Al Smith Dinner: 64th is tomorrow
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- October
- 14
It will be hard to top last year’s Al Smith Dinner, when Barack Obama and John McCain made jokes at their own and each other’s expense (and some funny ones).
It seemed that all eyes were on the Waldorf-Astoria.
I was fortunate to be there. One lingering memory: Watching Renee Fleming warm up—singing effortlessly and stopping on a dime to complain about the sound.
It was a special night, although Cardinal Egan took some heat through the following weeks for hanging with the Democratic candidate (who supports abortion rights).
The 64th annual dinner—which raises money for charitable causes in NY—will be held tomorrow night. And the keynote speaker will be Admiral Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
I don’t suppose there will be as much joking as usual, although you have to figure that Archbishop Dolan will have some good one-liners for his first shot in the Al Smith Dinner limelight.
The way things are going in Afghanistan and Pakistan—and remember Iraq?—Mullen should have plenty to talk about.
And the cause remains a good one.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 10:32 am by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
Your blog is most informative and interesting. It kept me in the loop while I spent time in India on a personal spiritual journey at Mt/ Abu (www.bkwsu.org) . I remain displeased that your coverage as a religious editor has been truncated). Your work is not only informative, but often motivating.