If you’re not familiar with Fort Wayne, we just got a new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge. It has some light shows that go with it, one of which is a rainbow pattern. This prompted a man to write to the Journal Gazette (our newspaper) with some concerns.
“Who is responsible for the lighting-scheme decision on the recently finished Clinton Street Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge, specifically, the rainbow-colored scheme? An educated guess would say approval by Mayor Tom Henry, his administration, plus designers of course, or some minority-group influence. This lighting scheme must be retracted, removed and replaced.
For those not aware, rainbow-colored anything depicts gay pride, so in fact does not accurately portray our city’s, let alone our state’s, true Midwest values – Christian values. The majority of citizens do not share these politically motivated agendas and spins in misrepresenting what Fort Wayne is and who we as Fort Wayne citizens are. Was the NAACP behind this part of the design plan? Is there some other meaning behind this I’m not aware?
Need I remind you of the Judeo-Christian values on which our country is based? Need I remind you how liberal and left the Democratic Party has become? Need I remind you that the city of Fort Wayne is not San Francisco or New York City?
Don’t get me wrong, commemorating King is respectable, and having this bridge is commendable as a gateway for our city, but this under-the-radar lighting scheme must be replaced. And someone should be ashamed for letting it pass. It should reflect Hoosier values, welcoming people to what and who Fort Wayne, Indiana is, not to what a few want it to be. The majority of citizens (i.e., taxpayers) could not agree more with keeping the Midwest the Midwest, not Hollywood. I hope Henry or one of his soon-to-be mayoral successors realizes the wrong done and has a change of mind and heart to do the right thing, replacing the lighting scheme to represent true Fort Wayne identity with this gateway, welcoming those to our great city the right and proper way.
King is to be remembered in the United States for civil rights and equality, and rightfully so, both of which have nothing to do with the overt or covert expression of gay pride. King is to be remembered for the great impact and ultimate sacrifice he paid for our country during the civil rights era of the 1950s and ’60s and beyond. He is to be remembered for his Christian values and powerful, enduring speeches, his standing up against the evil of the then-culture and the evil of racism our country has in its roots. His ministry and influence are not to be forgotten, as I do not mean to diminish or undermine his role in our country’s history. Furthermore, the American Civil War was in large part fought over the equality of African-Americans in society, and King was a part of the next battle in America to combat racism, which he did at the expense of his life.
In effect, I believe King would have been disgusted with this lighting scheme and the political agenda behind it. Political spin is a disgrace. Our country is the better because of King, and he deserves better in memorial. So does our country.
ALEXANDER F. MAHER”
Today, my mom called me out and read me a response, also in the “Letters to the Editor” section. This is the fun part!
“Pesky gay rainbows are everywhere.
Regarding Alexander Maher’s letter (July 20) about the disgraceful rainbow colored lights on the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge, thank goodness he has opened the community’s eyes! Why, indeed, anything to do with rainbows has a link to the evil homosexual agenda.
I vaguely remember hearing about some group called the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; I am guessing that must be some sort of homosexual recruitment organization. Though I am a bit surprised to see that Jesse Jackson founded it; who knew he was gay? Just goes to show that gay people are everywhere! Maher pointed out this is Fort Wayne, not New York or San Francisco. We don’t have anyone here but straight, conservative Christians, by golly.
Now the homosexuals are trying to recruit our children! Just the other day, I saw a children’s book with some guy in an ark with a bunch of animals, and do you know what was over their head? That’s right, the evil homosexual rainbow. The depravity of it all!
What we really need to do is find the person behind those rainbows I see occasionally in the sky. They must be a secret message, like a gay “bat signal” or something.
Thank you, Mr. Maher, for reminding us that rainbows always represent the liberals and the homosexual agenda and never should be used to represent hope, unity or rebirth.
SUSAN HARLEY-DAWSON”
If you were wondering, here’s the bridge lit up:
