Posted in Current Events

Yesterday I heard on an update on that Chicago Christmas Festival in which New Line Cinema was not allowed to run ads of the new movie the Nativity because it might offend people in attendance. 

Apparently, the city has come out with a lame excuse for their action:  too much commercialism if they allowed the ad to run.  WHAT?!  Too much commercialism at a Christmas festival where everyone is selling stuff?  A commercial advertising the birth of Christ, without which there would be no Christmas? 

Here's what you should know:  The actual festival committee had approved New Line Cinema as a supporter.  The city of Chicago stepped in and said it would be offensive.  Did you know that the German name for the festival means Christ market?  It is deplorable to me, that the government would be allowed to have so much power.  The sponsorship of New Line Cinema didn't violate any law or rights.  If any violation occurred it was that of the city of Chicago.  Perhaps the Chicago administration hasn't read the Bill of Rights.  The very first ammendment states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." 

One thing that really got my undies in a bunch is the New Line Cinema isn't even a Christian film studio.  They have made movies such as Nightmare on Elm Street, ELF, Lord of the Rings, and currently Tenacious D (which is about Jack Black's real life band).  This is proof that it is just about The Nativity and its content.  I wonder if the city would have allowed their sponsorship if it had been ELF that was being promoted.  Wouldn't that still have been commercialism?

One thing is clear; the city's original response was that they did not want to offend anyone.  Now that there has been public pressure and the spotlight put on the situation, they are claiming commercialism.  Me thinks the city of Chicago should be placed on the naughty list!

These are my thoughts.