# Salt Stain Mary Update. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 6, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745 "2005-05-06T21:16:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/1 "2005-05-06T21:16:39Z")
[The stain is dead](http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/06/underpass.virgin.ap/index.html). > [@](#): > > A man was arrested for allegedly scrawling the words “big lie” over a stain on an expressway underpass that some believed was an image of the Virgin Mary. > > Authorities then painted over the stain because it had been defaced, police spokesman David Banks said Friday. The guy probably did the city a favor because it gave them an excuse to paint over the stain and put an end to all the PITA pilgrims and shrines that were cluttering up the underpass. I didn’t know it was illegal to deface a salt stain. I guess the technical charge is basically just misdemeanor vandalism to public property but I thought people had made a lot of religious graffiti next to the stain without getting arrested. Anyway, the “Mary defacer” will probably pay a small fine and that will be that. Hopefully, he won’t be hounded or attacked by fanatic stain worshippers. ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/2 "2005-05-06T21:22:12Z")
She showed up in my garage. There will be a slight admission charge though. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/3 "2005-05-06T21:24:25Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Anyway, the “Mary defacer” will probably pay a small fine and that will be that. Hopefully, he won’t be hounded or attacked by fanatic stain worshippers. Another few posts like that and I’m gonna petition the Admins to change your handle to **Diogenes the Naïf**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/4 "2005-05-06T21:45:34Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Anyway, the “Mary defacer” will probably pay a small fine and that will be that. Hopefully, he won’t be hounded or attacked by fanatic stain worshippers. Are you kidding? They’ll crucify him! ---
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/5 "2005-05-07T00:14:25Z")
I wonder why they didn’t arrest the people who scrawled religious graffiti on the wall? I was discussing this with a co-worker. I maintain that the police would arrest a naysayer, even if he sprayed water on the salt stain. My coworker thinks this guy got arrested only because he was causing vandalism to the wall, not because he was causing vandalism to a stain people thought was the Virgin Mary. What would have happened, do you think, if someone came along with a bucket and some soap and water and started scrubbing the stain? That would have been interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/6 "2005-05-07T00:19:58Z")
Some women came along today with sprayers filled with paint thinner, to wash off the paint and the graffitti. Surprise, much of the stain came off too. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/7 "2005-05-07T02:10:31Z")
And here’s the original “Pit Thread” about this miraculous apparition. > **[Virgin Mary image in Chicago underpass](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=312589)** > > Perhaps you have heard about this vital bit of news. The thread title pretty much says it all but for those who want to read more: http://www.nbc5.com/news/4388177/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news I am not very religious (no surprise there). ... ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/8 "2005-05-07T02:31:32Z")
I knew something was up this morning when I drove past the water stain and noticed a total of 5 (count 'em, 5) satellite trucks parked underneath the Fullerton underpass. I have never felt prouder of our local media. :rolleyes: I felt like lowering my windows and making sheep noises at them, but it was a bit nippy at 6:45, so I just drove on. I was actually hoping that the city had finally grown a pair of balls and cleaned up the stain, but I guess they didn’t mind devoting considerable tax dollars for police supervision of a water stain. What idol will the mindless masses worship now? ---
**Author:** ![TheInterruptingCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@TheInterruptingCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInterruptingCow)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/9 "2005-05-07T02:37:18Z")
My, my , aren’t we cynical? (That’s rhetorical…of course we are, we’re 'Dopers. Just one of the things I love about this place.) I loved the disclaimer on the radio this AM…they were assuring everyone that the DOT clean-up crews were only concerned about the surrounding graffiti and all the crap that had been left in the vicinity. They let the faithful know that they wouldn’t disturb the so-called image. I mean, really…if the BVM was gonna make an appearance, would she choose Lower Wacker Drive? (for non-Chicagoans, it’s basically a city-wide sub-basement with a road through it…it used to be a sub-surface method of access for delivery trucks and such, but has become a cross-town shortcut of sorts for those in the know and the adventurous…gettin’ there ain’t hard, but gettin’ out can be a bit of a challenge…). I mean, subtlety’s one thing, but…it’s drain-pipe dribble. Get over it. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/10 "2005-05-07T03:20:05Z")
I often wonder how stuff like this gets media attention. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/11 "2005-05-07T03:28:57Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > I often wonder how stuff like this gets media attention. Because people pay attention to stuff like this, and it sells papers/raises ratings. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/12 "2005-05-07T03:53:03Z")
Slow news week. ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/13 "2005-05-07T04:23:30Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Are you kidding? They’ll crucify him! (Life of Brian): “Nail some sense into him!” (/Life of Brian) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/14 "2005-05-07T04:37:54Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > I often wonder how stuff like this gets media attention. > [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Slow news week. Pfft. The Papal conclave started the same day. I don’t recall that being a slow news period. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/15 "2005-05-07T04:56:00Z")
Perhaps this deserves its own Pit Thread but another “miracle” that bothered me was the “crucifix” of I-Beams discovered in the World Trade Center wreckage a few days after Sept 11, 2001. I _know_ this meant a great deal to the rescuers as well as the relatives and friends of the victims of that terrible day. After all, a great many people were looking for something or _anything_ to indicate that we weren’t left totally alone in this tragedy. Personally, this “crucifix” has the same significance as the Virgin Mary Underpass Apparition. Well, there I’ve said it. Feel free to “pounce” if you wish. ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/16 "2005-05-07T16:48:20Z")
No, **wolf\_meister** , I think you’re right, mostly. People do look for a protective, guiding divine presence during tragidies and disasters. It’s a natural response, I think. I agree that it can get out of hand. There’s an interesting [article](http://www.circlemakers.org/art_and_artifice.html) written at [circlemakers.org](http://circlemakers.org) talking about people’s insistance that the supernatural exists, even when confronted by evidence od a hoax. The point was (I think - there was a lot of hipper-than-thou art-speak in it) that some people need to believe in the supernatural because the world they live in is too mundane, evil, tragic, etc. They will believe that something is true and go though all sorts of emotional and logical contortions to prove that their belief in UFOs, ETs, warp drives and telekinetic aliens exist because they can’t **not** believe it it for various reasons. I think the same thing can be said for the rash sightings of the Virgin Mary and Jesus in everyday objects. If you were in some sort of crisis, or were buying into the stories put out by religious or cultural chicken-littles, wouldn’t the appearance of your savior in some mundane object be of some comfort that you weren’t alone? Vlad/Igor ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/17 "2005-05-07T19:26:50Z")
I wonder what Mr. Gonzalez’s motiviation was for writing “Big Lie”. That’s what I find interesting. Is that a blanket statement against Christianity in general or is he a militant protestant of the fundamental variety protesting Catholic Marionite worship? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/18 "2005-05-07T20:53:53Z")
Dammit, now I have a Tull song stuck in my head Dum dum dum-dum– _Salt-Stain Mary finds it hard to get along. She’s a poor man’s rich girl and she’ll do it for a song. She’s a rich man stealer but her favour’s good and strong: She’s the Robin Hood of Highgate – helps the poor man get along._ ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/19 "2005-05-07T21:22:14Z")
The maker of that paint thinner or cleaner or whatever sure has a good marketing opportunity now. I can them in the boardroom now talking about “leveraging” the situation and “branding” and all that bullshit. “The Paint Thinner That Revealed The Holy Virgin!” ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745/20 "2005-05-07T23:40:38Z")
Of course, the fine print would have to say “Paint thinner does not remove salt stains or acts of God. See your local retailer for details.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salt-stain-mary-update/302745.md?page=2)