The case of an Arvada church seeking to have a float in this weekend’s Denver Parade of Lights continues to mushroom in the media spotlight. It all started when parade officials nixed the idea:
[Pastor George] Morrison wanted to enter a float featuring multicultural Christian themes and a Merry Christmas message. Parade officials told a representative from Morrison’s church, the 4,000-member Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada, that religious messages aren’t allowed because they might offend others.
I thought the whole purpose of multiculturalism was to prevent offending others. I guess that’s only non-Christian multiculturalism. Basically, being a Christian and being present is inherently noxious and offensive. Excuse me? But then you find what sort of entries parade officials did allow:
Those include the Two Spirit Society, which honors gay American Indians as holy people, and an Asian group that performs dances to ward off evil spirits at the start of the Chinese New Year. [Downtown Denver Partnership Vice President Susan Rogers] Kark said they will not be expressing religious messages.
At this point, you need to stop, go back and review the two quoted paragraphs, substituting the word “Christian” for the word “religious.” Then you’ll get a clearer sense of what’s going on here.
The question at hand is not whether the parade officials are practicing a form of soft anti-Christian bigotry – that’s clearly established. The question is whether they have a right to do so:
The Parade of Lights is produced by a private nonprofit organization, the Downtown Denver Partnership. It receives 61 percent of its revenue from a consortium of 350 private commercial property owners whose goal is to promote the “improvement and enhancement” of the city.
Partnership Vice President Susan Rogers Kark said the parade doesn’t receive public money.
Even if the parade is a private entity, there still may be First Amendment issues at play, [former U.S. Attorney Mike] Norton said. The one-hour parade uses downtown city streets and is promoted as a citywide event.
As I heard suggested by a caller to a local radio show last night, anyone who plans to attend the Parade of Lights this weekend should show up with handmade “Merry Christmas” signs. That would send a message. Or would they have to leave the city because they were being too offensive?
Is the country at a place to stand up and fight this simplistic thinking? All us conservatives sit around the table talking to each other and nodding in approval while the ACLU gets the laws changed.
Will anyone confuse a church’s entry in the POL as proselytizing by the city of Denver? If so, then are we to believe that the enrollment in the Two Spirits club will increase?
It’s a reflection of the community. Nothing more. Krikorian is merely telling us that Two Spirit’s message is the correct reflection and those dirty Christians aren’t.
See my other comments on the subject at ItsComeDown2This
As a Christian and a citizen I am of the opinion that the position of the Parade of Lights operatives is just one more expression of the politically correct insanity that has infected this holiday. My ire was first raised with the booting of Salvation Army from Target storefronts. There are many similar incidents nationwide involving schools, public sponsered events and other normal Christmas activities.
It appears that my one option is to “boycott” the offender. I can also send letters and emails to them expressing my opinion and decision to avoid patronizing them.
Accordingly, I will not attend the Parade of Lights this year. It had become the annual custom of a group of us to attend the parade and enjoy warm drink at a local pub afterwards. However, in light of these actions to oust Christ from Christmas, I have informed my compadres that I will not make the usual merriment with them. The Downtown Denver Partnership will not enjoy the fruits of their efforts from me this year.
Still, and I say this with full joy and a greater commitment of spirit than ever before,….
“A very “Merry Christmas” to all. Peace on earth and goodwill to all men.”