now c’mon. An exclamation point? We’re talking about the pope here. The pope doesn’t yell. Maybe sometimes he has an elevated mumble, but never his is voice at a decibel level that would deem the use of an exclamation point in a quotation. (For those of you out there saying, “How do you know he doesn’t yell, what are you married to him?”, I remind you that if it wasn’t for a number of Catholic priests gambling and fooling around, then Martin Luther would have never had inspiration for the Reformation and none of those other little religions would exist. You should be kissing our feet and rolling the die. So I am not married to the pope you jackass.) Even when the pope tries to yell at his doq to sit, the pontiff himself needs to rest in a chair and catch his breath and recover from his attempted exclamation. (Note to God: This is not blasphemy – I’m merely making fun of his age not his faith. Of course, you are old as well but I’ve always pictured you as a Jack Lalane type, you know, in his 80s but fit like an ox.)

I’m upset with the Times for adding such a quotational emphasis to the holy leader of one religion and unfairly elevating his voice level above those of theological leaders in other faiths. It’s just one of the many anti-Semitic messages hidden throughout the Times everyday.