Fifty-two brave individuals protested the “Kansas Burlesque Festival” in Topeka, Kansas on March 5th. They are brave because to stand up for what is right requires bravery. It is so much easier to talk about traditional values than it is to prove one’s convictions with actual deeds.
A local organization, Visit Topeka, Inc., exists to promote Topeka tourism. It sponsored the event, which was held in a well-known downtown Ramada hotel.
This was an event promoting public immorality to supposedly draw visitors who would spend money in Topeka.
Numerous protests were sent to Mayor Wohlgast of Topeka and to Brett Oetting, the CEO of Visit Topeka, Inc. Invitations to join the protest went out in many forms: by e-mail, phone, Facebook and mail.
The Topeka Capital-Journal published a lengthy article on the protest the day before the event, and an article later in the evening after the protest. In the online version was a link to a statement addressing the “festival” by Mr. Oetting, attempting to justify this event. This would seem to indicate that the e-mails and phone calls got the attention of Visit Topeka, Inc. Typically, sponsors of blasphemy and immorality prefer to ignore protesters as if they did not exist.
Visit Topeka, Inc. receives funding in part through the local hotel tax. As a result taxpayers were required to fund an institution that sponsored such an immoral event.
On approaching people to attend the rally, organizers had to answer many of the typical slogans that are used to discourage people from attending. Some of those slogans follow:
1. “It is legal.” So is abortion. The American TFP and America Needs Fatima often carry protest signs that read, “a moral wrong can never be a legal right.” Just because men erroneously declare something legal, does not mean it is moral or legal in God’s eyes. An immoral law should be opposed. Immoral laws are changed when the public challenges them, as can be seen with so many pro-life legal initiatives across America.
2. “There are many worse things going on.” Undoubtedly that is true. However, just because there are worse things does not mean we should only oppose the worst. Just because murder is worse than robbery does not mean we should ignore robbery.
Yes, there are movies, music, television shows, persons, and places that are much worse in degree; but a mortal sin is a mortal sin, with the same eternal outcome for the person guilty of such a sin when there is no true repentance.
There is also the sin of standing idly by and not rejecting with our reason and our will such immoral events. Everyone has an obligation to resist and to oppose sin, especially those in positions of power and influence: religious, civic, legal, and cultural leaders. God who knows the hearts of all, will measure the degree of culpability of each person.
3. “Speaking out only draws attention to the event.” How preposterous! No one wants bad publicity. The response made to this event forced these promoters of immorality to move from a position of offense to one of defense. If enough people respond, events like this would cease. The good have God on their side, and no power on earth or in hell can stand up to God. Evil is cowardly and only advances when the good do nothing.
4. “It won’t make any difference.” As mentioned earlier, the response by Visit Topeka, Inc. demonstrates that, while the event took place, the opposition that occurred was not anticipated by Visit Topeka, Inc. What’s more, God above sees all who attack and defend His Law, and to God there is a great difference.
The American TFP, TFP Student Action, and America Needs Fatima have a sterling record in stopping some cases and, in every case, putting blasphemers and purveyors of immorality on the defensive, going all the way back to the American TFP’s confrontation with Planned Parenthood in 1978.
If we have never participated in a protest in defense of God’s honor, or that of His Blessed Mother, it is never too late to begin. Pray to Our Lady for the strength to stand up for her. As mentioned in the first paragraph, to stand up to the tsunami of blasphemy and filth that exists today does require courage. If we ask, Our Lady will grant us the necessary courage to defend her and her Divine Son and the Holy Church founded by Him.
We must move Our Lady to intervene by demonstrating to her that we shall oppose every assault, large or small, with our entire will and with words and deeds whenever possible.
History is not made by majorities, but by dedicated minorities who have the courage of their solid convictions, and act.
It is this kind of dedication that will bring about the return to order in America.