LETTER: USU Mardi Gras doesn’t compare

Editor,

OK, I can understand the desire people have to learn about other cultures and events, but to even compare the activities of last Saturday night to those of Mardi Gras would be an exercise in futility. It was nowhere close! I’m not trying to bag on the people that worked really hard to put on the event, or to discourage them from future attempts, but belly dancers? I grew up in Louisiana and attended Mardi Gras every year I lived there and never, not once, saw belly dancers, drag contests or palm readers at Mardi Gras. That’s not Mardi Gras, that’s more like “Escape to Gypsyland.” Where were the King cakes? Where was the Cajun food? Where were the real Mardi Gras costumes? Parade, anyone? Just because you wear beads and a purple shirt doesn’t mean you’re attending Mardi Gras.

If you ever go to Mardi Gras, it’s all about the parades, with include floats, costumes and people throwing beads, cups, doubloons, bras, underwear, shirts and basically anything they can find or take off. Or, if you go to Bourbon Street, it’s all about the beer, bar fights, half naked people and wandering around looking for your car because you’re too stinking drunk to remember where you parked the thing. Seeing as this community is mostly Mormon, I’d suggest trying to imitate the first idea. Have a little mini-parade in the TSC and throw beads and cups and stuff (I take no responsibilty for anyone being flashed in an attempt to receive cool beads). Make the floats out of boxes if you have to and wear them. That’s what we did in elementary school. Give prizes for best float and costume, as in Mardi Gras, not drag. And for heaven’s sake, can I get a piece of King cake please!?!?

Matthew Areno