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December 02, 2004

Denver Cancels Christmas

For the last thirty years Denver has put on a holiday parade they call the "Parade of Lights". Just about every theme is acceptable for float entries, except of course a Christmas theme:

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.

But the parade does not allow "direct religious themes," said spokesman Michael Krikorian.

"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."

Krikorian's position is baffling since one of the honored participants in the parade is the "Two Spirit Society" of Denver, a native American organization with the purpose of restoring "the traditional role of Two Spirited persons:"

In most Native American history, gay, lesbian, and/or transgendered individuals were considered holy and treated with the highest respect. They were the historians, the healers, and the people of empowerment.

That sure sounds like an overtly religious message to me.

The bare truth here is not that religious messages are banned, but that Christ is. It makes for a fine birthday present, no?

Posted by bubba138 at December 2, 2004 08:57 AM