So, the proud (?) people in charge of the Empire State Building’s lighting displays have refused to light up for, what would have been, Mother Teresa’s 100th birthday in August. The reasoning for this decision is apparently based on a policy that the lights do not shine for any religious events outside of the religious events for which they already do lighting displays. Whahuh? Confusing much? But putting that aside, does anyone really consider Mother Teresa simply a religious figure? Doesn’t she transcend Catholicism? Isn’t thinking of her as just a nun kind of like thinking of Martin Luther King, Jr. as just a Baptist preacher?

Perhaps Mother Teresa’s beliefs in certain areas, in line as they were with the beliefs of the Catholic church, conflicted with my own – and they did – but that doesn’t detract from the fact that her compassion trumped her righteous conviction. As Shawna put it today, she’s really more of a humanitarian icon than a religious icon. Of course, humanity, who the hell wants that?

I do like that the article title is “Empire State Building Declines to Light Up for Mother Teresa,” as if the building was asked directly and was like, “Nah, can’t do it. I’ve got big plans with the Chrysler Building,” instead of some jackass with a magnifying glass and too much time on his hands trolling through the rulebook and being like “Aha, bylaw number 1674 says…”

As someone very glad to have escaped a life of Catholicism – this, Empire State Building, is a dumb decision. Postpone your night of debauchery with the Chrysler and show some respect.

Oh, and TNT, while the ads for your summer shows are undoubtedly entertaining, how about a night off from them? You are walking a seriously thin line between promoting Rizzoli & Isles and Memphis Beat and making me sick of them before the first episodes.

- Memphis Beat, June 22, 10 Eastern -

-Rizzoli & Isles, July 12, 10 Eastern -

We get it.