LETTERS: PARADE CANDY INCLUDED POISON OF THE WORST KIND

To the editor:

The Christmas Parade of Lights this year looked fantastic. There were so many floats, many of them with wonderful religious themes from area churches. Happy people were walking along with these floats handing out candy to the children assembled there to watch this fantastic display of good cheer.

But in some of the bags poison came with the candy -- poison in the form of prejudice, hidden with candy, as though someone were baiting a hook.

Here at this celebration that commemorates Christmas -- the birth of Jesus -- with so many area churches gathered in a common theme, someone had slipped a book of anti-Catholic rhetoric and hate into a bag of candy and then handed it directly and specifically to a child.

In this season of love, isn't it sad that someone used a joyous celebration to spread their message of derision and prejudice? In a time of peace, with so many gathered together in a celebration, someone provoked, attacked and fanned the flames of persecution.

How sad the Savior whose birth we celebrate must feel. How we should tremble that some among us could use the celebration of his birth as a cover to tear at others who try to follow his way.

It is sad but true that many forms of prejudice are alive and well.

Jesus calls us to a time of peace and understanding, as he calls us to love our brothers (I already include women in that group). To have targeted a child is morally reprehensible. I know that the people who work hard to bring us the Parade of Lights cannot control the individual actions of people, but unless they can find a way to prevent poison being handed out with candy, maybe they should suspend the handouts. Or better yet, responsible parties should look into their hearts and ask if the meaning of the season is really there. Is this something Jesus would have done? How sad that we can hate so easily over our differences and love so poorly for all we share.

May there be peace on Earth, goodwill to men.

MICHAEL A. SIMMONS

Cape Girardeau