The Mystery Man

[Catherine Vincent]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8599914/site/newsweek/

July 25 issue - Growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., in the 1970s, Patrick Fitzgerald was so determined to attend the prestigious Regis High School that even a rejection letter couldn't keep him away. When his carefully prepared application was denied, Fitzgerald dialed up Regis's director of admissions and protested that there must have been some mistake. Sure enough, the school had mixed up his entrance exam with that of another Patrick Fitzgerald of Brooklyn who got lower marks. The right Patrick Fitzgerald entered Regis that fall.

___________________

Don't you just love it?! He knew there was no way he would be declined.:-)

[leftchick]

1. "scary smart"

LOL! That is how he was described on one of the cable shows last night! I will take his scary over cheney's scary ANY FUCKING DAY!

:)

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Back then there was a city wide exam

that you had to take to get into these schools. It was a big deal because a school like Regis was the cream of the crop and probably only took 100 or so students a year. I went to their sister school, St. Vincent Ferrer.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

3. Jesuits

As one who was lucky enough to have stumbled into the grasp of the Jesuits during my educational odyssey, I am, of course, delighted with Patrick Fitzgerald's accomplishments. He is what they want us all to be.

The only really tough fights I've ever encountered in my legal career were against my fellow Jesuit-trained lawyers.

We all suffer from the same affliction: we do not know how to surrender.

They never taught us how to give up.

[leftchick]

4. Is that a bad thing?

??

[Catherine Vincent]

5. I hope not in the case of the Bush admin.

I'd had to think what would have happened if Fitz was investigating Big Dog.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

6. Only if you're

on the other side.........

:)

[leftchick]

9. lol!

well that is good news! :)

[SpiralHawk]

7. I had the Christian Brothers of Ireland at a high school

in West Roxbury back in the early 60s. They all carried leather straps, and they beat the shit out of a lot of kids. SUBMISSION was the theme. As a freshman I took it 3 times before I put a punctuated end to it all. The classes they taught were rigorous, but I just don't cotton to standing still while some big goon in black cassock whallops me with a strap. I will not stand for it -- for me or anyone else. I rebelled, let them know it, walked out of their Peculiar Hell a Free Man (in training) and entered the public high school. Much better for me.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

8. Bastards

I'm so sorry that you had to endure that kind of ratshit behavior, meted out to you by twisted, troubled men. I'm so glad you got away from them.

At least they taught you - inadvertently - what freedom means.

Bastards.

I used to hear stories about nuns who hurt small kids in parochial elementary schools in my home town. Until the Jesuits, my education was public, so I never underwent anything like what you suffered. Lucky me.

The Jesuits were not punitive. As a group, in my experience, they were the most gentle of men, and I recall only one - Daniel Berrigan - who wore a cassock (he did it mostly for show, though, when he was on trial). They punished you with questions and demands that you labor as hard as they did and love learning and good works as much as they did.

I know how fortunate I was. But, for you, I'm just glad you found your way out, and made all the way to here.

[RagAss]

10. So true...it was a Jesuit who taught us the theory of Evolution...

in H.S. -made sure we knew it cold !!...they devote their lives to Christ...but they ain't stupid......