'Nativity' Booted From Illinois Fair

Officials with the city of Chicago asked organizers of a downtown Christmas festival to reconsider using New Line Cinema's $12,000 sponsorship because its ads for their new film "The Nativity Story" might offend non-Christians.

One spokesperson said they didn't want to appear to be endorsing one religion over another while another said, "Our guidance was that this very prominently placed advertisement would not only be insensitive to the many people of different faiths who come to enjoy the market for its food and unique gifts, but also it would be contrary to acceptable advertising standards suggested to the many festivals holding events on Daley Plaza."

I am outraged at this, not because I'm surprised by it--which I'm not--but, I'm outraged because of how ridiculous it is. Can't they see that by rejecting New Line's endorsement out of a concern not to offend non-Christians that their actions end up offending Christians instead? By being sensitive to non-Christians they're insensitive to Christians, telling them the reason for their holiday is not welcome here. That's not religious neutrality. That's outright opposition to Christianity.

In other words, they're doing the very thing they're saying they want to avoid. They'd rather offend Christians with their insensitivity than non-Christians. If removing all offense and being sensitive is the goal, than they're failing. The city of Chicago is being insensitive, and they're being offensive, but it seems they have no problem doing so when they're doing it to Christians.

You can read the whole article here or by clicking the title of this post above. I know one thing, I didn't intend on seeing this movie, but I do now.