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Oct. 13th, 2008
Post-parade
Oct. 13th, 2008 08:27 pm | We survived. All in all the parade was about a 90-minute walk, most of it downhill. It was chilly in the morning at the waiting area, but that was bearable. Sebastian had a blue lollipop - we had a bunch of them to toss to kids in the crowd - and turned his tongue Cub Scout blue, or close to it. Here's a photo of him. The white tube he's carrying is the troop banner; the kids took turns holding it during the march. I took a fair number of photos of the floats as we were all waiting for the parade to start. It's a good thing I did, because we didn't get to see them at all once we started walking! There was a huge float for a dance studio, with a bunch of girls doing different kinds of dances; they even had one of those bars that they use to stretch on. I had to wonder if they could dance while the float was in motion. There was a pirate ship which represented some sort of swordfighting pirate entertainment group, a Knights of Columbus float which seemed to be advocating theocracy under the cover of the the First Amendment, and a party float with what appeared to be beauty queens on it. We also spotted a dragon float. But most of the floats were far behind us, and we didn't get to see them. Eventually the parade began. Sebastian didn't fuss much, although both of our feet hurt a lot when we were done. In addition to the four miles or so of the parade itself, we walked at least another mile going back to the Elks club to have his picture taken (they sponsor his troop, and wanted a photo with the scouts), and then walking around the Autumnfest. |
 | I was surprised at how large and pretty the Autumnfest area was. We've never been there before - that is, not only have we never been to the Autumnfest before, but we've never been to the area (the "Social Ocean") where it was held - even though it's only a few minutes from our house. It has a bad reputation. Two men died in the swimming area there, and swimming is no longer allowed. Apart from that, Teri had told me that there were a lot of bad teens there, and possibly gangs, and drugs. Nonetheless, there were a lot of places that were quite pretty. Here's a photo of what I call the Pipe-Fountains at the Social Ocean. |
 | We went on a few rides. I took this from the top of a Ferris wheel. Sebastian went on a long slide, and then he went on the bumper cars. That done, I bought him fries and a cheeseburger, and then we had ice cream - Dicianci's, and it was very good. We sat on an old piece of field artillery while we had our ice cream, and Sebastian leaned on me. He was tired. We could have walked home from there in about twenty to thirty minutes, but Teri was just finishing work and it was no problem to meet her at Dunkin Donuts for a ride home. The rest of the day was spent quietly, and Sebastian just fell asleep a few minutes ago. God, I'm tired. But I have to say that the parade was a lot of fun - it was a new experience for me. It's pretty neat walking down the middle of a street with people thronged on all sides, waving and cheering and smiling! |
Post-parade
Oct. 13th, 2008 08:27 pm | We survived. All in all the parade was about a 90-minute walk, most of it downhill. It was chilly in the morning at the waiting area, but that was bearable. Sebastian had a blue lollipop - we had a bunch of them to toss to kids in the crowd - and turned his tongue Cub Scout blue, or close to it. Here's a photo of him. The white tube he's carrying is the troop banner; the kids took turns holding it during the march. I took a fair number of photos of the floats as we were all waiting for the parade to start. It's a good thing I did, because we didn't get to see them at all once we started walking! There was a huge float for a dance studio, with a bunch of girls doing different kinds of dances; they even had one of those bars that they use to stretch on. I had to wonder if they could dance while the float was in motion. There was a pirate ship which represented some sort of swordfighting pirate entertainment group, a Knights of Columbus float which seemed to be advocating theocracy under the cover of the the First Amendment, and a party float with what appeared to be beauty queens on it. We also spotted a dragon float. But most of the floats were far behind us, and we didn't get to see them. Eventually the parade began. Sebastian didn't fuss much, although both of our feet hurt a lot when we were done. In addition to the four miles or so of the parade itself, we walked at least another mile going back to the Elks club to have his picture taken (they sponsor his troop, and wanted a photo with the scouts), and then walking around the Autumnfest. |
| I was surprised at how large and pretty the Autumnfest area was. We've never been there before - that is, not only have we never been to the Autumnfest before, but we've never been to the area (the "Social Ocean") where it was held - even though it's only a few minutes from our house. It has a bad reputation. Two men died in the swimming area there, and swimming is no longer allowed. Apart from that, Teri had told me that there were a lot of bad teens there, and possibly gangs, and drugs. Nonetheless, there were a lot of places that were quite pretty. Here's a photo of what I call the Pipe-Fountains at the Social Ocean. |
| We went on a few rides. I took this from the top of a Ferris wheel. Sebastian went on a long slide, and then he went on the bumper cars. That done, I bought him fries and a cheeseburger, and then we had ice cream - Dicianci's, and it was very good. We sat on an old piece of field artillery while we had our ice cream, and Sebastian leaned on me. He was tired. We could have walked home from there in about twenty to thirty minutes, but Teri was just finishing work and it was no problem to meet her at Dunkin Donuts for a ride home. The rest of the day was spent quietly, and Sebastian just fell asleep a few minutes ago. God, I'm tired. But I have to say that the parade was a lot of fun - it was a new experience for me. It's pretty neat walking down the middle of a street with people thronged on all sides, waving and cheering and smiling! |
A response to a question on Askville which complains that children are forbidden to read the Bible in school, but can read it in prison:
This is sheer fantasy. You're indulging in a persecution complex.
Your children are perfectly free to read the Bible. They are even free to study the Bible in a comparative religions course, for example. What they are NOT free to do - and what teachers are not free to do - is to use the Bible to indoctrinate students using tax dollars which are collected from all of us, including Christians of other sects than your own, and non-Christians. Why is that so hard to understand?
Children can and do learn about religion in public schools. They are perfectly free to follow their own religion in school, too; for example, I read the Bible several times during recess and lunch while in public school. What is forbidden is indoctrination, proselytizing, and evangelizing, because they interfere with the religious freedoms of others. They also interfere with learning time which is paid for by ALL of us, including non-Christians.
Children are young and easily impressionable. They are required to attend school. It is unconscionable for teachers or even other students to use that school time to try to push their faith on others.
You want to be able to convert others in school because you believe that yours is the majority religion; that your own children will not be forced to endure proselytizing from others. But this violates the Golden Rule. You are NOT giving others the respect and consideration that you would wish for yourself.
Please try and put yourself into the shoes of someone who belongs to a faith other than your own. Some have relatives and ancestors who died for their faiths, even if you consider it to be a "wrong" faith. How do you think they would feel having their children be told in school, perhaps by teachers whose salaries their tax dollars pay for, that their faith is wrong? Do you have the empathy to understand the outrage and hurt that such arrogance inflicts? Can you see the injustice?
It should also be noted that some have used their children to try and force their faith on their fellow students. Since children are compelled by the State to attend school, this is just as wrong as having the teachers force a specific religion on students. School is a place for learning. Part of the price we pay for living in a pluralistic society is that on the subject of religion, the State must show the maximum consideration for the rights of the minority.
Because otherwise we will end up with a tyranny of the majority in every aspect of society. That may seem appealing to you, since you believe that your faith is the majority one. But the time may come when the majority opinion changes - our nation is constantly changing - or that you, yourself, may change your beliefs in some way. When that time comes, you will realize that the tyranny of an unchecked majority is one of the greatest injustices ever devised by Man.
Please consider tolerance.
A response to a question on Askville which complains that children are forbidden to read the Bible in school, but can read it in prison:
This is sheer fantasy. You're indulging in a persecution complex.
Your children are perfectly free to read the Bible. They are even free to study the Bible in a comparative religions course, for example. What they are NOT free to do - and what teachers are not free to do - is to use the Bible to indoctrinate students using tax dollars which are collected from all of us, including Christians of other sects than your own, and non-Christians. Why is that so hard to understand?
Children can and do learn about religion in public schools. They are perfectly free to follow their own religion in school, too; for example, I read the Bible several times during recess and lunch while in public school. What is forbidden is indoctrination, proselytizing, and evangelizing, because they interfere with the religious freedoms of others. They also interfere with learning time which is paid for by ALL of us, including non-Christians.
Children are young and easily impressionable. They are required to attend school. It is unconscionable for teachers or even other students to use that school time to try to push their faith on others.
You want to be able to convert others in school because you believe that yours is the majority religion; that your own children will not be forced to endure proselytizing from others. But this violates the Golden Rule. You are NOT giving others the respect and consideration that you would wish for yourself.
Please try and put yourself into the shoes of someone who belongs to a faith other than your own. Some have relatives and ancestors who died for their faiths, even if you consider it to be a "wrong" faith. How do you think they would feel having their children be told in school, perhaps by teachers whose salaries their tax dollars pay for, that their faith is wrong? Do you have the empathy to understand the outrage and hurt that such arrogance inflicts? Can you see the injustice?
It should also be noted that some have used their children to try and force their faith on their fellow students. Since children are compelled by the State to attend school, this is just as wrong as having the teachers force a specific religion on students. School is a place for learning. Part of the price we pay for living in a pluralistic society is that on the subject of religion, the State must show the maximum consideration for the rights of the minority.
Because otherwise we will end up with a tyranny of the majority in every aspect of society. That may seem appealing to you, since you believe that your faith is the majority one. But the time may come when the majority opinion changes - our nation is constantly changing - or that you, yourself, may change your beliefs in some way. When that time comes, you will realize that the tyranny of an unchecked majority is one of the greatest injustices ever devised by Man.
Please consider tolerance.