I am happy for New Orleans to make money hand over fist with Mardi Gras. That said - I've often wondered how many of those revelers will be in church on Ash Wednesday.
After all, Mardi Gras (basically, good-bye to fat!) was when good Catholics and Anglicans got rid of all the food they would be giving up for Lent - hence the pancake suppers many churches put on on Shrove Tuesday. Again, it's an excuse to party. This particular one is so firmly entrenched that there's no going back - but that doesn't mean that I'm thrilled that a religious observance has now degenerated into flashing boobs and getting drunk.