Good times don’t have to involve an arrest

Mardi Gras is the French word for Fat Tuesday.

But in southern Louisiana, it really means good times.

Unfortunately, good times to some means inebriated revelry.

And the crime reports from this past weekend reveal the dire consequences that result from having “too good of a time.”

In total, the Houma-Thibodaux area experienced:

• 15 DWIs

• eight traffic accidents

• 14 arrests for disturbing the peace while intoxicated

And most distressingly …

• three deaths

Larry Weidel, public information officer for the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, was befuddled by statistics he considers staggering.

“We still cannot understand why people will continue to drink and drive with all of the publicity and actions going on about the strict penalties which require jail time if arrested,” he said.

People who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and the events of last weekend should still be fresh in our minds.

And it should be a harrowing reminder of what can be lost.

Believe it or not, parades can be enjoyed with responsible drinking. The pomp and pageantry of Mardi Gras can actually be appreciated without the assistance of 10 Abitas.

Adults need to be cognizant of the influence they wield on juveniles, as 10 minors were arrested for underage consumption of alcohol.

Although law enforcement will be working overtime to keep order, it’s imperative that locals remember that they’re not only responsible for their own destiny.

As this weekend’s death toll indicates, they’re also responsible for the destinies of others.