It’s called carnival madness for a reason.

Some people simply seem to lose all control. They eat too much, drink to excess and behave in ways utterly beyond them during the rest of the year.

This carnival season is also boosted by Super Bowl XXXVI, giving this Mardi Gras season the potential of being one of the wildest in memory.

Tourists will jam the French Quarter, especially Bourbon Street, with shoulder-to-shoulder and wall-to-wall drunks from one end to the other. Sweet, conservative college girls (and younger), highly intoxicated, will find themselves easily persuaded to “show a little skin” and, in some cases, find their photos spread all over the internet and in video compilations such as “Girls Gone Wild.”

South Louisiana has an opportunity to show its residents have some class. Unfortunately, we fear, we will fall far short. Every year, we hope for sanity and see little else in New Orleans but the madness.

Fortunately, local carnival celebrations are much more family-oriented. Disgraceful behavior is still frowned upon and children can safely enjoy the floats, marching bands and dance groups in comparitive safety.

We urge area residents to enjoy Carnival this year in a safe and sane manner. Our children look to us for examples of appropriate behavior and we should not let them down and pass along bad practices. And let’s be good hosts to our guests and not let them (or us) drive drunk.

Just remember – Mardi Gras is much more fun when you’re sober enough to remember it.

L’Observateur