There have been a couple of comments posted regarding my blog of January 8th “The Oath of Office Part 2”. I thank those that commented for correcting my errors in fact and judgment. They are correct, “the Knox School Board is in violation of nothing for ignoring a ruling of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.” I apologize for my ignorance.
They are not correct, however, when they say, “what happens in any other [federal court] circuit means absolutely nothing here.” A prudent person in a position of public trust does pay attention to the direction of court rulings (if for no other reason to maintain a watchful stance). The arguments in this case seem reasonable and the ruling seems quite likely to be upheld and become the law of the land. Why wouldn’t a prudent person pay attention?
I cannot agree with the implied statement that the ACLU does not protect our freedoms. Perhaps what the one commenter doesn’t like about the ACLU is that they fight for the rights of Nazis, Communists, anarchists, terrorists, Pentecostal snake-handlers, child rapists, pornographers, strip clubs, and all sorts of other very unpleasant citizens. They also fight for children’s rights to pray in school and for the right of churches to conduct their religious meetings as they see fit and for the right of you and I to petition our government. The ACLU has done more for you and I than they might imagine. Without the ACLU we would be in a country with much different freedoms than we enjoy today. Someday they may find that a governmental agency wants to take their house or business or freedom and they may need to find out the hard way that the only friend they have left in the world is the ACLU.
Perhaps you like the fact that our school board ignores the constitutional principal prohibiting the establishment of religion. If you do it is most likely because you agree with their particular religious views. If that is the case then you are simply a proponent of a particular religion and not in favor of other people’s religious freedom. Sadly, if other people don’t have religious freedom, neither do you. You only have the illusion of freedom because you happen to agree with the current powers that be.
They are not correct, however, when they say, “what happens in any other [federal court] circuit means absolutely nothing here.” A prudent person in a position of public trust does pay attention to the direction of court rulings (if for no other reason to maintain a watchful stance). The arguments in this case seem reasonable and the ruling seems quite likely to be upheld and become the law of the land. Why wouldn’t a prudent person pay attention?
I cannot agree with the implied statement that the ACLU does not protect our freedoms. Perhaps what the one commenter doesn’t like about the ACLU is that they fight for the rights of Nazis, Communists, anarchists, terrorists, Pentecostal snake-handlers, child rapists, pornographers, strip clubs, and all sorts of other very unpleasant citizens. They also fight for children’s rights to pray in school and for the right of churches to conduct their religious meetings as they see fit and for the right of you and I to petition our government. The ACLU has done more for you and I than they might imagine. Without the ACLU we would be in a country with much different freedoms than we enjoy today. Someday they may find that a governmental agency wants to take their house or business or freedom and they may need to find out the hard way that the only friend they have left in the world is the ACLU.
Perhaps you like the fact that our school board ignores the constitutional principal prohibiting the establishment of religion. If you do it is most likely because you agree with their particular religious views. If that is the case then you are simply a proponent of a particular religion and not in favor of other people’s religious freedom. Sadly, if other people don’t have religious freedom, neither do you. You only have the illusion of freedom because you happen to agree with the current powers that be.
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