Posted on 12/01/2004 10:37:03 PM PST by ajolympian2004
On the Gunny Bob Newman show and the Donna Star show here in Denver on KOA 850am tonight they have been talking about Denver mayor Hickenlooper's decision to ban the words 'Merry Christmas' from the traditional Parade of Lights downtown parade as well as any 'Christmas' float.
Dates - Friday, December 3, 2004 at 8 p.m. Saturday, December 4, 2004 at 6 p.m.
Location - Downtown Denver, starting in front of Civic Center Park and the City & County Building on Bannock Street at 14th Avenue.
From the web site: http://www.denverparadeoflights.com/
Once again this year, the parade is proud to present an International Procession to celebrate the cultural and ethnic diversity of the region. Groups in the International Procession include Belly Dance Concepts, Colorado Mestizo Dancers, Denver Taiko Drummers, Mudra Dance Studio, Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu, T.E.V. Edelweiss Schuhplattlers, and Two Spirit Society of Denver.
In addition to the amazing floats, balloons and bands, the 9NEWS Parade of Lights features countless other performers who each add a special touch to the evening. This year, featured performers will include Artistic Fusion Dance, Belles Performance Team, Centre of Dance, Colorado Clowns, Colorado School of Dance, Kit Andree Dance & Performing Arts Company, Peak Academy of Dance, Action Dance Express, and Denver Figure Skating Club.
Organization responsible for encouraging the ban:
Downtown Denver Partnership
http://www.downtowndenver.com/
303.534.6161 - voice mail
303.534.2803 - fax
Major sponsor and televising the event on Fri. Dec. 3rd - http://www.9news.com/
Other sponsors: Storage Tek, Ford, Starbucks, Xcel Energy, Wells Fargo
Gunny Bob suggested that everyone show up with a 'Merry Christmas' sign and sing all the traditional Christmas carols during the parade.
It's the name of the day, people. You're not celebrating "holiday-day". It's Christmas. Everyone calls it Christmas. The only ones who don't are the advertisers and PC officials who're afraid of offending anyone. We may as well ban every label and name black as it may offend someone, somehow.
Ugghh, We put up with this PC crap EVERY SINGLE CHRISTMAS.
Exactly. Defy these pukes. Show them who's boss.
And make a party of it.
It lasted for one or two years and the PC Commanders moved on or retired and the new ones went back to Christmas and Halloween.
This is the same crap happening in Denver and won't last long !
Here's a little excerpt from the Denver Post
Businessman aims straight for the top
March 18, 2003
Heart of an activist
Although Hickenlooper makes much of his struggles to launch a business during the recession in 1988, he managed a year earlier to pitch in $2,000 of his oil company severance to co-found the Chinook Fund, a foundation that provides startup grants to community organizations that emphasize social change. He since has given tens of thousands of dollars to Chinook, which in 15 years has doled out more than $1.3 million to groups including:
Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace, which has sponsored protesters to tear town Israeli road blocks in the West Bank.
Colorado Hip-Hop Coalition, a group dedicated to "community empowerment for youth through hip-hop culture."
Gender Identity Center of Colorado, a group supporting "people who cross dress, are transsexual, or are non-traditional in their gender identity."
Denver Cop Watch, which monitors police brutality in the city and has spoken out against police compiling "spy files" against peaceful protesters.
The Boulder Living Wage Campaign, which wants that city, its contractors and grant recipients to pay workers a minimum of $12.50 per hour - vastly more than the $5.15 minimum wage required federally.
Hickenlooper raised the ire of another of his fund's recipients, Colorado ACORN, when he opposed a similar living wage initiative in Denver, where he owns seven restaurants, employs 400 workers and has enjoyed a $125,000 city loan and a $3 million subsidy from the Denver Urban Renewal Authority.
"We were disappointed in his stance, especially from a business owner who has been subsidized with tax dollars and has a reputation of being progressive," says Carolyn Siegel, the group's director at the time.
On the other side of the political spectrum, some conservatives worry that the liberal ethos that drives Chinook would, under Hickenlooper's leadership, bleed into the city.
"If it's any indication of what he'll do with tax dollars, then I'm very concerned," said Jon Caldara, president of the conservative Independence Institute.
Gunny Bob suggested that everyone show up with a 'Merry Christmas' sign and sing all the traditional Christmas carols during the parade.
BIG signs with BIG, red letters.
The P.C. crowd is so behind the times! Get over it already, you morons! JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON! That must be the part they don't like.
Maybe everyone should hold the sign in one hand and a Crucifix in the other. Although it seems implausible, the ACLU. the athiests and the Bolsheviks are winning, while the Christians continue to spend billions for their Season's Greeting presents.
This could not have happened at any time in our history prior to the 1960s.
Saw a snippet about this on tv tonight:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/holidays/3963530/detail.html
Church Group Upset They Can't March In Parade Of Lights
Parade Organizers Say Christmas Carols May Be Offensive To Others
POSTED: 4:24 pm MST December 1, 2004
UPDATED: 7:31 pm MST December 1, 2004
DENVER -- It's one of Denver's most colorful holiday traditions -- the lighting of the Denver City and County Building and the parade of lights downtown. But now two decisions about those events are making church groups see red.
Church Group Banned From Holiday Parade
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper recently announced that next year the phrase "Merry Christmas" will be removed from the city building and replaced with "Happy Holidays."
And now a church group who wants to march in the Parade of Lights and sing Christmas carols will not be allowed to participate in the parade. Organizers say the parade is about the holidays, not Christmas, but leaders of the Faith Bible Chapel say that's ridiculous.
"We can't pretend that Christ didn't exist and Christmas wasn't about his birthday, so we felt we could sing it and apparently that is not in social vogue anymore," said Pastor Gary Beasley, with the Faith Bible Chapel.
"This event is not one that has ever intended to have a religious message or a political message," said Susan Rogers, with the Downtown Denver Partnership.
She said no overtly religious symbols is allowed in the parade and that means participants can't carry "Merry Christmas" signs and can't sing traditional Christmas hymns.
But in the 30 years that it's been held, there has been an occasional Christmas element to the parade, such as marching bands playing Christmas songs, and several years ago a large balloon in the parade read "Merry Christmas." In 1987, even Mayor Federico Pena greeted the city with "Merry Christmas!" during the parade.
But last spring when the Faith Bible Chapel asked to be a part of the parade, offering to sponsor or build their own float and sing carols, organizers said no because it would be offensive.
"We try to be sensitive to the fact that we are a very diverse community and a very diverse world," said Rogers. She said this is a holiday parade, not specifically a Christmas parade, and it's occuring during a season when many other cultures are celebrating other holidays as well.
But Beasley doesn't see this reaction as being tolerant of other religions, but being intolerant of Christianity. He said his large evangelical organization is being excluded from a major downtown celebration.
"We're singing Christmas carols. It's Christmas time, people have been singing Christmas carols for hundreds of years in America," Beasley said.
The Arvada church group said since it cannot be in the parade, it will march one hour before this weekend's Parade of Lights, pass out hot chocolate and sing Christmas carols.
Who is being offended here? Immigrants? Illegal aliens?
Why was it OK 20 years ago, but not now?
They should pick a side street and do what they want there-no sponsers. go there.
And from what hallowed "tradition" might this parade have originated? Kwanzaa? This mayor's decision is pure rubbish, but at least it's being recognized as such.
BIG signs with BIG, red letters
That is an EXCELLENT idea ..
Should also print off a picture with the words Merry Christmas and tape it to the inside of your car window
That is 100% illegal.
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! EVERYONE NEEDS TO STOP CAVING IN NOW. IF I LIVED IN DENVER, I'D ATTEND DRESSED AS AN OLD FASHIONED CAROLER AND SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS 'TILL THE CATTLE CAME HOME. IF ANYONE TRIFLED WITH ME, I'D TELL THEM THEIR PC GARBAGE OFFENDED MY CHRISTIAN SENSIBILITIES.
"International Procession"? Since it's a Christmas parade, and everyone in town will be in attendance, 'tis the season to gather signatures for the recall of every elected official who advocated this fiasco and/or went along with it.
YEP .. what are they gonna do .. throw us all in jail for saying this ??
Typical liberals. In the name of diversity, they ban Christians and Christmas.
Since Christmas is a federal holiday then maybe Denver should stop getting federal funds.
Hit them in the pocketbook!
Gee .. I guess this also means Santa is also banned from saying the traditional HO HO HO Merry Christmas
And what about Tiny Tim in the the "Christmas Carol" .. I guess they'll have to ban that show too
How long you figure it'll be until they're forbidden to do that too?
Sounds like a plan to me. Defend your right to free speech.
Au Contraire, in the perverse Liberal world, Santa would say "Ho? Ho? Ho? Santa needs a new Ho!"
Let's just turn it into a RECALL HICKENLOOPER PARADE!
(Tie a red ribbon around him and send him to the ACLU as a CHRISTmas present.)
Yep .. in fact I have a lovely CD full of CHRISTmas Songs that I can play in my car while driving around town ... with the windows rolled down :0)
CHRISTmas has always
been my favorite !!
Typical secularists. I don't care which party they belong to. Secularists believe in taking Christ out of Christmas.
I have Sirius satellite radio and right now, and ever since last Friday, it's been tuned to the Holiday Music channel. Nothing but Christmas tunes 24/7. :)
I just called their voice mail and wished them a VERY LOUD MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! LOL!
My wife and I lived in CO from 68 to 77. We never saw this kind of behavior. In the last 20 years, our friends have explained that there is an exodus from CA to CO. Maybe this explains this behavior in CO.
Are they gonna put duct tape on him too???
That's bs. I froze my fingers off holding the ropes for a giant Snoopy balloon when I was a kid as a volunteer in that parade on behalf of Machebeuf Catholic High School in Denver.
It makes me sick to think that this is tolerated in Denver.
You betcha, Gramma!
Knowing how arrogant and elitist and condescending Liberals can be, they'd probably kick his crutches out from under his arms.
Very Good!!!
Tis the season to spread the cheer
Spread the word around the churches! Get as many Christians in the Denver area as possible out there singing Christian carols and waving Merry Christmas signs. What will the mayor do then - arrest people for celebrating Christmas? They can just tell him that his opposition to diversity is offensive to them.
Would they ban a kwanza float? Would any Christian object to a Hannukah float? This attitude goes far beyond PC--it's a flagrant attack on traditional American values.
YES IS TIS!!! :) And a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO!!!
oops...IS=IT
Denver major Loopinwhacker...Is Denver a red or blue city...????
It truly boggles the mind to contemplate it: a world where Christmas is banned. But here we go, kiddies! Let's make sure to lock up Old Saint Nick while we're at it...
As per "The Denver Channel":
DENVER -- It's one of Denver's most colorful holiday traditions -- the lighting of the Denver City and County Building and the parade of lights downtown. But now two decisions about those events are making church groups see red.
Church Group Banned From Holiday Parade
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper recently announced that next year the phrase "Merry Christmas" will be removed from the city building and replaced with "Happy Holidays."
And now a church group who wants to march in the Parade of Lights and sing Christmas carols will not be allowed to participate in the parade. Organizers say the parade is about the holidays, not Christmas, but leaders of the Faith Bible Chapel say that's ridiculous.
"We can't pretend that Christ didn't exist and Christmas wasn't about his birthday, so we felt we could sing it and apparently that is not in social vogue anymore," said Pastor Gary Beasley, with the Faith Bible Chapel.
"This event is not one that has ever intended to have a religious message or a political message," said Susan Rogers, with the Downtown Denver Partnership.
She said no overtly religious symbols is allowed in the parade and that means participants can't carry "Merry Christmas" signs and can't sing traditional Christmas hymns.
But in the 30 years that it's been held, there has been an occasional Christmas element to the parade, such as marching bands playing Christmas songs, and several years ago a large balloon in the parade read "Merry Christmas." In 1987, even Mayor Federico Pena greeted the city with "Merry Christmas!" during the parade.
But last spring when the Faith Bible Chapel asked to be a part of the parade, offering to sponsor or build their own float and sing carols, organizers said no because it would be offensive.
Should a church group be allowed to march in Denver's Parade of Lights? Yes. As long as other religious groups can march. No. The parade should not have any religious overtones.
"We try to be sensitive to the fact that we are a very diverse community and a very diverse world," said Rogers. She said this is a holiday parade, not specifically a Christmas parade, and it's occuring during a season when many other cultures are celebrating other holidays as well.
Well, now we can have those d*mned Christians going around singing their ****ing Christmas carols now, can we? However, if we are in Denver, we CAN ask "The Two Spirit Society" of Denver to march in the now Christmas-less "Parade of Lights". Who better to replace a Church Group than a group of Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered Native Americans? Nobody finds them offensive - the word "offensive" is now officially reserved only for those repulsive Christian b*stards, what with their stinking "Merry Christmas" and caroling and all...
According to the Two Spirit" Website:
The Latest News! Last update: 16:26 PM Nov 27, 2004
We have been asked to participate in the annual Parade of Lights. Let's make a strong showing! Contact Joey Criddle and let him know if you can make it. Times will be Dec. 3rd at 6pm and the 4th at 4pm. Please try to be early!
Now, this should all be in the interest of fairness, but one is inclined to wonder if the Two Spirit Society will be singing any Native American songs, chants, or doing any sacred dances. As a person of Cherokee descent, I know that almost all songs and dances are sacred, and are dedicated to particular spiritual events. Will the Two Spirit Society be doing anything sacred during this march? Will the Great Spirit, or our Mother Earth, or the Four Sacred Directions be mentioned? Will their be any sacred symbols in their hands, or on their costumes? Will their be anyone waving sage incense? If so, they should be banned, for that is an expression of religion. This should all be done in the interest of fairness, of course...
Or perhaps the City of Denver should just allow the Church Group to march in the "Parade of Lights", the same as that other spiritual group, "The Two Spirit Society".
If not, then it may be time to see the "Parade of Lights" for what it really is: without Christmas, it is simply another commercial designed to get people to spend their money in Downtown Denver. If those Parade Sponsors no longer want to have Christmas on their list, then so be it. We don't have to celebrate Christmas by buying anything from anyone who doesn't like Christmas.
Christmas is a Christian holiday, and those who don't want to celebrate it don't have to celebrate it. But if that's the case, then let's make sure those who hate Christmas don't profit from it.
Still, it might be polite to send a card to those same Christmas-banning sponsors with a letter explaining our decision. We should be polite, and make sure to send them our holiday wishes:
"Merry Christmas!"
...And MERRY CHRISTMAS to all you blue weenies in Denver...
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