The rumor is true . . . Some perfectly obtuse Carmel citizens have the horribly inane idea of banning bonfires on Carmel Beach - along with no ball-playing in Devendorf Park (yes, you cannot throw a ball in a . . . in a park) this is yet another absurd move by people who want to take away the freedom to simply be a fun-loving human being in Carmel.
- Sometimes living in Carmel one begins to wonder whether in the not-too-distant future one will need to have a permit to smile. "Hey there pal do I hear you laughing? Because that most certainly is not allowed here in our town of important people. Wipe that smile off your face or I'm issuing you a citation."
- Doubtless, there are "valid" reasons that are being raised for passing a ban against bonfires (unattended buried coals, smoke pollution, keeping undesirable "types" at bay, etc.) but c'mon really? This is a beach in the United States of America - not in some Orwellian-imagined state of Big Bro.
I certainly believe that part of why life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have been defended and protected in our country is so friends & families in this part of California just might be able to enjoy community together on a foggy night on Carmel Beach roasting marshmallows, drinking a glass of wine, and telling stories around the bonfire. I could go on but I am resisting & asking God to help me love and pray for my newly discovered enemies.
Click the petition link here and sign it asap - even if you don't live in Carmel - because it impacts you too if you enjoy bonfires on Carmel Beach. And check the killer picture of my wife and two boys on the site.
With a deep breath & need for shalom,
-Brian
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