civil rights

Comparing the "plight" of Christians and what happened 40 years to men and women such as Rosa Parks, Fred Shuttlesworth, Dr. King, and all of the minorities in general is complete nonsense. To even imply such a thing shows a complete lack of ignorance to what these people went through. In no way are we the object of disdain and segregation, and I'm rather offended that someone would make such an association.

 

Actually, it is analogous to what happened 40 years ago. I can remember segregationists shouting that their rights were being violated when they were forced to let blacks vote.

Likewise, some find the idea that groups being supported by public funding can't discriminate on the basis of religion, to be a violation of their rights to discriminate against people who don't believe the way they do.

They have a right to discriminate. They just don't have a right to expect the government to help them out in doing it.

It's the same message; "you're violating my right to violate the rights of other people!"

 

Agreed, Galatian. Agreed. Anyone remember Bull Conner?

 

Other people also have the rights for their religious freedom not to be infringed upon. If Islam was the dominant religion, would you not feel oppressed if everyone around you forced Allah down your throat?

I've never heard (and I googled it, too) of a teacher being reprimanded for saying "God bless you," and I'd love to see a news article or other reputable source that confirms this.

As far as "Merry Christmas" - this is another urban legend, as the courts have ruled that this is acceptable. From http://www.rouseandassoc.com/Article.htm

As far as Steven Williams is concerned (the one who got in trouble for the Declaration of Independence), I fully believe that he will be allowed back at the school. This one instance is in no way anything near what happened in the 60's to black Southerners.

Has anyone in America been denied employment because he or she was a Christian? (Again, please show some proof).

Christianity is a majority religion in America. Our president and many of our congressional representatives and senators claim Christianity. Again, it's absolutely nothing like what was happening in places such as Alabama in the 1960's.

 

Martin, it's long overdue! People are so blinded to violations it ain't funny. I think for the most part people don't want to believe it exists until if affects them personally. If it happens to someone else they eye them suspicially and usually doubt it, thinking there must be more to the story because we're a nation enthralled with the government. It's hard to believe they would do injustice.
America needs to wake up. America needs to quit believing that large scale corruption doesn't happen in our justice system. America needs to start following the money trail in many situations and find out who's benefitting.
Most of all, America needs to QUIT handing more and more power over to the government and take more responsibility for the safety and welfare of their friends and neighbors and community.
Gina

 

I know I don't have a problem saying "God bless you" to a student. But then, I don't try to get pushy about it.

Those urban legends are often very difficult to substantiate.

 

Time for a "BE AMERICAN" movement. Prior to WW2 people came here to become Americans. Screw your Old Country. Be an American.

 

JebMartin makes good points, and draws an interesting analogy. Congress needs to do its job, and throw out judges who don't understand even the most basic things about American liberty.

 

Jeb Martin will have a point when we have "Christian Only" water fountains and have Christians giving up their seats at the back of the bus when all the nonChristian seats in the front are taken. When was the last time a Christian was lynched around here for whistling at a nonChristian woman?

 

Jeb,

People won't listen to you if you continue to speak of things like civil rights, individual liberty and the responsiblity ALL OF US as Americans, whether Christian or whatever have to each other in protecting those rights.

Most folks believe that it's the governments job to protect you, your loved ones and your rights. They are ready to let the government assume all responsibilty for them so they can relax and watch football without any of the undue stress that real freedom causes.

This is just my opinion as others on this board will no doubt try to remind me, but, as far as this government goes...they are untrustworthy, greedy, drunk with power and they control most all the mainstream media.

In the last two Presidential elections it became apparent that our republic no longer functions. It's all an illusion now. We have one party with two heads that act like they oppose each other's policies. But, if you have an open mind (not brainwashed by the mainstream media) you can easily see where in the last thirty years or so there has been a continuity of policies by both "parties" to restrict individual liberty, grant more and more power to the federal government and "socialize" America.

We're being boiled alive, the water is getting hot now, but the dutiful little frogs will deny it to their death.

Pa Jim, you'll say vote em out. Ordinarily I would agree but it seems to me that with the advent of E-VOTING and the heavy investments and connections to the "manufacturers" and media like Clear Channel Communications that the Republicans share, and the last two Presidential elections the time to "vote em out" has come and gone we can't vote them out because we didn't vote them in!

But Jeb...don't stop posting. Maybe just maybe someone will listen a little, notice a little, and see a little that would convince them of their condition in the pot that is about to boil and jump out before they are well done.

 

It's still possible to vote them out. The problem is that very few people want to. They complain about the direction of the government, and then turn on you like a mad dog if you suggest voting for someone who actually wants to change it.

 

Hey Jeb, I'd love to see some documentation for those claims.

Nothing personal, but we don't have any way of knowing whether you made it up or not.

Don't you think it's funny that the stories never have any substantiation?

 

Then e-mail this to your sister. The US branch of the judiciary has ruled:

School districts may not ban teachers and students from saying "Merry Christmas." The Supreme Court has stated that teachers and students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Cmty. Sch. Dist., 393 U.S. 503, 506 (1969)(holding that the wearing of armbands by students to show disapproval of Vietnam hostilities was constitutionally protected speech). Under the direction of former President Clinton, U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley issued guidelines concerning religious discussion of students, which stated, "Students therefore have the same right to engage in ...religious discussion during the school day as they do to engage in other comparable activity." U.S. Dept. of Educ., Religion and Public Schools, Archived Information, Guidelines, available at Http://www.ed.gov/Speeches/08-1995/religion.html (last modified Jan. 26, 2001) Teachers also have the right to greet students with the words "Merry Christmas," in spite of their role as agents of the state. In order to violate the Establishment Clause, a teacher would have to use her authority to promote religion to impressionable youth. See School Dist. of Abington v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203 (1963). Saying a simple greeting that people commonly use in December does not rise to a state endorsement of religion.

 

Do you have any documentation yet?