Spirit Day

Ash Wednesday today and it's like a spirit day for Catholics and orthodox christians, the one time of the year that they can declare, right there on their forehead for all to see, their religious affiliation. Wouldn't it be nice to expand it to everyone, of all religions, on the same day, just like they do at school... Connor has a spirit day where all the kids are supposed to wear to school their extracurricular uniforms -- for scouts, sports, ballet -- to show their friends what they are involved in. I think we should do the same on Ash Wednesday. Everyone picks some standardized symbol for their religion, a tattoo or stamp, to affix to their forehead so there's no more guessing. You'd be able to tell right away whether that coworker in the next cubical over is of the christian persuation, someone who could share in the fellowship. Better yet, it could help JAPs identify eligible Jewish bachelors in their midst. Hindus wouldn't have to go out of their way to find the right stamp that day, just business as usual. The North Koreans could affix a tiny portrait of Kim Il-sung on their heads, or substitute the trident of Satan. Atheists could just use a little extra Botox to smooth out the lines on their empty foreheads. This would generate a real feeling of comraderie and connection that is so absent in our society. Instead, today, I simply feel a pang of jealousy that I don't have a little ash cross on my brow.