We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Some of us, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford for example, are conspicuous, noisy, brash, drug-addicted, drunken sinners. I’ve always thought that type of sinner more endearing than miscreants with a veneer of respectability who harbour the carefully concealed sin of elitist sanctimony favoured by liberals. Just as Jesus is a friend of sinners – more a friend of the former category, I suspect – so this sinner is a friend of Jesus: Rob Ford has reinstated the Jesus parade.
From here:
Enter Mayor Rob Ford, who told the Toronto Sun her wanted the parade back on and called a meeting of all involved.
Before noon Thursday, that solution was worked out.
“He was animated” and vocal, McVety said of the mayor. “He made it clear to city staff he wanted to find a solution.”
This to me is exactly the sort of thing Rex Murphy was writing about in the Aug. 30 National Post regarding the upcoming Toronto election when he said “This race . . . is very much about the divide between those who think they are always right, and a fair number of almost everyone else.” With actions like this parade reinstatement Mr Ford manages to come across as actively standing up for the oppressed at the expense of his detractors. Perhaps he gained another percentage point in the standings but, even if he did not, he did what was right. Good on him.
I’ve never been much of a fan of these marches. I’m not exactly sure what they accomplish other than irritate and annoy others who not involved in them. But if people want to march down a street waving a banner or singing a song, I’m glad that they have the freedom to do so.
Rob Ford also tried to get the city of Toronto to not fly the gay flag. That was a couple of months ago. I have heard from a friend in Toronto, who isn’t a Ford fan, warn me Ford may win the election for Mayor. My friend has said, Ford has a section of the population who strongly support him.
About opposing the gay rights people, there was an interesting struggle some years ago. It was in Boston, I think, And it concerned a St. Patrick’s Day parade. This may be 20 years ago. But, the gay boys wanted to have a float in the parade. They were denied. So, they went to a human rights tribunal. The tribunal said the St. Partick’s Day organizers had to accomodate the gay people. So, the organizers decided to cancel the whole parade for the year.
Has any one heard this ? What happened later? did the parade stop altogether, or did it resume? Did the gay people stop trying to insert themselves? I’d be interested if anyone knows.
I found the answer to my question. I read an newspaper article about the 2014 St. Patrick’s day parade. A Boston gay group was in negotiations with the parade organizers. They were allowed to parade, but they could not display signs promoting the gay lifestyle. So, they could not use the word “gay”. Apparently, they had signs with “We support equality”, or “We respect differences”, something like that. Oh, they did have the rainbow coloured flag, or banner. But, no slogans with the word “gay” were displayed. I’m impressed.
Good for him.