"Anti-Christian Bigotry" Hype! (off topic)
Martin Blazevich blaze@lucent.com
Fri, 23 Jan 1998 11:03:56 -0500 (00885593036, 34C8BF6C.1F71@lucent.com)
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Martin-
>From the American Atheist list...here is some misinformation designed to
rile up the Christian 'troops' so the Religious Right can get their
constitutional amendment granting them special consideration in every
aspect of our lives. (run-on sentence, right Farrell?)
--
"In God We Trust" endorses religion.
"In God We Do Not Trust" endorses non-religion.
"" is neutral.
"In God We Trust" was added to U.S. paper currency in 1956.
"under God," was added to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance in 1957.
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Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 02:09:43 -0700
From: AACHAT <aachat@listserv.atheists.org>
Organization: American Atheists
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To: AACHAT <aachat@listserv.atheists.org>
Subject: [Atheist] "Anti-Christian Bigotry" Hype! (was: Attention ALL Christians)
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AACHAT
-- Fwd From: Atheist900 <Atheist900@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 21:11:25 EST
Subject: Fwd: Attention ALL Christians
[ModNote: This message has been forwarded more times than I can count,
the forwarded headers are longer than the entire message itself. As the
subject implies this message is being sent to ALL Christians.-MW]
[One of the notes from the forwarded message:]
You know that I try not to send lots of fwds, but this is something very
important. Please pray about this! God is in control....
[Point of origination:] From: CariT <CariT@aol.com>
PLEASE READ!!! THIS IS VERY SERIOUS!!!
Dear Ones, <A
HREF="http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/">
Contacting the Congress</A>
As you may know from listening to Point Of View recently, a federal
judge in Alabama --Judge Ire DeMent-- has ordered paid anti-religious
"monitors" to enter classrooms and assemblies in a rural school
district. In a permanent injunction, this federal judge:
* ORDERED A CRACK DOWN on any student observed discussing their faith
or praying out loud -- even quiet, private, voluntary prayers!!!
* ORDERED A CRACK DOWN on prayers traditionally given at graduation
assemblies, and by players and coaches at football games.
* ORDERED A CRACK DOWN on so-called "religious harassment." This
mandate has been interpreted by some frightened school officials as a
BAN ON CHRISTIAN STUDENTS WITNESSING to others, even at lunchtime -- or
Christian students wearing Jesus T-shirts and bracelets.
Penalties will be severe. But -- it gets worse!!!
You see, Judge DeMent has banned prayer by teachers and students
even during emergencies -- such as a life-threatening injury or a
national crisis. Profane sex ed. is okay, but not talk of God!!!
But worse of all, Judge DeMent has put the ultra-liberal ACLU in
control of indoctrination classes for every teacher and principal on
what is "acceptable" religious expression!!!
Local officials describe "an aura of fear, control, and
intimidation" as fearful teachers enforce this policy (or even go
further). Many Christian students have resisted and been EXPELLED.
If this order stands, the ACLU and other anti-Christian bigots
will file lawsuits in a campaign to spread the ruling to every school
and public place in America.
And if that succeeds, all our religious freedoms could topple
like dominoes in a windstorm! Please don't let that happen.
I'm writing this to ask if you will help me to stir up the
Christian community to build public pressure to overturn this ruling on
appeal. It can be done, but grassroots pressure will be crucial.
The governor of Alabama, Bob James, has said, "This ruling
cuts at the heart of all that is good in America and brings shame on our
nation." How right he is! He also declared he would resist "by every
legal and political means with every ounce of strength I possess." But
frankly, Gov. James will get nowhere against the Courts without a
massive public outcry -- a national outcry, not just in Alabama.
Christians can turn back this outrage if we spread the word and
pray hard.
But a "quick fix," though urgent in this case, is not enough. We
desperately need a deeper remedy: a Constitutional Amendment. For that
reason, people are urging Congress to pass a Constitutional Amendment
which would guarantee the right to free speech about religious matters
in public places, like schools.
Of course, the First Amendment already gives us that right. But
as you can see from decades of abusive rulings by federal judges like
Ire DeMent, the First Amendment has been twisted BEYOND REPAIR. Without
a change in the Constitution, abuses like this will continue.
Long-term, our only hope is the "Religious Freedom Amendment."
This is a carefully-worded by Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Ok.) This amendment
would force the courts to recognize religious freedom. It would repair
decades of anti-religious damage. it would be a life-giving heart
transplant for our laws and our nation. In fact, I'm hoping this
tragedy could even work to our advantege if we use it to illustrate the
crying need for a Religious Freedom Amendment.
Christians from Alabama are pleading with me to spread the word
about this emergency. Rep. Istook has also begged our audience to
support the Relgious Freedom Amendment. But I need your prompt
assistance. Please send this to everyone possible and tell everyone you
know about this, especially your senior pastor at your church. This is
very crucial. We must pray harder now than ever before. Remember, the
Amendment is up for vote this Winter.
Don't let this become something horrifyingly devistating. Thank you for
your time, patience, and effort. EVERYONE MUST KNOW!!!
PLEASE FOREWARD THIS TO EVERY E-MAIL ADDRESS YOU KNOW!!! Thanks.
_
/_/\/\ "And the Lord, He is the one who goes before
\_\ / you. He will be with you, He will not leave nor
/_/ \ forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
\_\/\ \ - Deut. 31:8 -
\_\/
<A HREF="http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/">Contacting the
Congress</A>
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