Lake fair a forum for special interests

The Lake County Fair stooped to a new low on Saturday evening during the rodeo event. A fair already riddled with vendors who entice children into their booth for a little face painting only after requiring these kids to first listen to a scripture verse, vendors who display fetuses in varying stages of development, and of course all of the church booths which go well beyond preaching the word, literally brought politics into the rodeo.

That’s right, the rodeo was blatantly politicized. At the rodeo, the announcer made reference to a pile of manure as “Obamacare.” The announcer referred to another pile of manure as the” Stimulus Plan.” Setting aside one’s political views for a moment, when is it OK to broadcast political views at a public event that has absolutely nothing to do with politics?

These rodeo announcements are a symptom of the overall political bent of the fair, or at least the fair organizers. It may come as a surprise to some to learn that not every person attending the fair is a Christian. Others may be surprised to learn that not all parents want their young children to be exposed to scale models of in-utero fetuses. Sure, folks can avoid such booths, but keep in mind those booths are located in the same exhibition hall that houses art exhibits, jewelry displays and the snack bar, places where families with children are likely to congregate.

Our fair has turned into a soapbox for special interest groups. It is time to bring in a new leadership team if the Lake County Fair is going to survive. This new leadership team should not be directly involved in Lake County politics.

I respectfully challenge the board of directors to rebut this letter.

David McArtin

Round Lake