I recently took my family on it's annual excursion to the "Trail of Lights", a display of lights that the Austin Parks and Recreation Department puts up every year. You walk through with your kiddos, enjoy all the pretty lights, nosh on funnel cakes and drink cocoa or apple cider! It truly is a nice display and I look forward to going every year. However, the mood this year was dampened a bit.
In the midst of all the festive lights and Santa hats lurked a group of folks handing out "Christmas Cash". It was about the size of a dollar bill, had a nice little cartoon of Santa on the front and had the heading "The Republic of the North Pole". I pretty much ignored the ones I was handed but one of the people we were with had browsed through the fine print and brought it to my attention. It was several paragraphs of fire and brimstone, informing us that we were all, and I quote, "lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterers-at-heart"! We were also informed we'd be treated to an eternity in Hell for our punishment. NICE! Just the thing you want to read while you are out enjoying the beautiful lights, the sweet, little elementary school choirs, and dance troops, your innocent, wide-eyed children and your friends, family and community as a whole. While making our way through the park, I personally was given 2 of these little lovelies, and everyone else in my party also came away with one or two. They were being passed out at various locations throughout the display route.
Bottom line... this REALLY pissed me off. Not that I don't think people aren't allowed to speak their opinions, I'm a huge supporter of our First Amendment. HOWEVER, I really felt that this kind of solicitation, well really ANY kind of solicitation in this type of venue was terribly distasteful! In fact, I sent a letter to the Parks and Recreation Department in regards to this. I don't feel that ANY type of solicitation should be allowed at this event. This is a community event where people of all different cultures, races, creeds, religions, beliefs, etc... come to enjoy their families, to appreciate the displays and to enjoy the season. And I'd be willing to bet I was not the only person who felt uncomfortable after reading these little flyers. I am just so tired of everything on the planet that is fun and enjoyable is now falling prey to someone's agenda. Can we not just take in the pleasures of life without being harassed at every turn? I don't go to community events to be harped at about religion or politics! I just want to go and enjoy myself and go about my life! I don't feel the need to impart MY "wisdom" onto the other people who dwell in my city when I am at such events, so why do I have to put up with it from others? Sometimes I wish that people would remember that Golden Rule that we all learned in elementary school! Seriously, there are just times that "SILENCE IS GOLDEN!" That being said, I will shut up now and get along with my day. I wonder if I will get a response from Parks and Recs?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
What do you know? I actually got a letter back from the Parks and Rec Dept. The gentleman stated that this has come up quite a bit as of late and as a way to accommodate those wanting to exercise their First Amendment rights, they have set up an area for people to express themselves in an open forum at a specific area of the trail. Obviously these folks with the nasty little flyers didn't feel the rules applied to them. So, if I notice such a thing happening in future visits, I am to notify a volunteer who will then notify the park police and the people soliciting will be escorted to either the designated area or out of the park. I guess we'll see what happens next year.
I find evangelicals are inclined to think they are a special case and are doing gods work, so bending the rules don't hurt.
I would have given them a dressing down and threatened to shove it where the sun doesn't shine.
Merry Christmas by the way, if I don't get back here before the 25th
Post a Comment