. . . why was a local pharmacy displaying a life-size (indeed, bigger-than-life) Halloween decoration of Pope Benedict dressed as a Mad Scientist?
I mean, I came in, and there it was!
The decoration (as you can see from the boxes in the foreground) stands six feet tall, which is actually taller than Pope Benedict is, if I am not mistaken, so the decoration is actually larger than the pope, presumably to create a more intimidating impression of him.
Oh, I know, they don’t acknowledge that it’s the pope. They call him "Doctor Shivers," but they’re not foolin’ me!
Just look at this face!
You see!
It’s gotta be some twisted version of the pope.
Just gotta be.
He’s even dressed in white.
Worse, according to the web site of the company that makes the decoration,
this realistic, 6 foot sound and motion-activated mad scientist talks, moves his head, and holds a glowing, bubbling potion. His eyes light up and his mouth moves as he talks. AC adapter included.
And is the mad scientist gear some kind of statement about the pope’s fictitious "Nazi past"?
I’m writing all this tongue-in-cheek, of course (though I wouldn’t put it past a secular company of people who make Halloween decorations to pattern a mad scientist after the pope).
I am strongly tempted at this point to insert a joke about having a "Day of Rage" against the toy company and . . . and . . . burning its effigies in effigy! I’d load in as many references to recent to the recent tantrum that the Arab street threw, but it might not be entirely clear to the company (or its lawyers) that the references were all a joke and not meant as real incitements to violence . . . so I’ll refrain.
