This post used to be a solicitation for money, so Faith and Abaigeal could go to ballet school. We were fifty dollars short of their tuition, and so I asked for a loan from anyone who could spare it.

As it happened, the dance school accepted a partial payment. Since the need has passed, I have deleted the plea for money, so that nobody accidentally sends us any. Thanks to all of you who would have!

I see that my Friday morning post, “The Unmonumental Crescent,” has attracted quite a few comments from thoughtful readers. And by “quite a few,” I mean as follows: four. All four were favorable, from sane people. Thanks!

But…

I like coherent comments from sober readers. Really, I do. But sometimes, I secretly wish I was the Huffington Post. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong, but I don’t attract nearly enough lunatics.

Saturday (the day after my post) the HuffPo slapped up a link to a newspaper article about the crescent controversy — not an analysis of the story, or an opinion, just a link to a newspaper article — and quickly garnered dozens of comments. I’m going to respond to some of these comments here, as if they were posted on my blog instead of the Huffington Post. Because, I kind of wish they were.

Confused said:

Oh, come on. The crescent shape is present in nature (the crescent moon), in design, even in food (the crescent roll). How absurd to object to this simple and tasteful rememberance!

Yum, tasteful crescent rolls! You know, the cross shape occurs in hot cross buns, so I’m glad you won’t mind if we redesign the memorial along those lines. Thanks for commenting, Confused!

The Disenfranchised Voter said:

This quote only show the f***ing bigotry of the right. He just compared the religion of Islam to Nazism. What a f***ing peice of s***. Perhaps he is forgetting that Hitler claimed to be a devout Christian. God d*** a***h***s

Sorry ‘TDV,’ I had to give your sailor-talk the old heave-ho. Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the enfranchisement thing.

true said:

Yes a some peope see Jesus in toast. They even have made pilgramages, candles and rosary beads in tow, to pray and weep near the toast.

Cool. I’ve never heard of that. Could you let me know where this is occurring so that I too may weep near the toast? (I’ve never heard of a peope or pilgramages either.) Thanks for commenting.

Big Jake said:

McRea is just trying to get some wider name recognition. What’s next changing the letter C in church to a T so it will be Christian?

Changing the letter C in church to a T? That could make thurch, or churth, which do you mean? Or do you mean thurth? Get back to me. Thanks for commenting.

gala said:

I think we need to hear feedback from Iraqis who see the American flag eery day.
MOTHERS FOR ANSWERS
9-11-2005
- Where there is sorrow, there is holy ground Oscar Wilde
- Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. Oscar Wilde
-There are times when brevity is the soul of incumbency – My Cousin Dorothy
I don’t now what today is going to be like other than I am writing this at the same memorial hour it all happened and that shortly I am going to Mass. The reason I go is that despite the Mass now being bowdlerized into a Hallmark liturgy, it is still what we were taught. In the Mass you are part of a community of souls dead, living and as yet unborn. It’s the dead I want to feel closer to today. It is not a day for red state hoe-downs. It is so not about you, George.
I was alone in a house in a country town when it happened. As I am in the same place today. Worse my tv-internet-radio cable was out…
…
[omitting about 2,000 words from her comment.]
…
…I say my Act of Contrition and hope Jesus is not too picky. I have learned that when you are a grown-up you either make your peace with God and hope that you are on His side or you become a dangerous bore…

Wow. I’m feeling closer to the dead already. Thanks for commenting, gala. See you in church.

J. Silver said:

I think the design is beautiful…Breathtaking as a matter of fact… I guess these are the same people that think that the telitubbies are gay people.

The Teletubbies aren’t gay, just Tinky Winky. Also, they’re puppets. Thanks for commenting, J.

Navy Mom said:

while most of us are tired of hearing the cries of the families of 9/11 i do have to agree that I wouldnt want a crescent moon if it represented anything similar to islam….

Oh yes, “I’m tired of hearing your cries” would make a swell bumper sticker too. Thanks for commenting. I guess.

The rest of the comments degenerated into profane name-calling, which I would have deleted, if they were on my blog, and upon reflection, I suppose it’s just as well that they weren’t.