BY JASON HENNINGTON
This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Jason Hennington. This is NOT the opinion of the Taylor Press.
It’s the weekend after Thanksgiving, which means, technically, it’s Christmas time.
Up until last year, the season meant people were preparing for the annual Christmas Parade of Lights, an event organized by local church groups that usually created a sense of togetherness and holiday spirit.
In 2022, Taylor made national news when city fathers authorized the launch of a controversial second parade, citing a need for more inclusivity. Before that time, the Taylor Area Ministerial Alliance organized the Parade of Lights, with the city as host because Taylor foots the bill to secure the parade route and put extra officers on duty.
Language was changed in the entry form for the Parade of Lights, which some took as an attempt to exclude Taylor Pride, a local LGBTQplus organization. Alliance members maintained their intent was not to exclude anyone, but added they wanted to ensure the procession adhered to traditional family values.
In an effort to achieve reconciliation and make everything inclusive, City Council authorized a second parade, the Very Merry Holiday Parade. Christmas was dropped from the name and anyone could participate.
So last December, there were two consecutive parades on the same route. Although both events were deemed successful, the effort to please everyone actually created a bigger divide in the community.
Participants had to decide which parade to enter but, whether they knew it or not, their choice came with the possibility of being seen differently in the community.
Fast forward past the follow-up press conferences, being in the national spotlight, the jampacked City Council meetings and the often bitter social-media outpourings, and here we are again.
This time, though, the city has returned to a single parade, and — as of this writing — it’s the Christmas Parade of Lights. The event is all-inclusive, and there are no regulations on the entry form other than keeping it family friendly, age appropriate and banning guns or sexually explicit material.
That’s all understandable, but there has already been backlash. Some wonder if the parade is tailored to a specific group or if was it redefined to appease others.
Arguments vary, and while I don’t agree with all of them, they are something to think about. Does using the word Christmas exclude other faiths from taking part? If organizations participate that some perceive as controversial — and there are several — does that take away from the fun of the event?
At this point, the community must decide how it will embrace or not embrace the new version of the parade, which calls upon folks with sometimes very different philosophies to cooperate and create some holiday cheer appealing to young and old alike.
It the community is at a crossroads, there is a possibility to move forward. In order to do so, you look left and right, work together and figure out how everyone can take the next step.
The ghost of Christmas past influences where the community is and where it will be going.
It’s really up to the people. I’m going to get off my soapbox now, but I’m not going to any Black Friday sales. It’s too dangerous.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — George Santayana
ON MY
SOAPBOX
