Summer Solstice Pagan Festival has Pahokee residents outrage

[Ifreann]

It occurs to me, it's kinda heartening that NSG isn't the only place where the crazies come out when summer hits.

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It is a cult, not a religion. However, it is illegal and immoral for a state to obstruct such a gathering, unless actions within it are illegal--which is not unlikely considering its nature. The townspeople can and should protest all they can.

All religions are cults.

Of course, the best cults aren't religions. *nods*

[The Carlisle]

I giggled. These people still believe in witchcraft? I bet they still believe Satan walks around in the woods and tricks people into signing his book. Wouldn't mind doing it if it were true. Free trip to Barbados.

[Risottia]

Link : http://florida.newszap.com/belleglade/1 ... s-outraged

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PAHOKEE—Pahokee residents, church members, and pastors are outraged over an upcoming event at the Lake Okeechobee Resort and Marina. The marina will be hosting its first Lake Okeechobee Summer Solstice Festival – a program that organizers hope will become an annual event.

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Your thoughts NSG

American Christian factions define "religious freedom" as "you're free to be one of us or to stay in a ghetto, your choice".

And in other news, Rangers have tracked down the source of wood pollution and pinpointed Ursus Arctos as the foremost responsible.

[Risottia]

I giggled. These people still believe in witchcraft?

I fail to see the difference with people who still believe in Middle-Eastern myths and magical invisible guys.

edit: well, no. The difference is that the Middle-Eastern myth-followers in this instance are trying to oppress the witchcraft-followers, and not the other way around.

[Risottia]

Any reports of people being turned into newts yet?

A certain mr.Gingrich has filed a complaint, yes.

[Phocidaea]

Isn't paganism the 9th largest religion?

Maybe if you consider every non-mono- or atheistic religion "pagan". By that metric, it's even higher We're talking the Euro-American neopaganism here specifically, where they actually self-identify with that label.

Wikipedia tells me that Wicca is the only neopagan religion to even make it to the top 20.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

It seems to me that there are more self-professed Christians than self-professed witches who honestly believe in witchcraft.

[Rubiconic Crossings V2 rev 1f]

As an atheist I would really rather see no celebration of any kind of hocus pocus magik fairy tales. However a celebration of the awesome beauty that is nature and the laws that govern these systems? Sure. Why not.

[The Carlisle]

It seems to me that there are more self-professed Christians than self-professed witches who honestly believe in witchcraft.

Don't worry about those heathen witches! I got a guidebook to handling witches!

[Gauthier]

Any reports of people being turned into newts yet?

A certain mr.Gingrich has filed a complaint, yes.

I'm sure there's more than a few women at the festival willing to have an affair with him.

[New Libertarian States]

I giggled. These people still believe in witchcraft? I bet they still believe Satan walks around in the woods and tricks people into signing his book. Wouldn't mind doing it if it were true. Free trip to Barbados.

But Tittuba....

[Vetalia]

“We cannot expect our city to survive and prosper if we allow these things,” said Pastor Eugene Babb, of Harlem Church of God.

From Wikipedia:

"The median income for a household in the city was $26,731, and the median income for a family was $26,265. Males had a median income of $28,859 versus $20,066 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,346. About 29.4% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 32.0% of those age 65 or over."

Buddy, when your per-capita income is only slightly higher than Peru I think you've got way bigger problems to deal with than magic spells and belly dancing.

“God cannot heal our land if we have witches and warlocks violating our community,” said Evangelist Lillian Brown, of Saints on the Move.

[Mike the Progressive]

In any case, its size is irrelevant. I mean Scientology and Paganism are religions.

Paganism doesn't ask you to fork over 300 dollars to join, nor do we imprison members for months for re-education training.

So plz don't compare the two kthnx.

Of course, I'm going to compare the two, I think they are all stupid, to be honest. "Hey, I don't believe in some Jewish carpenter, but I believe in L. Ron Hubbard." Or "hey, I don't believe in L. Ron Hubbard, so I'm going to worship the nature and dance during the seasons and hump trees and bang squirrels."

I mean I'm just saying they're all pretty absurd.

[The Carlisle]

“We cannot expect our city to survive and prosper if we allow these things,” said Pastor Eugene Babb, of Harlem Church of God.

From Wikipedia:

"The median income for a household in the city was $26,731, and the median income for a family was $26,265. Males had a median income of $28,859 versus $20,066 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,346. About 29.4% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 32.0% of those age 65 or over."

Buddy, when your per-capita income is only slightly higher than Peru I think you've got way bigger problems to deal with than magic spells and belly dancing.

“God cannot heal our land if we have witches and warlocks violating our community,” said Evangelist Lillian Brown, of Saints on the Move.

Honestly, this could seriously help the community. If the event is good, this place could become a gathering ground for pagan culture. And when there are events, there is usually money to be made.

[Temujinn]

Link : http://florida.newszap.com/belleglade/1 ... s-outraged

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PAHOKEE—Pahokee residents, church members, and pastors are outraged over an upcoming event at the Lake Okeechobee Resort and Marina. The marina will be hosting its first Lake Okeechobee Summer Solstice Festival – a program that organizers hope will become an annual event.

The event will be held June 19-23.

Pastors from various churches in Pahokee attended Tuesday night’s city commission meeting to express disappointment in city leaders for allowing the event to come to Pahokee. The crowd cheered in agreement as, one-by-one, pastors from around the area admonished city officials for allowing festivals containing witchcraft and occult practices into the city.

“I just found out about this today. I am disappointed in the city of Pahokee for allowing this group to come,” said Pastor Brad Smith, Florida Director of Kids for Christ. Smith called the event “an abomination”.

“We don’t need this in our town. Not now. Not ever,” said Rev. Raul Rodriguez, of Church of God Door of Jesus Christ.

His daughter, Ruby Rodriguez said that this came as a shock to her. “We do live in a free country but of all of the cities in Florida, why would they choose Pahokee?” she asked.

The line of speakers from Pahokee, a city with a high concentration of local churches, seemed endless.

“We are opening ourselves up to things we should not, like belly dancing and magic spells,” said Daniel Mondragon. “We do not welcome these things. This is the first annual event, and it should be the last.”

“When I heard about this I immediately began praying,” said Bishop Jared Hines of New Destiny Community Church. “This event is not only detrimental to our city but to our county. What goes on at that lake will affect us all; it will move from the dike and into our homes.”

“We cannot expect our city to survive and prosper if we allow these things,” said Pastor Eugene Babb, of Harlem Church of God.

“God cannot heal our land if we have witches and warlocks violating our community,” said Evangelist Lillian Brown, of Saints on the Move.

Pastor Jorge Chivara of the Hispanic Nazarene Church addressed the commission through an interpreter, calling pastors of all faiths to unite against the festival. He invited everyone (pastors and residents) to join his church on Friday, May 31 at 7 p.m.

He plans to discuss the festival and its potential effects on the community.

“We want to begin praying about what’s taking place before the event, during the event, and after the event,” Chivara said.

But not everyone at the meeting agreed.

Jimmy Kellerher pointed out when the commission meeting began everyone stood and pledged to the American flag -- a flag that represents freedom.

“To say teaching kids magic tricks is evil, that’s stretching it,” Kellerher said. “Religious persecution no matter which way is wrong.”

Many residents questioned how city officials could allow the festival to come to town without the citizens’ knowledge and how the marina’s director, Wayne Gray, could be allowed to book such an event.

“I spoke with Mr. Gray regarding the festival and he stated that if any religious organization would like to rent the marina for a festival they are more than welcomed to do so,” said Derrek Moore, Pahokee’s city manager.

Residents quickly began to organize a march in protest of the festival.

“I cannot legally stop Mr. Gray from allowing the event but I also cannot stop the community from protesting it,” said Mayor Colin Walkes.

Wayne Gray defends the event.

“It’s business. I am trying to attract people to the marina and to Pahokee,” he said. “I cannot do that if I begin discriminating just because of someone’s religion. If any of the churches want to hold an event celebrating Jesus, they are more than welcomed to do so and I will market it just as we have with the Solstice.”

The Solstice will bring over a thousand people to the area, which translates into money being spent at many local businesses, Mr. Gray argued.

Mr. Gray listed various events he has booked at the marina.

“I have a book signing of a local man coming up. I recently had a young lady who is trying to get her modeling career off the ground,” he said. “Both were events I donated the facility’s use. If their careers take off because I have helped them, that is something I can be proud of.

“I have a power boat show and a jet ski race coming soon,” he said. “I am trying to do good things and help the community.”

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The sheer intolerance is frightening, I completely agree with the Mayor on this matter. Religious tolerance does work both ways, no one religion should be placed higher than another in any community.

I wonder if their is a summer solstice festival here in Ireland.......

Your thoughts NSG

Good to know where not to visit. What a horrible little place this must be.

[Temujinn]

From Wikipedia:

"The median income for a household in the city was $26,731, and the median income for a family was $26,265. Males had a median income of $28,859 versus $20,066 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,346. About 29.4% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 32.0% of those age 65 or over."

Buddy, when your per-capita income is only slightly higher than Peru I think you've got way bigger problems to deal with than magic spells and belly dancing.

Honestly, this could seriously help the community. If the event is good, this place could become a gathering ground for pagan culture. And when there are events, there is usually money to be made.

Indeed, they should be decorating, not complaining.

[Ainin]

Dear residents of Pahokee,
First Amendment. Read it.

[United Kingdom of Muffins]

I still don't understand how we got pagans again.

[Vetalia]

Honestly, this could seriously help the community. If the event is good, this place could become a gathering ground for pagan culture. And when there are events, there is usually money to be made.

I agree, this place is a mess and any money they can bring in from this is that much more to help develop the town economically.

[Lazssia]

And? Have you not seen the Wicker Man?

Well, there might be bear suits involved...

[Gauthier]

And? Have you not seen the Wicker Man?

Well, there might be bear suits involved...

And bees. Can't forget the bees.

[Vetalia]

And bees. Can't forget the bees.

KILLING ME WON'T BRING BACK YOUR GODDAMN HONEY

[Ainin]

And bees. Can't forget the bees.

KILLING ME WON'T BRING BACK YOUR GODDAMN HONEY

Or will it? Let's test.

[Mike the Progressive]

And bees. Can't forget the bees.

KILLING ME WON'T BRING BACK YOUR GODDAMN HONEY

I try not to think about the remake or any movie with Nicolas Cage. I just sleep better at night.

[Itius]

Let us do our Festivals... we should be allowed to celebrate Alban Hefin or Beltane as much as they are allowed Easter or Christmas.