America's War on Christmas
I'm not talking about Winter Festivals sans reference to the Baby Jesus here, I'm talking about an ordinance that directly prohibits Christian behavior:
Members of Orlando Food Not Bombs were arrested Wednesday when police said they violated a city ordinance by feeding the homeless in Lake Eola Park.
Jessica Cross, 24, Benjamin Markeson, 49, and Jonathan "Keith" McHenry, 54, were arrested at 6:10 p.m. on a charge of violating the ordinance restricting group feedings in public parks. McHenry is a co-founder of the international Food Not Bombs movement, which began in the early 1980s.
The group lost a court battle in April, clearing the way for the city to enforce the ordinance. It requires groups to obtain a permit and limits each group to two permits per year for each park within a 2-mile radius of City Hall.
Arrest papers state that Cross, Markeson and McHenry helped feed 40 people Wednesday night. The ordinance applies to feedings of more than 25 people.
Now, I'll bet these Food not Bombs people are annoying crypto-commies. I have no idea if they're Christians. I'm in favor of food and bombs, especially when the latter are dropped on dictators who use famine as a political weapon, as dictators are wont to do. And I don't think their right to freedom of expression has been violated; feeding the hungry is an act, not speech.
But seriously: an ordinance against feeding the hungry? Are they deranged? Isaiah 58:10, Proverbs 28:27, Matthew 25:41-46, James 2:14-17, Luke 19:8-9, Jeremiah 22:16, Luke 3:10-11, Ezekiel 16:49, Proverbs 21:13--the Bible is really unambiguous about feeding the hungry. This isn't one of those, "Maybe that's what it means, maybe it's allegorical" things. There's just no doubt that Christians are supposed to feed the hungry. Ergo, an ordinance preventing people from feeding the hungry is effectively a ban on Christian practice.
And it's really the wrong time of year for that.
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Nov '10
Re: America's War on Christmas
Eew, smelly homeless people. We wouldn't want to encourage them to stay near city hall...
Apr '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
And after they've fed "the hungry" they'll retire to their posh neighborhoods and congratulate themselves, leaving the infestations they've created for the poor people who live nearby that park.
I live next to a small vest pocket park, and I can tell you that I and my neighbors are responsible for laws like that; and we enjoy having them enforced.
Dec '10
Re: America's War on Christmas
Unfortunately, most of our communities here in Florida have had to resort to rules like these. Florida is a warm-weather magnet and yearly suffers from the influx of "Snow Bird" hobos.
There are also areas where these activities may specifically take place, usually adjacent to shelters, clinics, drug and alcohol treatment facilities, etc. Our shared parks and downtown plazas that the rest of us pay for, are purposely targeted by groups like these; tax-exempt groups that pay for nothing and which specifically are not providing meals and other resources to the homeless on a regular basis. This is not charity, as practiced, but a pollitical event. The Orlando Sentinel, would not be so understanding if this group was attracting the Urban Outdoorsmen to their property, instead of Lake Eola Park.
Jun '10
Re: America's War on Christmas
This is not a ban on Christian behavior. These arent Christians. They are commies, and anti-americans. This is fundamentally just a ban on supporting vagrants loitering in public parks which are meant for all citizens. History has taught us that when you allow this type of behavior those open spaces and parks become useless to the rest of us.
Edited on Dec 21, 2011 at 4:53amDec '10
Re: America's War on Christmas
TucsonSean: This is not a ban on Christian behavior. These arent Christians. They are commies, and anti-americans. This is fundamentally just a ban on supporting vagrants loitering in public parks which are meant for all citizens. History has taught us that when you allow this type of behavior those open spaces and parks become useless to the rest of us. · Dec 21 at 4:53am
Edited on Dec 21 at 04:53 am
Yeah, That Jesus guy he hung out with tax collectors, prostitutes and other scum. Don't follow him.
Mar '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
What? No video of the arrests? I'm disappointed, but I'm also hopeful that, one of these days, some Leftist Lucy will proffer the football and our favorite CB will decline to take a run at it.
Dec '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
Speaking of direct anti-Christian rulings...
Jun '10
Re: America's War on Christmas
[Edited]
Edited on Dec 21, 2011 at 6:01amDec '10
Re: America's War on Christmas
[Edited]
Edited on Dec 21, 2011 at 6:02amRe: America's War on Christmas
Government's just another word for things we do together, like forbid people from being charitable.
Sep '10
Re: America's War on Christmas
Yes, but remember, tax collectors, prostitutes, and other outcasts came to Jesus; Jesus did not come to them. And, in following him, these outcasts repented—turned around—and changed their ways. A rather cheap grace, one expecting nothing and giving out of guilt rather than love, is what reigns today.
Aug '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
This organization was featured in an episode of Bizarre Foods w/ Andrew Zimmern. Although this was the San Francisco chapter, they pull most of their food from garbage cans and dumpsters.
Jun '10
Re: America's War on Christmas
I'm with Claire on this one. Even if this particular group is made up of left-wackos, they are, in fact, engaging in Christian activity. You may question their motives, but they are actually doing something good without being directed by the state.
And to the extent there are many legitimate groups who do similar things, this has a chilling effect on private charity; all of us should encourage private charity.
Edited on Dec 21, 2011 at 8:39amSep '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
In downtown Orlando (I live there), we have numerous organizations that feed hundreds of hungry folks daily (Orlando Union Rescue Mission, Coalition for the Homeless, Christian Service Center), and they operate generously, effectively, and without intereference from the city. The problem with the Food not Bombs folks is their insistence that they conduct their programs in ways that prevent the use of public downtown parks by everyone but the homeless and that interefere with the operation of downtown businesses. No one tries to prevent charities from feeding the hungry; the ordinances are simply repsonses to situations where the homeless took over parks or other spaces, making it impossible for families to enjoy them or for patrons to visit local shops, restaurants, or bars. The city has tried merely to identify areas where groups can practice charity without preventing others from going about their lives and business. The regulations are a good-faith attempt to balance the competing interests while helping the poor.
Mar '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
I live in the Orlando Area and this has been going on for a while. What these groups do (@CJRun) is sometimes two times a week every week feed anyone out of the back of a van. It is not a political event, other than their politics is to feed homeless. This has been going on for years. Yes these groups are not Christian ,however, I really admire them that over the last few months they keep server food to the homeless and are willing to get arrested for it. I wish Christians would be willing to be arrested for their belief more often. The reason they are at parks is because that is were homeless mostly hang out at. Orlando has a huge homeless population, and when one goes down town the smell of urine is in many alley, corner, or stairwell. However, I really fail to see other than violating food safety laws (which churches regurlary violate) why feeding anyone out of the back of a van should be illegal. The main reason is everyone feels uncomfortable around undesirables.
Edited on Dec 21, 2011 at 6:43amMar '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
Claire since this has been a long running legal battle, this is not anti-Christmas, it really just is anti-freedom and un-Christian.
Freedom’s a great concept unless someone’s freedom in your backyard (excluding blatantly morally wrong behavior) makes you feel uncomfortable. Yes there are exception, but I happen to think a solid case with proof of public need to be made before public officials should be allowed to limit charity.
Edited on Dec 21, 2011 at 6:41amMar '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
Freddy maybe I have not been informed of specific actions, but exactly what are they doing that now does not happen with this ordinance in place? My understanding has always been nobody wants to be in a park or shop around there when homeless around.
Now I can understand not wanting my kids to play around them, or use restroom faculties in parks when there are groups of homeless around unless I knew them. However, what is the real impact of increased traffic of homeless in parks when there is free food being giving out?
I just fail to see how this actually makes anything worse and is a direct causation of increasing real problems (theft, real long-term loitering, violent crimes, ect) associated with having a large homeless populations.
Edited on Dec 21, 2011 at 6:56amFeb '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
Brian Clendinen
.....
Now I can understand not wanting my kids to play around them, or use restroom faculties in parks when there are groups of homeless around unless I knew them. However, what is the real impact of increased traffic of homeless in parks when there is free food being giving out?
.....
Edited on Dec 21 at 06:56 am
Are you being sarcastic here?
Feb '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
Freddy Clayton is right, this isn't a war on charity so much as it is a decent attempt by the community to balance competing valid interests.
Edited on Dec 21, 2011 at 7:33amMar '11
Re: America's War on Christmas
Really? Even though the organizers specifically state that they are a political group with a political purpose? Their political purpose is to "oppose oppression" and force the government to "do more" to eliminate poverty. Somehow, I don't think capitalist job creation and individual initiative are part of their plan any more than they're part of the OWS agenda.