Limbo good celebrity dumping ground

Limbo is the place where unbaptized babies went when they died, the Roman Catholic Church contended for many centuries. This was not church doctrine but, as a Vatican commission has pointed out, an overly restrictive view of salvation.

Pope Benedict, even when he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, never thought much of the concept of Limbo. And for a long time now, the concepts not been bantered about too much by the church. So its no big surprise the Vatican has cast off this medieval concept.

I had an editor once not here who used to postulate that since church hierarchy had, in effect, closed Limbo, someone had reopened it in our newsroom, maybe even sold franchises to newsrooms everywhere. More than likely that has to do with the Latin meaning of the word, which is border or edge. Journalists often live on the edge or borders, and Im not talking about a dangerous lifestyle. Generally, were pretty much considered by others to be at the fringe of polite society and civilized behavior (and the fringe is badly frayed). That comes from the stereotype of the inky wretch hunkered over a typewriter on deadline, chain smoking and drinking cheap liquor from a bottle in a sack.

It seems to me that Limbo would be a good place for behaviors that refuse to die, or at least people and things that outlived their 15 minutes of fame. It could be part museum, part way station way, way away from us.

But it would need lots of room to expand. I suspect others, just like me, would have lots of nominees for space.

A lot of ‘celebrities would make my list. Although I consider it a matter of principle not to watch ‘American Idol’ that Sanjaya dude would get a ticket, along with Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton, the feud between Donald Trump and Rosie ODonnell, O.J. Simpson, anyone whos ever been on a reality show or any famous person whos ever been to rehab.

Plenty of politicians would get a pass for a season or more. Anyone who starts running for the presidency immediately after the last presidential election should be shipped off before Thanksgiving that same year.

Some things could go too. Reruns of ‘Baywatch’ ‘Jackass TV’ most remakes of classic films and any public professions of repentance by errant televangelists.

Limbo would be a good final storage place for stuff that never should have been bought or sold polyester leisure suits, shag carpeting, velvet Elvises and Jesuses and mirrored ceiling tile, among them.

I imagine I would be on someones list. Ill be taking my lava lamp and cat clock with me, and please dont ship me on the same astral plane as Brittney Spears , K-Fed and their associate.