Candy throw ban embarrassing
Posted By Greg Vandermeulen
Posted 17 days ago
Will we have a festival void of candy throwing, interesting animals, motorsports of any type, any entertainment that involves fire, knives, or juggling of any sort, and wienerless hotdogs sold with warm (not hot) coffee?
It sounded like a joke when it was first announced at council that candy throwing would be banned from future Manitoba Sunflower Festival parades. Of course the joke turned out to be the councillors who with straight faces seemed to embrace this embarrassing decision made by the Manitoba Sunflower Festival executive.
The reasons for this decision vary depending who you talk to. Some refer to an alleged close call from last year, and others talk about insurance liability costs.
But what most refuse to recognize is that this decision will make us the laughing stock wherever this story is retold.
"What about the children?" the advocates of such a move will say. "If it saves even one life it's worth it" another will add. But that type of thinking is ludicrous. Of course throwing candy at a parade has an element of risk, but it is doubtful a golf cart featuring candy throwing is more dangerous than the large farm machinery (from which no candy is thrown) driving down streets lined with parade-goers.
And the readers agree. The Red River Valley Echo's online poll (at www.altonaecho.com) showed that 80 per cent think the decision is an overreaction, while only 10 per cent think it's warranted. If the festival committee wants to continue down this path they will be busy. After all, how can this same committee possibly condone the petting of furry animals followed by holding a Burmese python. (Something many did as they went from petting zoo to reptile exhibit this summer). What about even having a caged rattlesnake in the park? What about allowing the crowd to watch people throw fire around in front of the stage?
What about hotdogs? I would bet dollars to donuts that more people in North America are injured from choking on hotdogs than are driven over in festival parades.
So what does our future look like? Will we have a festival void of candy throwing, interesting animals, motorsports of any type, any entertainment that involves fire, knives, or juggling of any sort, and wienerless hotdogs sold with warm (not hot) coffee?
Organizers need to realize that of course there is an element of risk. But the responsibility lies with the parents of the children in attendance. It is us who determine when and if our child is allowed to run into the street to scoop up the waiting candy. Banning the tradition of candy throwing is an embarrassment to anyone who is proud to be from this great community of Altona. The festival committee would do well to rethink this decision.
