Parade prohibition puzzles preacher

Rocky Mountain News ^ | 12/1/2004 | Jean Torkelson

[FredZarguna]

If groups celebrating American Indian holy people, German culture and the Chinese New Year can march in the city's Parade of Lights, why can't a Christian group march to celebrate Christmas?

That's just one of the questions bothering prominent Denver-area Pastor George Morrison.

He said he was barred from participating in the parade because his multicultural church group wanted its Christian-themed float to feature traditional yuletide hymns and a "Merry Christmas" message.

"It's a little confusing to me," said Morrison, pastor of Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada, one of the region's largest evangelical churches, with more than 4,000 worshippers.

"Here we have this holiday, Christmas, approaching, and Parade of Lights is suddenly changed into something where you can't even sing a Christmas song?"

But the parade does not allow "direct religious themes," said spokesman Michael Krikorian. That includes "Merry Christmas" signs and the singing or playing of traditional Christmas hymns. He added that the rules were spelled out when Morrison's intermediary called last spring to inquire about contributing a float.

"We want to avoid that specific religious message out of respect for other religions in the region," Krikorian said. "It could be construed as disrespectful to other people who enjoy a parade each year."

The one-hour parade, which is celebrating its 30th year this Friday and Saturday nights in downtown Denver, features elaborate floats with holiday symbols such as Santa Claus and gingerbread houses, plus an "international procession" of cultural groups.

[EdReform]

That tips the scales unfairly, because what power do I the common man have against a Group like the ACLU that has "unlimited resources"...

You can join the fight against the ACLU and their ilk by becoming involved with and supporting the following organizations:

American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) - http://www.aclj.org

Thomas More Law Center - http://www.thomasmore.org

Alliance Defense Fund - http://www.alliancedefensefund.org

The Rutherford Institute - http://www.rutherford.org/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ACLU must be destroyed: Joseph Farah supports Boy Scouts, urges Americans to fight back

Citizens mobilized to stop ACLU (seeks to consign group to 'ash heap of history')

Revealing FACTS on the ACLU from its own writings

[EdReform]

GI Ping

[rodguy911]

We have mentioned it on several other threads before but there really needs to be a counter for the ACLU before they ruin even more lives in the name of the liberal elite.

[EdReform]

See reply 21

[Americanwolf]

Thanks for the INFO! :)

[FredZarguna]

I cannot begin to say how loathsome "Here comes Santa Claus" is.

One doesn't understand the real meaning of loathsome until some enterprising 2nd Grade teacher has her charges "perform" Jingle Bell Rock at the school's Winter Pageant.

[Americanwolf]

I agree with you. The ACLU takes case that will generate enough press for the pet causes. I like the Brit legal system. You bring a frivolous lawsuit or you lose the suit that you brought to court you pay legal cost for both parties, at least that would give some people pause before they decided to go out and sue.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Now, since we're supposed to respect "diversity," how can the recognition of somebody else's customs ever be "offensive?" That recognition is supposed to be the greatest good to these idiots."

You've hit the nail squarely on the head. One of the main points of the whole diversity movement is purportedly to enjoy and respect other people's traditions; so incidents like this show the big lie behind the diversity movement. For the left, the PURPOSE of respecting other cultures is to UNDERMINE our own culture and traditions; therefore they treat our own culture as the only culture whose public expression is deemed threatening or offensive. So what seems to us as blatant hypocrisy is to the left not hypocrisy at all; rather, it is simply lying.

[Bahbah]

"you aren't really interested in diversity at all, but rather, in destroying the cultural identity of your enemy."

And that, my friend, is exactly the point.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Jingle Bell Rock"

I always liked that song; the two Christmas songs that always strike me as insipid as "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and the one about grandma being run over by a reindeer, or by Santa Claus, whatever it is.

[kemathen7]

This is precisely why I never end the Parade of Lights in Denver. I stay at home and hang out with my family. Much more productive and meaningful than seeing the Denver Bronco cheerleaders whored out in lights.

[EdReform]

You're welcome! Please email or print and send the links to people you know.

All of the organizations listed in reply 21 are worthy of our support. Here are just a few recent examples of how two of those organizations are fighting back:

ADF Contacts Over 3,600 School Districts Over Attempts To Censor Christmas

ADF: 700 lawyers ready to fight ACLU lawsuits

ADF: Pentagons' Warning About Boyscouts Is Absurd

Thomas More Law Center: Town of Palm Beach Pays $50,000 In Attorney Fees Apologizes To Women In Nativity Lawsuit

[FredZarguna]

seeing the Denver Bronco cheerleaders whored out in lights

Now that is what I would call an appropriately vulgar description.

[BluSky]

'whole diversity movement is purportedly to enjoy and respect other people's traditions'

Well stated.

That's the point. This needs to be repeated (to liberals and those voting democrat) again and again. With the Christmas season upon us, there's no better time for this discussion.

Nothing better than putting slack-jawed liberals into cunundrums over their own terminolgy/ideology.

Cheers!

[Gingersnap]

This all the rage on talk radio here in Colorado.

Essentially, all the commentary is negative. I live outside Denver (like most people) but I won't be going. There is no reason for me or my family to pay for parking, pay for a meal, and do some shopping all to see a completely meaningless dis play of "lights".

Without the Christmas component, this is just electrical entertainment. If I want mindless entertainment, I have a TV.

As more people understand that this has no meaning, no traditions, no symbolism and no connection to culture, fewer people will choose to stand in subzero temps to view it.

Bye, bye revenue for Denver!

[madison10]

PC = Practically Communist.

That's what they really want, right? To eliminate the true God & find a handy-dandy, non-offensive, non-sin-condemning replacement.

[MeekOneGOP]

Parade prohibition puzzles preacher

Excerpt:

He said he was barred from participating in the parade because his multicultural church group wanted its Christian-themed float to feature traditional yuletide hymns and a "Merry Christmas" message.

"It's a little confusing to me," said Morrison, pastor of Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada, one of the region's largest evangelical churches, with more than 4,000 worshippers.

"Here we have this holiday, Christmas, approaching, and Parade of Lights is suddenly changed into something where you can't even sing a Christmas song?"

But the parade does not allow "direct religious themes," said spokesman Michael Krikorian. That includes "Merry Christmas" signs and the singing or playing of traditional Christmas hymns. He added that the rules were spelled out when Morrison's intermediary called last spring to inquire about contributing a float.

"We want to avoid that specific religious message out of respect for other religions in the region," Krikorian said. "It could be construed as disrespectful to other people who enjoy a parade each year."

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[thompsonsjkc]

Maybe you guys saw this, but I want to make sure it's pointed out:

"We want to avoid that specific religious message out of respect for other religions in the region," Krikorian said. "It could be construed as disrespectful to other people who enjoy a parade each year."

This guy is admitting outright that he is prohibiting any display of Christianity.

[thompsonsjkc]

This thing is called the Parade of Lights.

John 8:12 (New International Version)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

The very name of their parade is in violation of their policy! Ha!

[Cindy]

A CHRISTmas Celebration Online!
http://www.ilovejesus.com/myhome/cindy/index.html

CHRISTMAS LINKS
http://www.truthusa.com/CHRISTmas.html