4th of July Celebration on the 5th
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My Daily Rant 5/21/2010
Earlier today, I quickly logged on to Facebook and noticed that several of my friends had joined "Protest 4th of July on the 5th in Twin Falls". Apparently, the Twin Falls City Council voted on May 17th to allow the annual Independence Day celebration to be held on Monday July 5th instead of on the 4th as has happened in this town since as long as I can remember. I remember hearing something about this on the news last night, and while I was annoyed, I dismissed it as bureaucratic bullshit and moved on with the rest of my day. But as the day progressed I started hearing rumors that the reason it had been changed was because the major sponsor of the event did not want to offend religious people who have church and family time on Sundays.
Let me preface my rant by clearing up a couple of things.
- I do not know all of the facts in this case. I am trying to find them out, but am mostly finding a lot of hearsay and as our local newspaper is as biased as they come, I'm doing the best I can with the information at my disposal.
- I am not against religion, Christianity, etc. I do, however, know from 33 years experience that the LDS community has a LOT of power in this town.
Ok, that out of the way here we go.
Seriously, are you frickin kidding me?!
According to the City Council Agenda from May 17, 2010, council was considering "a request from Southern Idaho Fireworks to approve the Fireworks display held at the College of Southern Idaho. Organizers of the event have requested the 4th of July be celebrated on Monday July 5, 2010". No reason was given, although some have suggested that it was because the organization had prior engagements on the 4th. I call BS on that. It's not like it was a shock this year that Independence Day would be on the 4th of July.
According to a news report by local TV station, KMVT, this is going to cost about $700 in overtime pay to have extra police officers on duty both days. Ok, not really a lot of money and according to the report it is within the city's overtime budget. That part doesn't bother me.
The part that bothers me is this. I have lived here my whole life. I know a lot of people who are religious, go to church on Sunday, etc. I know a lot of people who are LDS. Whether or not the rumor about the sponsor being LDS is true or not, I have never in my life ever heard one person say, "I am so offended that the 4th of July is on a Sunday this year!" The ideology that this event was changed to a Monday so as not to offend people with religious beliefs is plain and simple bullshit.
I went ahead and joined the Facebook group, although I typically try to steer clear of this type of thing. I will say here what I said there.
This is about so much more than a fireworks display. This is about government having too much control over everyday things. As I have said so many times before, you let them control this one little itsy bitsy thing, and before you know it, they are telling you what to eat, when to sleep, etc. The mayor of Twin Falls was quick to add that the city did not make this decision, the organizer of the event, Southern Idaho Fireworks (who also happens to be a prominent business owner in the community, and I believe a member of the LDS church), did. Ok, maybe so, but the city council had to approve it. And they did so.
The other thing that is infuriating about this is that there was virtually no mention of this in public until the council had already made their decision. Why was this not discussed prior to this? Why did the media not pick up on it? It obviously has a lot of people up in arms. The mayor and the organizer of the protest group adamantly proclaim that this issue has nothing to do with religion, but anyone who has grown up in this town or spent any amount of time here will know that is complete nonsense. However, I am not here to get into a debate about religion, etc. The whole idea of Independence Day is to be able to exercise free religion, among the many other freedoms that our founding fathers fought for. The idea that a religious group or entity could completely change the day a National Holiday is celebrated so as not to "offend" its members completely goes against that concept. What if remembering 9/11 might offend Muslims? Where does it end? Having Christmas on a Tuesday really throws off my work week, why don't we just go ahead and change that as well? I might also add, that this is in the town where there were pole dancers on a St. Patrick's Day parade float where there were CHILDREN present. So, apparently that's not offensive but celebrating Independence Day on a Sunday is?
The other thing that is disturbing about this is that the fireworks display in our town is mostly funded by donations. The total cost of the display is around $30,000 and the city earmarks $8,000, the rest is made up entirely by private donations. I don't think a lot of people knew that. I think that most of the citizens around here just assumed that their tax dollars pay for this, which is entirely innacurate. Why does it take something like this to make that known to people?
The good news is, enough people have stood up and made their voices heard that it looks like this might actually be reversed. There has been a lot of chatter on the group's wall about changing it back and many people are willing to donate $5 or $10. Now a lot of you are thinking, "seriously, people, it's a fireworks display. Get over it." I have a point here. My point is this. This group was only formed a day or so ago. As of the time I am writing this, it has 1,168 members. (Pretty impressive when you consider that the population of our town is only 42,000.) There has been enough outrage over this issue that the powers that be are actually working to see if this can be fixed in order to adhere to the wishes of the people. I imagine the fact that this is an election year probably helps. This brings me to my point. If people getting involved and making their voices heard can change something like this in the course of two days, imagine what those of us who are sick and tired of the Obamination in DC shoving crap down our throats could do? For those of you think your vote doesn't count or you don't want to get involved, this should be a prime example that you need to do just that. And if you aren't willing to make your voice heard, then don't bother complaining about the end result.
- Twin Falls 4th of July celebration to be held on the 5th | KMVT | Twin Falls, ID News, Weather and S
Twin Falls, Idaho - The Fourth of July Fireworks celebration will be held on the 5th, which is a Monday. City council approved the shift, which includes all the festivities that take place on the College of Southern Idaho campus earlier in the aftern
- Protest Group on Facebook
Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, post links and videos, and learn more about the people
Mayor's response to the public outcry
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sunflowerbucky the conspuract theorist in me wants to say Government at all levels locally ,statewide and nationally has turned its back on its citizens. Next thing you know it may be outlawed beacuse someone might get offended. Just nuts !
GREAT picture! thanks for sharing
I am not religious, I don't want to be called christian, I am however a devout follower of Jesus. If I thought for 1 second that a fireworks display would make or break me, I simply would not go. There are 7 days in a week and every single one is a day of worship. I don't subscribe to the Sunday 2 hours in the morning and one at night, then live like hell the rest of the week, crowd.
I would not change the date or support it. Stupid is as stupid does, and you can't fix stupid. Peace, 50
Keep us posted on the outcome. And the reason for the change. The truth has to come out.
We should read “Gulliver’s Travels” to our children at least once a year until they become teenagers and then encourage them or bribe them to continue reading it once a year into maturity. They will learn how pettiness might eventually result in wars which can be fought on the equivalent basis of which side an egg should be broken. If the brain surgeons in your community want to turn a 4th of July into a Mardi Gras and you let them, it’s all down hill after that! Fight the morons! :-)
Update: At this time, the mayor is saying that if enough of us that are angry about this raise the funds for the display, about $22,000) then they would allow it to be held on the 4th. Given that we only have a month left, though, they aren't sure if logistically it can happen. The mayor has expressed that he feels certain that these sponsors will probably pull themselves from future donations and that our town will never have a fireworks display ever again due to our ungratefulness. Nice guilt tactic huh? The reality is, if the media had done a better job of letting us all know BEFOREHAND what needed to be done, it would have been. There is a lot more at play here, I don't care who says there isn't. I actually think the timing couldn't be better as there are primaries in our town on Tuesday!
Ah! now I see the picture in full, it's about power and money, a good update, 50
Another update: There is another city council meeting being held tonight to determine if this can be turned over to the community and changed back and to organize fundraising. Won't be able to attend but I will be watching it on TV. I for one and overjoyed at the fact the public outcry is actually resulting in action. Now, that's what I call "change". (Sorry, couldn't resist).
I think this whole thing is just another symptom of the "entitlement" mentality that has developed in this country. If the organizers were willing to step up to the plate, and provide a free fireworks display for the community, regardless of the day, we should be grateful and go and enjoy it, or stay home and be bitter because you didn't agree with the change. If the 5th is not acceptable to the city, then I for one hope the sponsors pull the funding, and the ungrateful citizens can go without.
The "ungrateful" citizens are perfectly willing to raise the money on their own so as not to be held hostage by one individual's religious beliefs. And it appears that will happen.
And yet another roaming jackass crosses our path named "kndahl" plunking down crap never to return
I don't get why a 4th of July celebration offends Christians. Why can't churches have earlier services that day to let everyone attend all of the festivities? To me celebrating our freedom is kind of a Christian thing to do, considering the principles this country was founded on.
The thing is, the fireworks don't start until 10 pm. I highly doubt people are in churcha that time. And you are absolutely right Cari Jean, one of the things we gained with our Independence was religious freedom. If it were not for that, those sponsors may not even be able to practice their religion.
I wonder if Mountain Home is doing the same thing?
The complaining over this is ridiculous. What this boils down to is one/or more business people excercising their right to choose when and how to spend their money. If they don't want to spend money for something on a particular day...it's their right...granted by the very thing we are celebrating. They are not taking your freedom away, they are not taking the 4th of July away, they are not dishonoring the military, they are not holding anyone "hostage", they are not trying to stuff their religion down your throat, it is not about "power and money"...they are simply choosing WHEN to spend THEIR money(not tax dollars)...each of you get to choose how and when to spend your money. Why can't they have the disgression when it comes to spending $20,000 of THEIR hard earned money?
As for not being told BEFOREHAND...a quick search on KMVT.com brought up this news story that aired in FEB 2010. Uh hello...3 MONTHS AGO!
Group pitches 'day long event' for TF 4th of July Celebration
Feb 23, 2010 at 6:23 PM CDT
A spokesperson for the 4th of July Fireworks Celebration in Twin Falls says they want to expand the event into a day long community fair, and possibly moving it to Monday July 5th this year, in order to avoid holiday celebration on Sunday.
Where was the outcry then? No one stepped forth then with their complaints or offers to raise money and take over to keep it on the 4th.
Also, a quick search on magicvalley.com brought this: By Ben Botkin - Times-News writer | Posted: Monday, May 17, 2010 1:00 am |
Twin Falls City Council will meet at 5 p.m. today at its chambers, 305 Third Ave. E.
The following items are on the agenda:
• A request from Southern Idaho Fireworks to approve the annual fireworks display for the Fourth of July, which will be at the College of Southern Idaho at 8 p.m. July 5 — one day after the holiday.
They were not "hiding" anything it was advertised BEFOREHAND. If it was such a big deal to you why didn't you show up to the council meeting and use your freedom to express your opinion BEFORE the approval was issued for July 5th. I'm sure the city council would have gladly handed it over to you along with the $8,000 City Funds. On May 17, no one in the community showed any interest in the fireworks show other than the same group that has put forth their time, effort and money for the past 5 years. The 4th of July IS our National Holiday to celebrate the birthday of our country and Constitution. Freedom is granted to each of us by that...not an entitlement to a fireworks show funded by PRIVATE citizens.
Go raise the money for a show on the day you want, enjoy the 4th of July, celebrate and be grateful to our military for their service in keeping us free and this nation great, but stop using this as an excuse to dis religion. Stop with the hate mongering and mud slinging. Religion as a whole had nothing to do with this. Just a few sponsors excercising THEIR RIGHTS. So you don't agree with it...step up with your $20,000 and next time get involved BEFOREHAND.
I agree with you that the 4th is the 4th, period. It won't hurt to have it on Sunday once every seven years. Excellent reportage!
Another update: As of right now the citizens of this community have raised about $12,000 towards the $17,000 needed. I have received a little bit of hate mail about this topic and would like to reiterate something. I am not AGAINST religion. I am not even necessarily anti LDS, although there are some facets of the religion I disagree with. I am simply against someone using money to push their religious beliefs on a community. Bottom line. I know not everyone will agree with me, and that is fine. Just please don't put words in my mouth about the point I am trying to make. To those of you in the community who stepped up to the plate and donated time, money, etc, KUDOS. Sitting around complaining but not being willing to take any action is counterproductive. And for those of you who keep telling me that this is not about religion, it may not have been. However you have to realize that perception is reality and to date, not one of the sponsors has given another reason. I have specifically asked them and have received no response. It's all neither here nor there. The community is taking the event back. The sponsors have absolutely been exceedingly generous in years past, and I for one applaud them for that. However, this is what happens when you give one person too much power. It should be a community funded event and I am optimistic that it will be.
Another update:
http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/article_334b
Our community stepped up to the plate and made the goal in TEN DAYS! This is what the whole premise of my hub was about. REAL CHANGE (not Obama change). This is what can happen when you let your voice be heard and then actually do something about it! Yay Twin Falls!
Give me a break, Sunnygirl. I love how you say you aren't "necessarily" anti-LDS. Why don't you just admit that a lot of the protest comes from people who dislike the LDS church?
The fact is the LDS church basically had NOTHING to do with this whole controversy. One of the major sponsors of the fireworks show was LDS, and he apparently believed having people work that day (such as law enforcement, medical, organization services) might not be consistent with his belief to keep the sabbath day holy.
It's good that the community who wanted the fireworks on the 4th got together, but most of it was based on misinformation. Nobody was trying to change the date of independence day holiday.
This is REAL CHANGE? Talk about trivial!
befree: You are correct, no one was trying to change the date of the holiday. However, they were trying to change the day we celebrate a national holiday in order to satisfy his/her personal religious beliefs. It's not trivial to me. It's a big deal. And apparently it was also a big deal to the thousands who joined the group and who rallied to raise the funds in NINE DAYS to hold the event on the actual holiday. One thing I have never disputed is that as a generous person who was willing to donate a large sum of money to a community event, the sponsor certainly had the right to dictate. I, personally, am glad that this whole debacle raised awareness of the issue and brought the community together to raise the money on their own. I don't think anyone, LDS, Catholic, Muslim, ANYONE, should be allowed to force their religious beliefs onto an entire community. I don't think the sponsor is a bad person, quite the contrary. I just don't like the idea of any one person having that much control.
i know its anoying... but God comes first
I'm sure that may be very true for you Katie. And for many people. But that is a personal decision and not one that can be forced on a group of people. That is one of the great things about living in a free nation. We each get to decide what comes first.
1779- The Fourth falls for the first time on a Sunday and celebrations take place on the following day, initiating that tradition; in Boston, continental ships fire a "grand salute" from their cannons; in Philadelphia, although 14 members of the Continental Congress object to having a celebration, an elegant dinner at the City Tavern, followed by a display of fireworks, is given.
You have to excuse sunflower. She has this habit of saying people were going to be "forced" to watch the fireworks on July 5. Babble away, girl.
befree: I'd like you to point out the line in my hub where I said people would be forced to watch. And don't worry, I will babble away. It's my right and privelege, considering I live in a free nation and all. This is the same right and privelege you have to not read my babbling if you don't like or agree with it.
You know, if you read your history, this tradition started almost immediately after our independence. If our Founding Fathers thought it was important enough to move the celebration to the 3rd or the 5th, and we really are celebrating their work to provide us independence, you should be able to respect their choices as well.
If this decision had anything to do with the wishes of our founding fathers, I would have. It didn't. And it's been changed now anyway so it's a moot point.
What in the World? I am happy that the people of Twin Falls stood up, Fourth of July is merely Fourth of July and should never be held on the 5th! Great read! Thumbs Up! :)
Today they (with the help of a large cash donation from ConAgra) prevented the fireworks from being shot off on July 5. Tomorrow, who knows what the group will do -- solve world hunger? Or maybe they will next find another reason to bash the Mormon church, which didn't really have a thing to do with the July 5 decision in the first place. And no one was trying to "force" religious beliefs on anyone either.
It's called fourth of July for a reason. It's direspectful to Independence day.
befree I guess I don't understand why you are so angry that the community stopped the fireworks from being displayed on the 5th? And actually, it will be a group of people like this who are able to, as you say,"Solve world hunger". A group, who when faced with something they believe infringes on their rights, stands up for what they believe in, and rather than just pissing and moaning about it on the internet, actually formulate a committee, a plan, and then take action. I can think of no reason at all for you to be so bitter towards a group that would be willing to do that.
Sunflower,
I'm not angry with the idea that people can actually voice their opinions and can be a force for change. It's great that we live in America.
I think what has left some people (yes, including me!) with a bitter feeling is that they hoped for something better from the people of Twin Falls on how this change took place. Go back and read the posts -- especially early on -- on the group's facebook site. To me, it seemed as if there was plenty of "pissing and moaning" against city officials, fireworks sponsors, and the LDS church. Even look at the original facebook site and its description:
"Protest 4th of July on the 5th in Twin Falls
This is to send a message to our community leaders that the 4th of July is the 4th of July. Do NOT try to change history. Our founding fathers would not agree!"
Does this sound right? Who was trying to change history? Who is to say that founding fathers wouldn't agree? As has been pointed out, in 1779 the fourth fell on a Sunday and Independence Day was celebrated on Monday.
Maybe what we should learn is that when Southern Idaho Fireworks announced in FEBRUARY that they were suggesting that the fireworks be held on Monday, citizens could have got together and done something about it, maybe worked things out with S. Idaho Fireworks and city officials, and raised money using facebook, including a proper description about what was being done, instead of warning that officials were trying to "change history" and "founding fathers wouldn't agree." Then, perhaps citizens would have been a little more informed about what was going on, and there would have been fewer misguided remarks (I swear, many people acted like officials were trying to move the entire July 4 celebration to July 5, and that the LDS church was to blame), and less hate.
I'm glad to learn that the firework show was a success!
befree: Thanks for the clarification. You make some very good points. I actually do remember (I think it was last year) when the fireworks almost didn't happen due to lack of funding, (Correct me if my memory fails me, as it very well might) and the local realtors rallied together to help raise the money. You are absolutely right in that many, many of the comments on that site were completely ridiculous and aimed at the wrong people. I have found that in any internet discussion, it typically only takes about 4 posts before someone either goes completely off topic or resorts to name calling and showing off their ignorance. Valid points made for sure, thank you for contributing to the discussion!
jessica 24 months ago
very good christie. why is it that this year is a problem. not the first year the 4th has fallen on a sunday,.