Christians are not anti-fun wowsers or mono-culturalists. We have nothing against colourful dragons dancing in the streets! Nor are we intolerant of other religious groups. Australians have every right to practise whatever religion they choose. We are not living in a Christian theocracy.

　 　 Nevertheless, many in Dorset felt it inappropriate for Buddhist monks, carrying a dragon that the Advertiser called "a key element in Buddhist religion", to lead what is still advertised as a "Christmas Parade". Christmas is not about Buddha, but Christ.

　 　 It is odd that the Churches have never been asked to explain the message of Christmas before the start of the Christmas parade, yet the monks were given the opportunity to explain the meaning of their Buddhist religious rituals.

　 　 As fellow human beings, and an economic boon to our area, we welcome Buddhist as we would anyone. They are our neighbours, and we will love them as Christ commands. But we also challenge them with the gospel of Jesus Christ, because Buddhist teachings are incompatible with Christianity at the most basic level. For example, Buddhists do not believe in a personal Creator God who loves them. Theirs is an atheistic religion. I'm not saying Buddhists aren't nice people, nor am I inciting hatred against them, but if Christ is true, then Buddha's teachings are not, and vice versa. We may both be wrong, but we can't both be right. That's not intolerance, just common sense.

　 　 I have no problem with Buddhists in a secular community parade. But if non-Christian religious groups are to take part, perhaps the name should be changed from Christmas Parade. Most floats are not from Christian groups, and many have no Christmas theme anyway. Why not call it a Summer Community Parade? Or Dorset Community Parade? But if you want to continue to call it a Christmas Parade, linking its reason for being to Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, then it is surely illogical to invite practitioners of another faith who deny or reinterpret Christian teachings, to take such a leading role in it.