" Perhaps there are people in the neighborhood, who may follow a religion other than Christianity...and this may actually be a violation of their civil rights-forced religion by audio means? Please don't throw stones at me, but it could be the cased. "

" I welcome your spirit of compromise concerning this issue. No my objection is not to having Christian music. I must admit as per the "culture clash" blog that I was raised in a more traditional church atmosphere and the whole concept of "christian rock" is offensive to me.
Its particularly offensive when, as I witnessed last week, having a group of "christian rockers" yell their lyrics through loud amplifiers. It just didnt seem right.
Then again I shouldnt judge. None of us on either side of this issue should judge each others motives.
Yes there is a culture clash going on here. Perhaps the Christian Rock movement is bringing people to Christ. Perhaps its just another way of worship.
Yes the fairgrounds are noisy during the regular fair. It does seem that the big ticket equipment amplifies the sound by a factor of three or four times what a normal fair experiences.
Those who oppose the big ticket arent anti christian. Many of us are christian, but of a different stripe.
We worship the same Saviour but in different ways. If we truly are part of the same family of God, a just and lasting solution could be reached.
I was glad to notice that when I attended 5PM Mass at St. Marys, the big ticket noise was not heard at all inside the cathedral.
Maybe this was a deliberate accomodation to one of your more conservative bretheren in the faith, or perhaps it was just coincidence. In any event it would be nice of coincidence were made policy.
The Lord can be glorified in many ways. The greatest way for him to be glorified in this instance would be by a showing of love and understanding towards those who are different from ourselves.
That is advise that both sides would do well to contemplate and pray about. "

" Would it make a difference if it were rock music? Country music? Or is it just the fact that it is Christian music? As far as a Casino goes I'm not opposed, build it. We are all responsible for are own actions. If you want to gamble that's totally your choice. My comment reguarding leaving town was said in response to the lady that wrote to the paper giving her ultimatums. I'm for having the Big Ticket held here in Gaylord, I would like to see maybe a compromise shut the music down at 10:00pm for the consideration of those who live around the area.. "

" Dear berrybilbo: If money were the only consideration for decisions such as these, then why allow the fundamentalists and the church community to have vetoed a casino in Gaylord years ago?
Every community with a casino is better off financially than Gaylord is. You also dont see any of the social ills that were predicted.
Most of the gamblers are your grandmother and grandfather. They arent the social outcasts or the addictive gamblers that were predicted.
These facilities are well lit, kept quite clean, and many of them have first rate entertainment flown in from all over the world.
They also would be a lot less noisy and arent located right next to hospitals.

As for your comment about simply accepting this situation and leaving town when it happens next year, the opponents of this festival always have the recourse of legal action, aka a temporary restraining order.

Its a highly dangerous concept to allow a tiny elite to take over a community, even if it is only for a few days.

Why should the elderly at McReynolds Hall have to suffer through this simply because area gas stations and restaurants benefit for a few days? All in the name of Christianity? "

" I don't live in that neighborhood, nor did I attend this event, but I can tell you this your right "money isn't everything" but in this day and time the way the economy is the people of Gaylord should be grateful for the business. With the businesses closing in the area we really depend on tourism why would we want to send 10,000 people elsewhere? Where did these people eat? sleep? buy food? get gas? Mostly right in our town. That's money in our pockets, to help me make a house payment, buy food, pay my bills!! This two day event is small in compareson to the Alpenfest which we have to drive out of our way to get through town, no place to park for five days, and not to mention the concerts that are LOUD.. I don't hear anyone trying to stop Alpenfest and that is dead smack in the middle of town and alot more bothersome. So I guess my advice is to check out the days of next years Festival which I understand is already set and plan to be out of town that weekend. Like it or not our town does need this business alot of us benefit and I for one am thankful... "

" Yes Dear Brother in the Faith, but praise, loud or otherwise, must always be guided by the Holy Spirit and not by our own motivations. For when we try to do Gods will OUR way, we end up with nothing.
But being guided by the Holy Spirit, "all things work together for good to those who believe".

Praise BE to the Lord, but let our motivations (known only to the Lord) be based upon spiritual considerations and not a desire to curry favour among men (humanity). "

" Hi Cutty, it’s been a while. Allow me to provide a little food for thought. The following is a poem written by a guy who once got called down for dancing in the streets and making a spectacle of himself. This guy was defiantly a “Holy Roller.”

Praise ye the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise Him upon the LOUD cymbals; praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every that hath breath praise the Lord.
Praise ye the Lord. Psalms 150 "

" I disagree, I believe that the sounds of those "Christian" rock bands is at least four or five times what any other group or activity puts out.
The music went on well past 11PM both nights, and yes we should be concerned about the hospital and the effect this might have had on patients there, particularly the elderly at McReynolds hall.
Money isnt everything here. Other than the promotoers and a few local churches, the vast majority of this community didnt see a dime from this event.
In addition, and I may not be politically correct for saying this, but I was appalled at the merchandising of Christianity that went on there. Jesus threw out the moneychangers at the temple for much less of an offense.
Fundamentalist churches are using such events to make money and to recruit the younger generation to their flock. The problem is, the kids are likely to get hooked on the loud music and miss any underlying spiritual message.
This whole issue of the big ticket festival is a spiritual sellout to carnality, pure and simple.

I briefly visited there and couldnt wait to leave. I have felt the spirit of the Lord more present in strip clubs or at secular rock concerts than I ever did here.

To each his own, but at least with secular rock concerts, most are held at places far outside of town like Castle Farms near Charlevoix where the local neighbors and local hospitals dont have to have their peace disturbed.
Its time that the City Council and our County Commissioners started to listen to the voice of the people on this issue and not certain politically influential pastors whose primary goal is to merchandise Christianity. "

" It suprises me in the current economic times here in Northern Michigan that some would be so opposed to an event that brought 10,000 to 15,000 people from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and even Ontario into Gaylord for a weekend. Was it loud? Yes it was. Was it any louder than other concert events held at the Fairgrounds? Probably not. So before we go complaining about the noise and how it effects us individually, think about those 10,000 to 15,000 people taking their hard earned money and spending it else where. I would image the dollar figures of money spent in Gaylord and the surrounding area would be in the millions. Let's come together as a community and support a local effort to bring people and money here, before they feel unwelcome and take it elsewhere. Because with this many people coming to the Big Ticket Festival and probably more expected next year, I am sure it could be moved elsewhere and welcomed with open arms. "

" Please look at the big picture here folks. Our couple of days of change in our normal routine has done wonders for our town. My sister was able to pick up a couple of extra shifts which in turn meant her sitter made a little more money and so on...get the picture. For the record I too live within a few blocks of the fairgrounds but I chose to enjoy the music and not have to fight the crowds. "

" Too loud doesn't even begin to state it! It was a weekend of pure torture for those of us living even 4 blocks away. Hearing the boom, boom, boom all weekend was nothing but pure torture. I can appreciate there are all types of music and maybe I could have been more tolerant if I could have heard the music aspect, but just getting the resonance of the bass was awful. We finally get a lovely weekend and instead of being able to be outside enjoying it I had to go in my house and close up to get away from the sound and even that did not cancel it completely. And I agree, the poor patients at the hospital!!! Boo to the sponsors!!!!! "

" Too LOUD....I was over 1/2 mile away and it sounded very loud, I feel sorry for the people at the hospital, who need peace and quiet. "