tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-301523682011-04-21T21:40:58.706-04:00Bill Grulichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12447840440936898846noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30152368.post-1151072118470271332006-06-23T09:37:00.000-04:002006-06-26T10:44:29.563-04:00Cleveland, Ohio -- Pride Protesters<br /><br />Hello --<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed everything on Saturday except for<br />one thing: the folks who set up next to City Hall with<br />their sound system. As far as I'm concerned, that was<br />an act of violence against our community. I hope our<br />presence there was enough to give them some pause, but<br />I doubt that it did. What's amazing to me is that<br />these people think they are somehow representing Jesus<br />Christ. In my view, nothing could be further from the<br />truth. They were not drawing people to God and to the<br />church -- they were driving people away. People have a<br />right to their opinion, but this was completely over<br />the top.<br /><br />I just spoke with the office of Councilman Joe<br />Santiago. I expressed my concern and my objections to<br />his assistant, who said in return the Mayor and all<br />the councilmen need to hear from as many people as<br />possible. I would assume these folks had a permit of<br />some kind. I would hope that the Cleveland City<br />Council would have the ability to pass legislation<br />that protects the right of people to express their<br />opinion but restrict that expression. Sound systems<br />should be out, permanently.<br /><br />It is all very noble to be like Martin Luther King and<br />Gandhi and persevere in the face of what goes on. But<br />that does not mean we have to be passive. These people<br />are hateful liars. They need to have their hand called<br />on it, and we don't have stand by passively and let<br />them get away with it. We also have every right to<br />insist that it not happen in the future the way it did<br />on Saturday.<br /><br />If you agree with me and live in Cleveland, please<br />contact your city councilman or woman and the mayor<br />and let them know how you feel about it. If you don't<br />live in Cleveland, contact Mayor Jackson and let him<br />know this was a huge black mark against his<br />administration. We were attacked, and it was on his<br />watch. He let it happen. I don't necessarily blame<br />him, but if it happens again in the future, then I<br />will indeed blame him.<br /><br />Thanks. Sorry to introduce a negative note. Saturday<br />was quite wonderful, and it was a real privilege to be<br />walking with all the UCC church groups. Thank you,<br />Nancy, for all of your excellent work.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Jon K. Thompson<br />Moderator, Brecksville UCC Council<br />Resident of Cleveland and a PROUD GAY CHRISTIAN!<br /><br /><a href="http://noccucc.org">http://noccucc.org/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30152368-115107211847027133?l=noccucc.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bill Grulichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12447840440936898846noreply@blogger.com4