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The shirt that offended Heather (photo)

SooToday.com received the following letter from faithful reader, Heather Zayachkowski, expressing concerns regarding a shirt worn by a participant (pictured) in this year's Rotaryfest Community Day Parade.
SooToday.com received the following letter from faithful reader, Heather Zayachkowski, expressing concerns regarding a shirt worn by a participant (pictured) in this year's Rotaryfest Community Day Parade.

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What a beautiful day to watch the parade with my family, and what a great parade it was.  The city and everyone involved should be very proud of it!

My kids left the parade exhausted and happy as punch as all kids should, but unfortunately my husband and I were left with a struggle to deal with as well.

It all came in the form of one person wearing one t-shirt, who marched with the Sault Pride group of people.

This person’s shirt read “Haters will be haters”. 

I was first and foremost shocked to see that allowed by the parade directors, and then also hurt by it.

After the parade I questioned within myself who his shirt would be referring to. 

My only answer would be people who oppose his lifestyle or points of view.  

This I can only believe would refer mostly to the large section of Sault Ste Marie that follows the values of Judaism, Christianity, or is of the Muslim faith.

I am openly raising a Christian family in this city. 

My Bible that I read is about loving others not judging, and certainly NOT about hating. 

It states oh so clearly that we are all guilty under the law to begin with (yep... even me a Christian!) so why would I be out there hating others when I would end up hating myself. 

But in this country I am allowed to oppose people’s beliefs that I don’t agree with. 

This is not and has never been a form or act of hatred.

I don’t even have a problem with the Sault Pride People being in the parade - I even saw family friends who I respect in it.

Christians are allowed to give out Popsicles and water bottles with verses from the Bible to those who wish to accept them, and so other groups should be allowed to do likewise. 

But messages of hatred should not ever be permitted from any party.

I am kind of dismayed and not alone in this. 

So I humbly call upon the city to better monitor the parade in the years to come to insure that this doesn’t happen again.

I told my husband after the parade to just let it go and move on, but I guess I couldn’t.

Let’s make the parade a safe place, free of negative slogans or imagery of any kind, for the simple enjoyment of the kids of our beautiful diverse city.

Heather Zayachkowski

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