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Simply the opposite day, somebody tweeted out a problem asking readers to share, in 5 phrases or much less, one thing that will annoy die-hard Texans. As a prodigal Texan, I responded: “Austin, Austin, Austin, Austin, Austin.”
You see, the Individuals’s Republic of Austin — I heard that label within the Nineteen Seventies — is positioned inside Texas and it’s even the capital of Texas, nevertheless it has lengthy been deep-blue city zip code (there are actually others) in a somewhat crimson state.
This creates tensions. Which brings us to that fascinating Christmas Wars headline the opposite day in The Washington Publish: “A Texas tradition conflict: Dueling parades over the which means of Christmas,” which was the hook for this week’s “Crossroads” podcast (CLICK HERE to tune that in).
Let me supply a little bit of “Christmas Wars” background. For many years, probably the most highly effective establishments in American life — authorities, mass media, public colleges, buying malls, and so forth. — have argued about what sort of language and symbolism can be utilized throughout the cultural tsunami referred to as The Holidays. As one Baptist progressive mentioned way back, individuals might wish to play it protected and say, “Merry Christmas, Pleased Hanukkah, and a Joyous Kwanzaa, Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Bodhi Day, Maunajiyaras Day, Starting of Masa’il, Nisf Sha’ban and Yalda Evening, Yuletide and Shinto Winter Solstice, and Ramadan! Or, pleased holidays!”
However there’s a severe church-state concern looming within the background: Is non secular speech and symbolism a uniquely harmful power in public life? In sensible phrases, can public establishments — particularly if there are tax {dollars} concerned — let “Christmas be Christmas.”
Unusual issues have occurred in these debates, equivalent to some (repeat “SOME”) non secular and cultural conservatives celebrating when, let’s say, Menorahs and even Nativity scenes are acceptable since they’ve grow to be “secular” symbols that now not have offensive non secular content material. That’s a win for faith?
With that in thoughts, let’s have a look at the overture of this Washington Publish story, about Christmas Wars in larger Austin:
TAYLOR, Tex. — The difficulty began ultimately 12 months’s Christmas parade, when college students from St. Mary’s Catholic Faculty watched as two drag queens aboard the primary Taylor Delight float danced and lip synced to Christmas carols beneath a glittering rainbow arch.
Afterward, a St. Mary’s priest complained to the Rev. Jeff Ripple, an evangelical pastor on the ministers’ alliance that ran the annual parade with town. Forward of this 12 months’s parade, Ripple’s group modified the parade’s entry guidelines, requiring that floats should “not battle with conventional and biblical household values.”
Now metropolis officers have been in a bind.
In Texas and different crimson states, Republican legislators who maintain majority management have more and more focused the homosexual group, notably drag performances. Final month, a Texas lawmaker launched laws to criminally cost those that host drag reveals that enable minors, a part of a slate of proposed legal guidelines concentrating on LGBTQ Texans forward of the legislative session in January.
The phrase “focused” is the important thing right here, as we are going to see.
The secret is that Taylor officers determined to have an official Vacation parade — protected with police automobiles — after which there could be one other parade for these non secular individuals who wrestle to embrace fashionable American life. This brings us to the abstract materials on this lengthy, lengthy, lengthy story:
Metropolis officers settled on a compromise: Pastors may nonetheless have their Christmas Parade of Lights on Saturday, however as a substitute of co-sponsoring it, town would maintain a second parade instantly afterward alongside the identical Primary Road route, the Very Merry Vacation Parade. It will be open to all.
As an alternative of quelling debate, the dueling parades divided Taylor, sparking a struggle on phrases on-line that grew much more pointed within the aftermath of the November assault on an LGBTQ membership in Colorado Springs. As Saturday’s parade day approached, strain grew to decide on sides over the way to outline inclusivity, Christianity and the spirit of Christmas.
It will be tempting to say that it is a battle between “secular” leaders and “non secular” people.
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