Skating rink in trouble for ‘Christian skate’
June 29th, 2006From the Times Herald-Record:
Holy roller skaters are in hot water with the state Division of Human Rights.
Skate Time 209 offers residents a new wooden roller skating rink and a fancy skateboard park. In its hunt for customers, the business has “tot” skates and “tween” (ages 6-13) skates. There are family nights and adult disco parties.
And there are “Christian skate times” on Sunday afternoons, Skate Time’s ad in the April 19 Ulster County Press said. That ad is evidence of a human rights violation, according to the state Division of Human Rights.
A “Christian skate denies or at a minimum, discourages non-Christian patronage,” a June 15 letter from the state division said. The weekly paper got the same letter, accusing it of “aiding and abetting” the violation, said its editor-at-large, Greg Childers.
I just hope the “PC police” jumps on EVERYTHING that is given a name that even hints at exclusivity. Enough is enough. Not just because they wanted a “Christian skate time,” but it is so obvious what is happening. But be prepared: in order to have “religious” freedom, we as followers of Christ, will have to permit other “religions” to have freedoms as well.
Commence my beatdown.
Oh, the persecution of the saints! In some coutries “Christian skate night” would be tying Believers to vehicles and dragging them down the streets.
I apologize for the sarcasm. Probably should have thought before I snapped that one off.
Although I think they should be able to call it what they want. The name should have been different to draw non-Christians. They name “Christian Skate” only referred to the music played. I do admit that if I saw they were have a “Christian Skate Night” when I was in high school I probably would not have gone unless a girl I liked was there. Unless they were wanting only Christians there I would have called it something different just to get other people there and then play the Christian music. I by no means think they should be condemned for this.
Eh…This nonsense is drummed up by the same folks that sue over this stuff.
Get used to it, folks.
Normally I defend Christians’ actions, but what is “Christian Skate” supposed to do besides alienate people we are trying to reach? It’s not like unbelievers are out there reanacting roller derby…
As for wanting to play Christian music - play it anytime. There’s no law against that (yet).
It’s capitilism trying to get the money from a niche market, I don’t get their beef. Some people are way too PC for their own cause.
Presumably Gay Day at Disney World does not fall into the same category.
Back home, the local rink set aside thursday nights for churches. This wasn’t set up as a “ministry” or anything like that, it was just a service to churches on a night when they probably wouldn’t have much business anyway. It’s just stupid to try to yell “intolerance” just because something isn’t open to you. It’s not like the city is passing pro-Christian only legislation.
“Presumably Gay Day at Disney World does not fall into the same category.”
I guess neither does “Gay Day” at Six Flags, Cedar Point or Disney Land. Does this mean only homosexual people are permitted into the park or only happy people?
Good point Chuck… I should also feel left out when the local grocery store advertises Ramadan during that time of the year… Where’s the Division of Human Rights in this case?
I’m reminded that this, at its root, is about the hatred of Christ. To think that the lost only rely on GOOD arguements to attempt to purge the world of any reminder of Christ is incorrect. It may seem silly or have the appearance of other goals (ie, prosperity, greed, tolerance, open-mindedness, etc), but make no mistake - it’s all about Christ and what He represents to them.
Tell the next activist-liberal like these you meet that their actions are all rooted around Christ. They make really funny faces. Then they implode.
Before you guys who attack this skate rink, realize this is a business. They are trying to attract a certain clientele for a certain day, presumambly because it is rather lacking in being profitable. A “Christian Skate” suggests that they are looking to increase their profits by catering to a specific group who might be attracted to such an event on such a day. That’s it. They are not trying to evangelize likely. But this is a violation of that private business’ right to cater to whatever group they desire simply because it is a Christian group. If the skating rink were to have proposed a “Gay skate” would we even be having this conversation? Likely no, and the rink would have been praised for its tolerance and inclusivity.
That is the double standard that makes no sense here and is problematic to those who are worried that Christians are only a few years away from what people in China do experience daily. This obviously isn’t peresecution and Tim didn’t say it was (Leland Lyerla), but it is a step toward discrimination and that should send up red flags for us all. Thanks to Tim for posting this and bringing to our attention. BTW, where’s the ALCU and AU on this? I think I can guess.
Excellent insight, D.R.
Here’s the thing: They have “tot” skates and “tween” skates, which obviously exclude a lot of people. Why doesn’t the government get all bent out of shape over that? No, it’s only the Christian skate that has people upset. If a Christian skate “denies or at a minimum, discourages non-Christian patronage,” as the letter from the government says, then don’t “tot” and “tween” skates do the same thing?
Of course they do. But there’s a reason why the government stepped in when it came to the Christian skate, and none of us should be surprised by that.
This whole thing is just a bunch of silliness trumped up by a bunch of bureaucrats to justify their existence. What is a “State Division of Human Rights” anyway? Is this the type of stuff they do all day?
What about this?
Bill of Rights
Amendment I
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 peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Seems like the ban is unconstitutional.
In Canada we’ve had the same kind of lawlessness directed against those who are Christian, especially who stand up to the gay powerblock. Here in Hamilton, we have a bookstore named, “Gomorrah’s” (you can guess what’s sold there). I was thinking of going in and ordering a bunch of materials from Focus on the Family, just to see if they would comply, or what would otherwise happen at the Human Rights tribunal if they didn’t.
So in New York, is “Bender’s Christian Supply” in Williamsville illegal? I suppose if pressed, they would order most anything for a client who wanted to make a point. But will they be forced to include an adult section too?
I have no sympathy for those who have posted that this is trivial. Oppression comes in many, small, and seemingly insignificant steps. Add them all together and you end with a religious group being totally banned.
I have no desire to force my religion on others (that’s Islam), but I think the free exercise part of the US constitution (Canada has a similar, though less eloquent writing), must be fought for.
Before I am attacked for speaking to a US issue from my seat North of the Border, I was born in Iowa and lived my first 30 years in various US locales. As a dual-citizen, I’m something of an amphibian.
Scott, how much of what goes on is constitutional? Nothing here is yours. You own a home only if you pay the government taxes on that home and forget driving a car, only if you pay the government to drive it. In Illinois I pay $5 to exercise my 2nd amendment right. In how many cities can you do any kind of construction to the house you “own” without approval or a permit? Our Constitution is meaningless, right along with our bill of rights. It’s the republicans and the democrats fault. Our next elected officials must be independent and separated from the corruption that has brought us to point we are at today. Our governments are dysfunctional and we get crap like this.
Believe you me Scott Some of us will fight. An organized militia exists and will strike back at the head of this fascist serpant. WE THE PEOPLE not WE THE POLITICIANS!
Great Newman. Now the fed’s have added me (and everyone else who blogs here) to the list by association due to your last comment. Thanks a lot- I was trying to remain underground until the appropriate time. Consider us now monitored- everyone censor your speech on Tim’s blog
j razz
Hopefully the feds won’t look at the history of posts on this blog. They would surely see that we are an extremely dangerous group that should be monitored 24/7. Way to go Newman. We should probably strike now before they make the first move.
I think for a revolution to be successful, a strong majority have to care about conditions. I think most are happy and willing to trade freedoms for security and prosperity. The late Francis Schaeffer had a lot to say about this, so I will not repeat it here.
Contrasted to the American revolution, the mood of the country just isn’t dissatisfied enough. When we hear some depressing news (for instance, the Christian Skate thing), anger subsides rather quickly: “Gimmie another beer” or “Let’s go shopping.”
Francis Shaeffer was a real man- the only man that I know of that still wore knickers after the “fad” had long faded. Now that is a real man.
j razz
Fighting for rights that are already inherently ours is one thing. But we have too many preachers that are basically politicians with huge wads of cash in their pockets. Or even diamond mines.
It’s no wonder many in the US think of Christians as power grabbers and overly political. Seems like we spend more time arguing about what’s ours and what’s right then serving people.
Let’s get one thing straight, Americans believe they are trading freedoms for security when in reality they are just giving away freedoms. More and More people are questioning what’s going on right now. Like the feds explanation of what happened in 9/11 (who here is threatened by box cutters??????), what’s happening to our economy (Enron, Adelphi, price of gas, minimum wage………….) what’s happening with our foreign affairs (Iraq, Iran, Korea…………..) Whats happening with our boarders and imigration (self explainatory), whats going on with the FEMA Katrina mess, the no bid contracts, and on and on and on. We could sit and make out a never ending list of things that are wrong with our government. Its coming quickly ya’ll. When the economy falls is when it happens. No credit no fed and it’s us versus the foreign interests who are right now buying up our land. That’s who we’re going to fight. Our government can’t fund itself for much longer. Remember when our prosperity comes crashing down its going to be lead and gold, and I’ve got plenty of lead!