Tulsa progressives boot "Christmas" from title of decades old parade!

Somewhere along the line mostly conservative Tulsa became hostage to some progressives. For one thing, the local paper's editorial writers are stance liberals which is why I don't subscribe to it. In early 2009,  they laid off 28 employees and last year they put in a pay-wall similar to what the liberal New York Times has done which makes their online news a closed-source. I would venture to guess their polarizing ideological views are so contrary to the majority of Tulsans might have, in some small way. contributed. Tulsa is also home to billionaire Obama bundle George Kaiser who is embroiled in the Solyndra controversy. 

He's one of the richest people in America and reportedly is the richest person in Oklahoma.  His family foundation was the largest investor in the failed Solyndra Corporation.  According to the Sunlight Foundation, Kasier has hardly paid any taxes; Barack Obama's other billionaire: How George Kaiser turned Oklahoma into his personal tax haven.  But, that is neither here or there for the booting of Christmas issue. I suspect Kasier influences some things in Tulsa.  But, to be fair, I have no idea if he personally had anything to do with booting Christmas from the Christmas parade. He probably didn't.  Born to parents who were Jewish refugees from Germany, Kaiser owns the Bank of Oklahoma and is a major contributorto the Jewish community.  Coincidentally,  the Bank of Oklahoma Center hosts a "holiday" market for shoppers and all others events in the downtown area are called Winterfest.  

There doesn't seem to be any Christmas recognition in downtown Tulsa, folks.

In 2009 the name "Christmas" was cast-aside from a 76 year old parade that helped Christians celebrate  a major religious holiday. The parade of lights board is chaired by Larry Fox (Larry) who has repeatedly defended the decision and said it was made to "encourage "inclusiveness."   Christmas is a Christian holiday, Mr. Fox.  Would you ask any other religious group to changed their religious event to a generic name to be "inclusive" of those who do not follow their religion?  Statistically, 83% of Americans identify themselves as Christians according to a poll ABC News reported on last July.  4% of the population make up ALL non-Christian religions.  What a bone-headed decision..Fox@aa.com

I didn't realize this happened until last year. It would never occur to me such a thing would ever happen in Tulsa. in 2010, Republican Senator Inhofe said no thanks to participating in the parade he always enjoyed taking part.  Liberals mocked and slammed him to this day because that's pretty much what they do to Christians, isn't it?  Our parade had been neutered and I can see why Senator Inhofe did what he did. 

This year, highly controversial CAIR OK jumped on board the non-Christmas Tulsa parade lead by Muneer Awad, the man who sued the state after voters overwhelmingly approved a new constitutional amendment that instructed state courts not to used sharia law:

You can read more about CAIR Oklahoma and their controversial activism, constant paranoia about the FBI and contempt for them and history here. 

The Islamic Society of Tulsa (read my backgrounder on them here), who partners with CAIR, is one of the sponsors of the new diversity lights parade this year.  The secretary of CAIR, Sheryl Siddiqui, is the spokeswoman for this Islamic society.  Christians would never ask or expect a Muslim holiday event be generically renamed for the sake of diversity. So to be such a visible part of this neutrilization is troubling.  I mean Muslims consider it blasphemy to consider Jesus the son of GOD which is central to the Christian faith.  I don't think this would happen to another religious group, do you?

This story does seem to be on the way to a happy ending, though. The inaugural Tulsa Christmas Parade will be this Saturday night with a record 88 participating entries!  Over on the FB page for the parade of lights, you can read nasty comments about Christians.  The liberal paper in town, I mentioned above, wrote that two "seasonal" parades will take place.  Christmas a seasonal event?  No, its a religious holiday. See what I mean?

Christians should not be made to feel bad because they are upset Christmas was booted from the tile of a traditional parade marking a major Christian holiday.  But, they have been.   Unfortunately, this type of attention Tulsa received about this on a national level puts Tulsa under a negative anti-Christian spotlight.