April 16, 2008
Pope Culture: History on a Stick!
We're highlighting odd or interesting pieces of pop culture we find popping up around Pope Benedict XVI's visit to D.C. and New York this week.
Pope Benedict XVI's first U.S. popemobile ride today was littered with entrepreneurs trying to cash in on those who wanted to take home a souvenir of their papal experience. If you hadn't already snagged your "Property of Pope Benedict XVI" T-shirts from Catholic to the Max, the official supplier of pontiff apparel, bumperstickers, coffee mugs, magnets and keychains, today's two popemobile viewings offered plenty of low-cost alternatives. Some of the hot pope-themed items we saw today are below.
DCist's Ben Schuman-Stoler saw the Pope when he rode by 21st and Pennsylvania Ave. today, and overheard one man selling Pope pennants yell, "Five dollars! Five Dollars! Get your history on a stick!" And you know what, he's right. Everything is better on a stick.
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honestly, it makes me happy to know that everything in the world can be bought and sold.
capitalism über alles!
mmm now i really want a corndog.
This is one a million reasons why I can't stand the Catholic Church (born and raised, Irish/Italian Catholic family here). Why don't all those good catholics go donate the money they've spent on being pope groupies to an actual cause? I'm sure Jesus is proud of thier t shirts.
AMEN pia!!
Technically, most of those vendors hawking penants and t-shirts were illegally selling their wares since they were unlicensed. MPD could have arrested them and confiscated their goods.
You're hurtin, Pia. Who says they don't already donate 100 times more money than you've ever donated??
Plus, how is this any different than wearing a cross around your neck or supporting your religion in any other way? Personally, I'm buying my merchandise from the gift shop at the Basillica so I won't contribute to the ghetto lifestyles of the 'illegal' vendors.
On behalf of the Nutzy Youth organization of Germany, 1940s:
SEIG HEIL, DER POPE !!!!!
(from a lapsed Catholic, BTW)
I was only pointing out how consumer driven the whole event seemed to be. Buy your trinkets where you want, I can't say I wear a cross either:)