AmericanPapist Comments
Given how few actually wear habits these days, is this the only way you can know at Georgetown?
Priceless.
Let it be known that this sign is actually next door, at Georgetown Visitation high school, where some of the visitation nuns continue to wear habits (despite the awful renovation of their convent chapel that ripped out the high altar and put the tablenacle in the room next door).
Don't cross the crossing nuns, would be my caveat . . .
I'm old enough to remember that if I see that sign I must take the gum out of my mouth, wrap it in paper, and throw it in the trash, lest I face dire consequences . . .
Juvenile, ungrateful, ignorant of history, and insensitive, but above all, misogynistic -- Why does anyone think this is funny? Oh, I know, sisters and nuns are supposed to "chill out" pretend it is, to be "good sports" -- always at their own expense. And that characterature of the uniquely tyrannical religious woman -- tired, old, uninformed. I bet long after anti-Catholicism is no longer considered PC, this sort of unintelligent nonsense will still be.
John14v15 what crawled up your backside?
lol,
just tired of the ignorance
Don't like it when a whole class of people are vilified, or usually even individuals. But the scream felt good!
Class? You mean the nuns? The Habits aren't about vilification
Class, meaning a particular group, in this case vowed religious women. The whole tenor of this sign is sarcastic, ie, religious as fair game for public scorn: Caution! "Nuns" (we all know about them!) crossing like a herd of animals! And that stereotyped mean/dour expression on the nun's/sister's face. It's tired and juvenile ridicule of a group of people most of whom throughout history served the Church (and especially served the laity)overworked and underpaid and all willingly. But religious women are often fair game for ridicule and characteraturing. That is simply unacceptable.
I can't see the face in detail, but to me, she doesn't seem to have "mean/dour expression". She's just an elderly nun in a habit. It's not as if she has a ruler in her hand. In fact, she seems peaceful.
And with the way some people drive in DC, especially in Georgetown as they try to find shortcuts to avoid traffic, I would want them to watch out for crossing nuns, just as they caution drivers to watch out for children, or other pedestrians.
Viajero, good point. I like your interpretation better. :)
Look out for the yardstick!
Ok, I'll chime in here. This sign is at Georgetown Visitation, the nearby all girls Catholic High School. The Visitation nuns are present there. I had the privledge of serving as an Associate during a year of Volunteer Service with the school. The nun pictured is Sr. Anne Marie, who recently passed away. She was actually a jolly soul and took great fun in making signs and cards with her "sour face" on them to give to people. This sign is posted right at the gate to slow people down as they enter or exit as a safety precaution.
It is not unusual that women make fun of themselves in order to find some level of acceptance. That is both cause and effect of the problem.
The Sister posted on the picture is our dear Sister Anne Maire of happy memory. The sign was installed in the summer of 2006 when most of our community was moved out of our 207 year old monastery to renovate the living space inside. Since we were living in different parts of campus, we frequently needed to cross the lane near the guard house. One faculty member dubbed it "the March of the Penguins Part II." If you would like to know more about the sister whose picture is shown, please visit her on-line obit:
http://livejesus.blogspot.com/20...1000-
quips.html
brassband. me too.
they're all saints now, you know. they really are.
Agreed. Saints also while they were living most likely. For the majority, a tough life, and undervalued. Which is any ridicule is unfair -- self-imposed or no. This sign merely plays to the stereotype, and does nothing to lead us to honor the memory of those faithful women religious or to know the worth of those serving the Church now. We really have to do better for them, because those living today continue to be undervalued.
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