Please...Rain on Any Parade

    First off, let's get this right out there right off the bat...I don't GET parades period. I place them in the same category as clowns. In my opinion, the world would be a whole lot better place without clowns and parades. Afterall, we have the MSM and elections...We don't need clowns and parades.

    Since our arrival in early June there have been 3 parades here in Waikiki.

First there was the King Kamehameha Day Parade honoring King Kamehameha I :

Colorful floral floats, glamorous Pa`u riders, outstanding marching bands traverse the streets of Honolulu...

However, there were virtually no floral floats, only a handful of Pa'u riders, and  I think perhaps one outstanding marching band.

The next evening there was the Pan Pacific Matsuri Parade. Crystal Clear, this dragon was a hit with the entire crowd. Although only a handful of floats, there were beautiful colors, costumes, and music far more interesting than your lame highschool band. This was definitely our favorite parade thus far. 

    Yesterday we had the Gay Pride Parade. Lots of rainbow flags, nice music and a  few interesting floats.

    However, even more than not getting parades...I don't like parades. I especially don't like parades when they are for something I consider exclusive and divisive such as Gay Pride. After taking a look at this post about Toronto's Gay Pride Parade (photo included) though I realize it could have been even far less enjoyable.

    Crystal Clear I am not the only one who takes issue with a bunch of people screwing up traffic for hours upon hours several times a month for things as important as Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Parade & Race. Leave it though to the ACLU to bark up the wrong side of any tree. In  June 2004 the city settled a lawsuit  filed by the Hawaiian ACLU on behalf of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays-O'ahu, The Center, and the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Family Network. In the settlement with the ACLU, parades and other events sponsored or co-sponsored by the city are to be open to virtually anyone who wants to participate. You see the ACLU was upset with Honolulu because Gay groups were not included in the Family Day "Kid's Parade," a parade sponsored by the Hawaii Christian Coalition.

    Although both citizens and business owners applaud the city council's bill in December 2004 to limit parades to 24 a year, there are to be exceptions.  I am guessing the following statement  by ACLU Legal Director Lois Perrin regarding responsibility for the costs of police and safety at such events gives a teeny hint on what types of groups expect to always be allowed to have a parade regardless of who pays for the costs and whether there have already been 24 or 48 parades that month.

"Any First Amendment activity or event, the city is required to pay for all additional police costs and services associated with that event..."

That's right, scream First Amendment to shove your message down everyone's throat and of course also make them pay for you shoving your message down their throat. You see, I may not GET parades but I certainly GET the way the ACLU thinks and behaves.

 

Comments

[anon]

Christ, you sound like a lot of fun at a party...

[samiam]

anon: LOL true that.

[Van Helsing]

Thanks for not including the picture from the Toronto gay pride parade.

[annie]

Funny how you mention clowns and parades. Those two show tunes: "I Love A Parade," and "Be a Clown" (be a clown... all the world loves a clown) i always thought were way off. i don't like parades or clowns, nor do i know anyone who does.

[Tyler Durden]

Crystal,

Just so you don't come off anti-gay, say something about mainstream gay people. Can you think of a nice comment about one?

But don't ask me to defend parades. near as I can tell, they are people walking in the street. Sounds dangerous.

[Brian Dennert]

Crystal,

Don't you think it is lame to complain about the "MSM"

when Fox news is number one on cable and Rush is number one on radio.

Sounds like the Mainstream Media ( Fox is run by the former head of the Republican Party) is a CONSERVATIVE media.

[Brian Dennert]

MSM. Like the number one rated radio and tv networks controlled by the republican party, covering the three branches of government controlled by the republicans.

or is the title msm also critcal of fox news?

[brian dennert]

cc,

do you read your comments? if so, why no reply?

[brian dennert]

cc,

hey, do you read your own readers comments?

[tomax7]

...cc, you being single mom of two boys from anon donor and you're pointing your fingers at the Gay Parade?

I must be missing something here.