Hippity Hop Hop

So, Easter is next week and I have already scurried to a few stores and picked up a basket o' goodies for the wee one. He's at that age where I have to be pretty damn creative with the contents now. Can't really do candy, because dear God nothing is scarier than a three year old on a chocolate bunny sugar high. Can't do the typical toys because Anthony can't really get into them yet, and can't do the crayons and like because I like having clean walls. I swear, whoever invented that crayola colour wonder stuff must have had a hyperactive toddler, because I am telling you that shit is genius. I also got a Dora DVD (and tylenol for myself), and a few random soft toys.
So, I make the plans for egg colouring and brunch with the folks, and then turn on the news to see a giant protest hullabaloo over an anatomically correct chocolate Jesus Christ that was supposed to be displayed in New York. Some Catholic whack job is acting displaying less maturity than my toddler, adn the artist is sitting there in mild amusement and disdain for the ruckus his unique creation caused. Granted, his "reasonings" were very tongue in cheek, but it did really bring the whole holiday to a glaring point for me. Note to Catholic whackjobs...it wasn't this mans fervent display of faith that irritated me, it was his demeanor. I've seen plenty of well spoken and well thought Christian Activists, but this guy was simply being an asshole and insulted the entire artist community, thus negating any real argument he may have had over the nature of aforementioned sculpture. Referring to all artists as Losers and the entire community of SoHo as a "dump for filth" does not a valid arguement make.
Like many people, I think of Easter and think oversized chocolate bunnies, cadbury eggs, and getting brightly coloured vinegar all over my kitchen table. I will stick bunny ears on my offspring and the cats, attempt to create far too many deviled eggs in my efforts to rid myself of hard boiled nightmares, and revel in teh glory that is Dove chocolate.
Do I understand the true meaning of Easter? Of course, I was raised catholic, DER. But as I have drastically changed my opinions on faith in recent years, I choose not to attend mass, hang up little Jesuses, or pray to the glory of the resurrection. I still don't eat meat on Good Friday though, habits die hard.
But I chose not to celebrate this item of faith, and I chose not to cram my developing child's head with the unintangible concept of Faith. He gets confused with the science fiction that Disney channel has, how could he possibly grasp the intricacies that a thousand year old "idea" based on an archaic book attempts to implant? He couldn't, so I choose to teach him that this is a celebration of something comprehendable, such as the return of Spring. Hence the bunnies and eggs, which by the way, harken back to Paegan traditions so all of you Bible Thumpers might want to forgo the cadbury bunny.
But the concept that the artist was bringing to light was not the concious choice of spring versus resurrection, but the one of laziness and acceptance of Hallmark ideals in christian groups. They drag the kiddies to mass, then stuff them with chocolate bunnies, but don't explain the concepts behind either. So young children see Easter as this oddly confusing blurp in the year that revolves around cadbury chocolates, bright pink eggs hidden by a rabbit and...uh...jesus. And then the day is gone and all that's left are jelly beans and a bewilderment as to what all the ruckus is over a particular Sunday.
So I find what Cosimo Cavallaro pretty understandable as a person of faith. You want your Christ and your friggin hallmark? Fine, have a chocolate Jesus. Oh, now you are protesting it...why?
"Because it's appalling"
Why?
Being anatomically correct to me is no more offensive than the graphic nature of that horrid snuff film Mel Gibson came out with.
And it being chocolate shouldn't be offensive, because we eat the body of christ every time we take the communion (hello, tasteless wafers).
So, why the uproar? Perhaps it's because it's too glaring a reminder of the hypocricy many people of faith are currently upholding. Especially when there are the ridicuulous explanations of Jesus loved bunnies and they had eggs at the Last Supper. *sigh* one, or the other, or explain both. I'm going with Spring, and when Anthony is older I'll explain the other side of "Holy Week" to him, and let him make his own choices on intangible things such as faith and belief. But right now he's three. And bunnies make sense.