I think you should rather like the ACLU when it defends the rights of all citizens, not just the Christian ones.

- Bob Brandon

I may be wrong; I haven't done the research to back this up and my feelings may be based only on what has been publicized, but the impression I get is that while the purpose of the ACLU is good (in our system those who have only a small voice still have the rights of the rest of us, and the stated purpose of the ACLU seems to be to stand up for those rights) in recent years there seems to be a consious decision on their part to go after Christians.  And at times the results of this has been that, rather than groups having their rights protected, Christians have had rights taken away from them.

Again this is not a well-researched view, just an impression.

Let's just say this goes back to the idea that I can be taken seriously when I am not  being serious.  I just thought this was funny.  That's all.   I wasn't making any big comment about the ACLU; I just thought it was funny that these who many supposed were sworn enemies of the ACLU were joining up.  Just thought it would make a good bad sitcom.   :alien: No big political statement intended. :saint:

Bob Barr and Dick Armey.

Bob Barr and Dick Armey Join ACLU

So, are they card-carrying members like mike Dukakis?

Evolutionary theory cannot be verified by scientific methodology... so now do we get to quit teaching it as "everyone believes it" faith-fact?

Marc
[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote [/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]My idea of diversity isn't that no one gets to display their faith but rather that we all respect each other and allow those who differ from us to also respect their faiths.  I realize that worst-case-scenarios are possible, and are usually used to discourage this, but I think that for the most part these are a result of the polarization you mention.
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So, are you saying that the abuses result from the polarization, rather than the polarization from the abuses?  

That could be true.  However, I find it important to consider that 1) the United States is one of the most secular countries, in that the state neither encourages nor discourages any particular religion.  Don't most other countries either have an official religion (even if that official religion may be at times atheism)?  2) The United States is also one of the most actively Christian countries.  Don't we have higher church attendance, etc, than most of those 'official church' countries?  

Couldn't it be that our strong dedication to keeping religion out of government AND government out of religion is the reason behind our high level of practicing Christianity?  In that case, wouldn't the ACLU actually be doing the Lord's work?  

Of course, it is an unpopular and no doubt unpleasant job to protect individual liberties, against the wishes of the group.  But do we actually believe that Christianity would thrive better in a society with LESS freedom?

Yes, people should respect each other.  But what do we do about people who are so sure they are right about everything that they simply refuse to respect the ideas of those with
whom they disagree?  Who will stand up for the individual?

A better way to solve the problem might be for those regular, everyday Christians to stop letting the lunatic right claim to stand for them.

Kari

By the way, regarding the apparent unfairness of allowing the Menorah and Star and Crescent symbols while disallowing the Nativity scenes- the star and crescent isn't an official symbol of Islam.  It didn't even come into use until something like 800 years after Islam began, and many devout Muslims do not accept its use at all (Islam considers using any symbol to represent God to be unlawful).  And with Hanuka becoming as commercialized as Christmas, you could make a good case for the Menorah being as secular a symbol as the Christmas tree.

Also, Lee[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote [/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]The A.C.L.U. defended a school who forced freshman to read and report on the Koran, but fight to make sure schools don't have any readings from the Bible whatsoever.
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Did you read rhbrandon's posting, four or five before yours?  I thought it made it clear that your statement above is not true.  The aclu official position is that Bible as literature (just as the Koran is presented), or the history of religion, or comparative religion, IS appropriate and unobjectionable in the public school.

btw, anyone reading posts of mine in the past week or two that seem to make little sense, check and see if the problem involves the letters "s" "w" or "x".  I'm having a bit of problem with arthritis in that finger.

(for example, in the above post the word that should have been "news" was originally "new").

I was expecting the article about the NYC public schools (allowing religious holiday decor for everyone but Christians) to feature some sort of input from the ACLU.

They weren't weighing in on it probably because they would be forced to defend the Christian viewpoint in this case.  They'll let the Catholic group do it & save their time & money for some other situation where they won't be trapped defending Jesus on the side of the angels. :angel:  :angel:  :angel: