| [Date Prev] | [Date Next] | [Thread Prev] | [Thread Next] |
| [Date Index] | [Thread Index] | [Author Index] | [Subject Index] |
Perhaps you mis-read my original letter.
Moscow Mardis Gras used to be a HUGE family and community event. One year there were almost as many entries in the parade as there were residents of Moscow. New Orleans television came and televised the celebration. Hotels were full. There were so many people showing up, the downtown could no longer accommodate the Beaux Arts Ball. As a community we did NOT step forward when Mardis Gras still had something for everybody. At first, Mardis Gras was relocated to the University (then a major supporter of the event), but the University would not waive it's no alcohol policy. The bars complained about moving the crowd pleasing ball away from their establishments. Some downtown businesses actually complained about the parade crowd (now that I do find ironic). So...instead of having the ball at a neutral location where people could drink moderately or not at all and everyone could enjoy the music and costumes or dance, the ball and the drinking were separated. Buses (school buses I might add) were provided to drive the drinkers from establishment to establishment. Bars enforced no dancing rules. Costumes were de-emphasized and drinking became more and more of a focus. This broke the dancing up and promoted the bar hopping format. We as a community chose to accommodate the bars and drinkers rather than the dance and costumes. That is all I am pointing out. This isn't a new change, We've been letting it creep up on our community for years. We showed perference to beer, wine and hard liquor commercialism many years ago. I have no complaints about most other general commercial sponsorships such as for the Jazz Festival. If the 2000 New Years banner also advertised beer, I rest my case that Moscow Mardis Gras is a predominantly drinking event, as is New Years.
As for putting my money where my mouth is, I cannot pay for the banner, nor can I replace the charity given youth organizations. I am still putting my money, time and energy where my children's mouths are. I think you probably already know that I put as much money, time and energy as I can afford into decreasing risks to youth in our community. Neither do I blame youth organizations for accepting the donations. Perhaps the end seems to justify the means. I've spent many a freezing morning helping kids with the Moscow Mardis Gras. For over a decade, I knew first-hand what that publicity meant in terms of public relations for those non-profit kids groups.
But, even if I could, I would not pay to replace the banner. That would merely obscure the reality that Moscow is a city that values it's alcohol sales. What is the income that can be attributed to alcohol sales in this community? What would happen to the eating establishments if the drinkers left downtown? Are we as a community able to replace this? Would we want to replace this? Let's take a good look at where our values are as a community. I think this is a valid question for the Vision 2020 list and I fail to see how it can be misconstrued by anyone as "whining."
Margaret, I will support your challenge to increase alternative activities fro Mardis Gras. Anyone else out there willing to take a risk? For inspiration perhaps we can look to Coeur d'Alene. A few folk who learned their marching techniques in Moscow Mardis Gras parades went on with the Cower d'Alene group "The Red Hot Mamas" to march in this years inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. It is never too late to reclaim our celebration if we choose to. I will save my kazoo and feather boa collection, and Margaret, you are welcome to show up with my group "The Freudian Slips" if you dare.
Cheers,
Jennifer
As some of you have pointed out, the downtown banner was not about the Jazz
fest, I said that wrong, but my main point remains the same, did anyone
offer to pay for the Mardi Gras banner? (or the Jazz fest posters?)When Community involvement is high enough, corporate sponsorship and control
will decrease.As a side note, if there is enough interest in non-alcoholic activities for
the Mardi Gras, why not have another event the same time as the downtown
"barhopping?" Just like there are many concerts and events for the December
Holidays around town, Mardi Gras isn't specifically owned by one group to
organize. Competition can be a good thing.