Pilgrims attending Sydney’s World Youth Day really were downright angelic, says the Epoch Times.
Researchers studying emergency inpatient records at Sydney’s hospitals over the five-day event in July described the pilgrims’ low rate of serious hospitalisations as “exemplary”. In fact, St Vincent’s emergency department director said the religious nature of the event “may have played a role”. Ya’ think? How else to describe the incredible difference between Youth Day and say…Woodstock:
Woodstock – 6,000 patients were seen by doctors or nurses as a result of the concert/orgy.
Youth Day – 191 pilgrims presented themselves at emergency rooms. Notice they presented themselves. They weren’t dragged in by mumbling friends who mentioned something about the brown acid before running out screaming something about Richard Nixon.
Woodstock: A common diagnosis was overdose.
Youth Day: The most common diagnoses were lower limb strain or sprain, infections, and acute asthma.
Woodstock: Memorable line was “Don’t take the brown acid.”
Youth Day: Memorable line was “Bene! Bene! Bene! Oi! Oi! Oi!”
Woodstock: 3 Deaths. One from a heroin overdose, one from a ruptured appendix, and one from some dude passing out in a nearby field and getting run over by a tractor. Ouch.
Youth Day: Zero deaths.
Woodstock: Average number of months it took for leading Woodstock performers Janis Joplin and Jimmi Hendrix to die after Woodstock – 13 months.
Youth Day: Pope Benedict still living. He’s 81.
Woodstock – Three tracheotomies performed. Not really sure I understand why that was happening but there’s a lot I don’t understand about Woodstock.
Youth Day – Miraculously, no tracheotomies reported. Man, how do you get through three days without tracheotomies?
Woodstock – 80 lawsuits filed after the festival.
Youth Day – O lawsuits but Fr. Richard McBrien may still be considering one having to do with female ordination. Not sure.
Woodstock: 400 Festival-goers who freaked out on bad LSD trips
Youth Day: 0
Woodstock: 30,000 sandwiches distributed by the Sisters of the Convent of St. Thomas to save the doped up kids who forgot to eat.
Youth Day: Thousands of prayers said by nuns.
I think these kinds of numbers say something about the events and their worth. These pics also say a lot as well.
The Woodstock pic looks like the end of some post-apocalyptic war movie. The Youth Day pic just looks more alive, more hopeful. So if you’re choosing which way to live which one would it be? Youth Day or Woodstock?
HT Many of the Woodstock numbers were based on this site.
December 9, 2008 at 3:55 am
Therefore choose World Youth Day.
December 9, 2008 at 5:11 am
Now come on, Matthew. Let’s be fair. You know a great deal of people freaked out at youth day when the aboriginees performed.
December 9, 2008 at 10:32 am
I’m really surprised there weren’t any heat stroke/ dehydration/ low blood sugar ER visits. The on site staff must have done a GREAT job with food, water and shade logistics!!!!!
(I still hope to go to WYD before I’m 40… preferably with all the kiddies in tow…. when’t it going to be in the US again??????)
December 9, 2008 at 11:31 am
Nice one!
December 9, 2008 at 1:27 pm
It was like that at Rome in 2000 too, from what I remember. I had some heat exhaustion but I took a nap and then got soaked in a water spout they opened. It was fantastic.
~Zee
December 9, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Someone has to to point it out, WYD Sidney was held in the southern hemisphere winter. Not much chance of heat stroke or related related illness.
December 9, 2008 at 4:29 pm
True. My comments were about my own experience, however, and Rome in August is pretty darn hot. 🙂
December 9, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Matthew – if you want to see the good side of Woodstock and laugh like you just met the Pope, then check this out:
http://marysaggies.blogspot.com/2008/11/woodstock-revisited.html
December 9, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Marcel,
It just so happens however I’m a big Joe Cocker fan. Although that video is hilarious. The good news is that Cocker’s sober now. Or maybe just soberer.
December 9, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I wish we could have a World Geezer Day!
— Mack
December 11, 2008 at 7:44 am
I’d like to attend WYD before I’m 40, but I think my time is about to pass.
No worries, we here in Houston are gearing up to ask his Holiness to hold the next one here in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston!
December 11, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I’ll bet if some nuns HAD shown up with sandwiches, at least some of the kids would have lined up to help distribute them.
June 25, 2009 at 2:22 am
wow… you people are so detached from reality it's not even funny. Clearly you have no idea what you are talking about. If you did, you would have realized that Woodstock was one of the biggest peace statement in the history of America. Focus not on individual actions. Focus on the message and outcome.
and they did pass food around. Bananas and water. Everyone took what they needed and made sure the person next to them had enough.
Your "youth day" was an organized event that had limits and enforcement. Woodstock was a random gathering of over 500,000 people in a peaceful manner. The fact that only 3 people died from non violent or malicious acts is amazing. Nice try trivializing it though. How much security was around the pope at said Youth Day? Hypocrite much?
History books are great to read, ya know?
June 25, 2009 at 2:28 am
Anon,
Detached from reality?
You mean the rise of AIDS, the deterioration of societal morals, the breakdown of the nuclear family, and the rising vitriol of political discourse is what you're proud of?
August 8, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Alright I've gotta point this out:
That picture of Papa Benny wasn't taken in Sydney. Its from the Youth and Seminarian Rally that was held in Yonkers, NY on April, 19 2008. I know because I was there. 🙂
May 26, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Papa Benny is the greatest promoter of AIDS by condemning the use of prophylactics…
May 26, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Anon,
People have free will.
They choose to have sex with those with AIDS.
Just like you choose to make such a foolish statement.