A Godless Public Square?
Earlier this month, the ACLU issued this press release: “ACLU Tells High School to Allow Students to Protest ACLU at Football Game”.
In September, the brain trust that runs the high school in Gate City, Virginia allowed a prayer to be delivered over the P.A. system at a football game. In response to this event, the Virginia ACLU sent a warning letter to the school reminding them to read the Constitution before violating it next time, or we’ll have to haul their ass into court.
Apparently this school has done a very poor job educating their students about the Constitution, because many of their students can’t comprehend why the ACLU is a bunch of godless assholes who—at this very moment—are no doubt hard at work on a time machine that will allow them to go back two millennia to Bethlehem and say to Mary: “No room at the inn? No worries! There’s room at the Planned Parenthood clinic!”
Anyway, these students are planning to protest the ACLU’s explanatory letter about the First Amendment not being optional. To quote the ACLU’s press release:
According to news reports, the students have now produced more than 1,000 t-shirts, which they plan to wear to this Friday’s game. The front of the t-shirts shows the school’s initials, a cross, and the words, “I still pray…” On the back is, “In Jesus’ name.”
Apparently the school was a bit nervous about this, because the ACLU is, of course, a rabid wolverine that attacks without provocation and would certainly be pissed off about this.
So now the ACLU had to write them another letter, this one saying “You freakin’ morons! The T-shirt protest is individuals expressing their religious opinion. That’s completely different from a state-mandated prayer! Jesus effing Christ! Have you people even read the Constitution? Maybe it’s a comprehension thing. What did you get on your SATs? Never mind. We don’t want to know!” (I’m paraphrasing here.)
Anyway, the reason I’m bringing this incident to your attention is because it shows us what the ACLU is really about. The ACLU is defending the rights of students to protest the ACLU. How many other organizations are that confident about their values that they would encourage people to do this?
The broader issue this illustrates is the whole “leftist agenda” is exposed here. This is as far as it goes. A refrain that fundies repeat constantly is how The Left™ wants to create a “Godless public square”. Look at some of Jerry Falwell’s rectal bleeding from 2003 as just one example.
We aren’t saying that God shouldn’t be in public view. We’re only saying that God shouldn’t be in government.
(H/T Happy Jihad’s House of Pancakes)
(Image from turgidson)
October 25th, 2009 at 11:52 am
From the movie “The American President”:
That has got to be one of the best in your face I’m from the left and damn proud of it moments in American cinematic history. That this such a moment and has the benefit of being reality is even better!
October 25th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Another Steve:
I found that clip on YouTube:
Here’s a sad/pathetic comment that somebody left there:
October 25th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
That really is a great scene.
October 26th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Too bad. That would have been a GREAT letter!
October 27th, 2009 at 7:19 am
It’s moments like these that make me DAMN proud to be a card-carrying member of the ACLU. Damn that organization is awesome. I just love how they only care about the issues. They will fight against and defend the same people on two different issues, at the same time, without batting an eyelash.
It’s that sort of true-to-the-core love of civil liberties (hate what you say, blah blah, give my life to defend your right to say it) that is missing in The Village politics these days.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
The ACLU fights for all, not just the left. It just seems that way because the right is always trying to rewrite the constitution.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Well, the only situation where the latter is appropriate sort of presupposes the former, doesn’t it? I mean, if the Almighty or any other extant divine being should want to be in government, they’ll have to run for office, which means they’re going to have to go public, get citizenship, go on the campaign trail, and generally get in the public view. Of course, none of them actually are in the public view, or most of the atheists I know wouldn’t be. Because, y’see, they’re athests because there isn’t evidence, like a divine being walking around kissing babies and glad-handing voters. But I digress.
Although now that I think about it you may have been talking about people who claim to talk for God not belonging in government. While I’m not in favor of barring any citizen from running, in my personal experience, most people claiming to talk for God are either hucksters or insane. Occasionally they’re both. Neither category of people are the ones I’d want in office, so I’ve got to agree with you there.
Y’know, now that I think about it, several government agencies employ foreign nationals, and those folks could be considered ‘in government’. Of course, that would mean our hypothetical divine being would need a green card. The one we generally natter on about didn’t seem big on long term relationships, so marrying for one is out. Maybe showing unique work skills? I hear government sorts drink a lot; maybe turning water into wine could be considered a green-card-worthy skill?
OK, it’s late, as you can tell. Still, I must say this move by the ACLU is just brilliant. Kudos to them.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
KennyCelican:
Based on your rambling comment, I’m guessing you’ve been dipping into the holy water yourself.