Hampton's Parade Should Include Everyone

Portsmouth has a Holiday Parade. Exeter has a Holiday Parade. Salem has a Holiday Parade. Plymouth has a Holiday Parade. Merrimack has a Holiday Parade. Derry has a Holiday Parade. Rochester has a Holiday Parade. Dover has a Holiday Parade.

And Hampton has a Christmas Parade.

What's wrong with a Christmas Parade? Nothing's wrong with a
Christmas Parade. Lots of organizations have lots of parades for lots of
different reasons. It only becomes a problem when a Christmas Parade is funded
by public tax dollars.

Offended Hamptonite: "Oh, come now, Patton. Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill. The Town of Hampton spends only $3,000 on the Christmas Parade. That's hardly anything."

Patton: "I'm sorry. That's not the point. There's a principle involved. It's called 'taxation without representation.' Perhaps, you've heard of it. People of many faiths live in Hampton. Not everyone is a Christian. According to the National Catholic Reporter (10/9/12), 'In the last five years, the number of people who claim no religious affiliation has increased from slightly more than 15 percent to just under 20 percent of all U.S. adults.'"

"You give these people no recognition in the Christmas Parade, yet you ask them to pay taxes to support it."

Offended Hamptonite: "Well, I think most people in Hampton
want it to be called the Christmas Parade. Majority rules."

Patton: " I think you sell the people of Hampton short. I don't think most people in Hampton are mean-spirited, narrow-minded, and selfish. I think they respect the faiths and beliefs of other people, and want them to enjoy the holidays no matter how they celebrate them.  I think there are two honorable ways to
resolve the situation: (1) Have Christmas Parades as usual, but don't fund them
with public tax dollars. (2) Call it a Holiday Parade, as other towns do, so
that everyone can feel included in the celebration."