For the latest episode of my public access TV show, "Postcards from Charlottesville," Kurt Krueger and Brookes Sims of the Piedmont Family YMCA join me to discuss the new YMCA recreational facility that will soon be built on the western side of McIntire Park. Hear how the new YMCA will offer a wide variety of programs and services to youth and families in our community, regardless of ability to pay; there will be a particular emphasis on afterschool and summer activities for students at Charlottesville High School next door. Also, we spend a couple of minutes debunking some of the unfortunate myths that have arisen about the Y, like the allegations that the Y will displace softball from McIntire, Little League from McIntire, the Dogwood Carnival from McIntire, the 4th of July Fireworks from McIntire, picnic shelters from McIntire, etc., or that the YMCA is a religious organization that discriminates against non-Christians, or that a new 1-acre family recreational center will somehow "destroy" a 130-acre park. Click here to view the show:
http://charlottesville.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=184
Thursday, August 20, 2009
"Postcards from Charlottesville," Show #17
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1 comment:
I was one of the people that raised concerns about a religious organization getting a lease on public property, so maybe I should clarify my position...
I don't think the YMCA in the U.S. currently descriminates, nor do they currently evangelize; however, that's not true world wide. In some other nations they are known to proselytize. Also, when I was a kid, the Boy Scouts could also be considered a non-denominational organization that didn't really discriminate. Since then, conservatives have taken over the board and started banning faiths and specific denominations.
Sure, it's unlikely, but if the same thing happened to the YMCA and they started descriminating or evangelizing, then all I want is to make sure that the City would have grounds to immediately revoke their lease. As long as that is part of the contract (as it should be with any religious organization) then my concerns are addressed adequately.
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