Another group gains a voice at the Polk County courthouse.

[madfloridian]

I was glad to see others use this to make their voices heard. Our county has been so clueless, not realizing that their government has become the religious right.
I got this from a friend, and it is the latest sign up at the courthouse. The lady is a member of the great Unitarian church here. Here is an article about the group she mentions. Remember, our Southern Baptists here are trying to use the law to police morality. Many folks here who were not of the gay community stood with them in front of this church to protest.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2004/11/21/62562.html

SNIP.."It wasn't a meeting of the minds, but it also wasn't a heated battle of words. Instead, what started out as a protest turned into a civil exchange about differing viewpoints on gay marriage between members of Equality Polk County and members of the First Baptist Church at the Mall.

"We're not trying to change the church," said Jim Narbone of Equality Polk County. "We're not trying to tell the church they have to honor these marriages. We're not trying to say we're right and they're wrong. We just want equal protection under the law."

Here is the sign, which was originally the Zoroastrian sign.


AND here is the lawyer for the church who put up the manger scene. He is former speaker of the Florida House, Johnnie Byrd. Mixing religion and politics. He looks so smug.


On Edit: I forgot to mention this was about the manger scene placed without permission in front of the courthouse, then the Festivus sign.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Thou, Holy Asha!

May Asha (Divine Truth) melt the hearts of these people who are so self-righteous with hate.

[corbett]

2. Disney World Is Just Up The Road From There

Good for them! Disney World, which provides health benefits for domestic partners, is just up the road from where this took place. How ironic!

Equality for all!

[madfloridian]

3. "Mouse frightens thousands of Southern Baptists."

http://www.whosoever.org/editorial/baptist.html

SNIP..."Will a Southern Baptist boycott change the Disney company? I don't know. But it will change us. It will affirm to us and the world that we love Jesus more than we love our entertainment."
Lisa Kinney, a delegate from Largo, Fla., received a standing ovation when she made that comment to the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas, Texas. I believe what it affirms is that Southern Baptists love the legalisms of the Bible more than they love the message of Jesus to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus never put conditions on his love and acceptance. This is the lesson the Baptists sorely need to learn.

The Baptists are famous for their philosophy of "love the sinner, hate the sin" when it comes to gays and lesbians. But, their resolution to boycott Disney proves that they indeed hate the "sinner" with equal passion. There is a want to compare their "boycott" of Disney to the successful boycott of Colorado led by the gay and lesbian community after Amendment Two passed. But there is a clear distinction. Gays and lesbians boycotted because the state passed a measure that attempted to codify discrimination against a certain class of people. The Baptists are boycotting Disney mainly because the entertainment company REFUSES to discriminate against a particular class of people. This shows a clear personal disdain, nay, hatred of gays and lesbians. It completely reveals the hipocrisy of the "love the sinner, hate the sin" philosophy. If they truly "loved" gays and lesbians with the agape love of Christ ... a love that seeks only goodwill and benevolence toward even those you consider enemies ... they would be glad to see a company striving so hard to make gays and lesbians feel welcome. Disney also hosts a Christian gospel music festival aimed squarely at the Baptists and other fundamentalists. I don't see the gay and lesbian community boycotting because of that! ...."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This is how the Southern Baptists are here. I am not making fun...I weep because I grew up as one. It hurts me to see what they have become under this hijacking by the right wing extremists.

[madfloridian]

4. And the Festivus Manger scene controversy makes the Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4689468,00.html

SNIP.."When a church group put a nativity scene on public property, officials warned it might open the door to other religious - and not-so-religious - displays. They were right.

Since the nativity was erected in Polk County, displays have gone up honoring Zoroastrianism and the fake holiday Festivus, featured on the TV show ``Seinfeld.''

SNIP.."The debate began Dec. 15 when a handmade creche with the figures of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus was erected by a Bible study group from the First Baptist Church of Bartow...."

And now Equality Polk County.