Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/22485
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Christmas Parade Did Not Leave New Resident With Christmas Spirit Dear Editor: I am writing this letter because I wanted to address something I witnessed when I attended the Fayetteville Christmas Parade. This is my fi rst time attending this parade — I recently moved to the area from New York City. I was able to get a spot with my daughter and paramour at the beginning of the parade route, despite the poor weather. This was my daughter’s first time seeing a parade and she was excited at the prospect of witnessing a holiday tradition. However, instead of feeling that holiday spirit that normally comes with events of this nature, I felt anger and frustration over what I witnessed. The fl oat sponsored by Young Star Productions had three little girls propped up on the front, with other children and mothers sitting towards the back. Now, whilst the other children and mothers in the back had blankets and umbrellas to protect them from the cold and rain, those three little girls in the front were completely exposed to the elements! They looked absolutely miserable! I was appalled to see them in their little dresses, hair soaking wet, make-up smudged and shivering! They looked pale and their lips were blue while their little princess crowns drooped sadly to the side of their heads. One girl looked like she was about to pass out! When I tried to fi nd someone to address the matter, I was informed that the organizers of the parade cannot remove anyone from the fl oats and that it was the responsibility of the fl oat’s sponsor to make such a decision. Mind you, I couldn’t fi nd anyone from the organization to address my concerns (I was at the beginning of the parade route where all the participants were waiting their turn to march, so you would think someone in charge would be in the holding area). As a mother and a social worker, I am outraged by the extreme disregard for the welfare and comfort of those three little girls. Whether they wanted to be on that fl oat or not is irrelevant! Any responsible adult should have provided them with either a blanket or some type of overhead shelter to protect them from the elements that day. I am not a fan of the whole pageant circuit and the idea of treating our little girls like dolls and grown women. So seeing this sight has caused me to lose all respect for any parent who would allow their child to go through such a horrible experience, when this should have been a memorable and festive occasion for them! I see they are more concerned with posing their daughters like little china dolls for show. Shame to the organizers for not having some type of provision, in the event of such situations, that would allow them to better protect the parade participants. For such a small parade I fi nd there is no reason for it not to have been postponed or a backup plan that would provide blankets, tarps, hot beverages, etcetera. In my 38 years, never have I ever seen such negligence and disregard in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And as a native New Yorker, I can vouch that THAT parade has WAY more participants. In years where there was inclement whether, provisions were always made to protect the participants from the elements and make them comfortable for the duration of the parade. Now, if a parade of that scale and magnitude can do that, I fi nd there should be no excuses for this tiny town not to do better than what I saw that day. I can only hope that next year’s parade will possess more professionalism and less socialism. Sincerely, Christine Harris Enter for your chance to WIN tickets Name______________________________________ Phone Number___________________________________ Email_______________________________________ Please send completed entry form to Up & Coming Weekly, 208 Rowan St., Fayetteville, NC 28301 or fax to 910.484.9218. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JAN. 5-11, 2011 UCW 5