Our town does a very large July 4th parade and activities for us and all nearby towns. Every year during the parade they allow a float dedicated to pro-life people who until this year put pictures of what happens during an abortion on display for the children to see. Numerous compliants from parents like me had those pictures banned from the parade. Now why we need pro-life people in the parade I don't understand but has never bothered me until today. Today, they had a little babies in strollers with signs saying you can do this without IVF, IVF is from satan and my favorite sign- Those produced from IVF are not children from god. I am so pissed that the town would allow this. I am writing a very strong letter about this. I have been fortunate not to have fertility issues but my BF has and quite a few others I am friends with have. What cracks me up more is that the Pro-choice people refused to march in the parade.

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When they find the center of the universe, how many people will be upset they are not it.

I'm pro-life but I would be unhappy about this because I don't agree with their opinions about IVF. That's just ignorant and mean. I also don't think pictures of what happens during an abortion should be put on display where children can see them. That's gross and these people are loonies who do not speak for all pro-life people.

I wouldn't care that the pro-choice people didn't march because they can be equally obnoxious and offensive in expressing their opinions.

What does any of this have to do with the Fourth of July anyway???

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C. S. Lewis

I have asked this for years. The pro choice people here are very laid back not like some who are very obnoxious. They tend to just answer questions and had info out when asked. Never thought I would need to write a letter quoting the seperation of church and state regarding the fourth of July ( our town puts a lot of its money towards this).

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When they find the center of the universe, how many people will be upset they are not it.

WOW!!! Well, we have a 4th of July parade, but like yours, people just started having floats that had NOTHING to do with the 4th... antiwar (bloody soldiers uniforms in wheelbarrows--yeah,. that was special with my husband deployed and my young daughter looking) and only eating organic(not offensive, but its the fourth of july...?) anyways, we stopped going because a certain group of people just got offensive every year...

That is interesting. I recently just saw something, and for the life of me, I cannot remember exactly what it was, that was very anti-IVF. I didn't look over it too closely, sounded like crazy talk to me , but I wonder if there is some sort of push right now speaking out against it. I'll have to remember what it was.

On a side note, I cannot imagine, whatever your stance on pro-life/choice or even IVF, has to do with the 4th of July.

wow, how horrible !!

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I understand the right to free speech, but this is ridiculous. If these groups want to do this sort of thing, they should have their own rally and not infringe on public festivities. The town should not allow anything other than patriotic type stuff in a 4th of july parade where young children will be present.

You took the words right our of my mouth - er, keyboard. I value my freedom of speech and everyone here knows that I regularly and enthusiastically avail myself of that liberty, but I also understand that there is an appropriate time and place for certain types of speech.
What they did was every bit as inappropriate as if I had entered a Marriage Equality float in a Christmas parade. Important issue, but not relevant to the occasion for the parade.

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That is horrible. I like to consider myself a strong pro-life Christian, but I would never do something like that. I can't imagine a church around here that would do something like that.

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"The Christian does not think that God will love us because we are good, but God will make us good because he loves us."- C.S. Lewis

I completely agree. In Columbus, there is a parade on the 4th of July that is called the "Doo-Dah Parade" and it is a parade for just that. Anyone who wants to put anything in the parade can. Yesterday there was a group called the Marching Fidels (satire on cuba issues), the Bernie Madoff farewell float, a group that was marching for the ethical treatment of flies, etc. I am sure there were some pro-life, pro-abortion, pro-death penalty, anti-death penalty floats and groups as well. We went one year and it was very political. That being said you know when you go to this particular parade that that is what you are going to see. OUr local parade has never had controversial issues like that...they are very patriotic and offer floats, etc. representing the different businesses in town, service men and woman marching, bands, etc. And our local parade is very appropriate for all ages.

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