Editor's note: this blog is in response to regarding a Summer Stage production that was moved from Lapham Peak State Park after Christian groups objected to its message.
Matt, Vic Eliason was just the messenger, the media informant of important information.
It was the Christians of Wisconsin that protested this play. You really make a lot of VERY INFLATED statements in your article! DNR afraid for their safety? Really Matt? I think not! The majority of folks in this area & state of Wisconsin identify themselves as Christians. You would offend the majority to appease the few? You and your ilk would NEVER consider offending Muslims, Hindus or others. Most especially the Muslims!
The establishment clause regarding religion states that we have the freedom to exercise our religious beliefs and that the government cannot establish and implement a national denomination that we all must follow.
IT DOES NOT state that religious thought and world view can't be expressed in the public arena.
While I did not see the play either, I read several reviews that said it was good, lighthearted fun. I'm guessing Jesus had no sense of humor either, as you never read in the bible about him telling any jokes or pulling gags on his disciples.
Which is why a public park should not have denied the staging of a play that offended the religious sensibilities of even a majority. I'm interested to know just what portions of the play you personally found offensive?
The DNR merely enforced the law. The contract says that all performances must be "family-friendly" performances. The literature put out by the performance company clearly says that the performance is a PG13 performance. That is all that the DNR is acting upon. Those who are complaining about what the DNR did intentionally withheld this information with the intent to spin the issue to be about free speech and censorship.
I remember having to force my way through demonstrators waving pamphlets to get into the Oriental Theater to see Scorsese's Last Temptation of Christ, which was ultimately a very inspiring film for me. I remember the pressure that kept it from airing on HBO. This is nothing new.
Everything should turn out this well for all involved. Particularly since we're talking about something that, had it not had the controversy attached to it, would have come and gone without much notice.