This particular judge has quite a history. Not a good one,either. I forget the details, but he can be googled. I think he falls into the "activist judge" category. Typical for the Bay Area.
I think you're getting a rather warped description of what I get on. IIRC, the teacher in question was handing out a pamphlet containing various out of context quotes from Colonial era writings and using them to suggest the country was intended to be a Christian theocracy.
The school told him to stop handing it out.
He then goes around claiming he's been told he can't show students The Declaration of Independence because They Hate America (TM)
Where is "separation of church and state" in the Constitution?
The First Amendment says that Congress cannot establish an official religion. Last time I checked a dictionary "establishment" and "separation" were two very different things, even in the late 1700's and early 1800's.
"Thomas Jefferson is often cited as a strict separationist who insisted on religion and government being kept apart. During George Washington's term as president, Jefferson was president of the District of Columbia school board. As such, he made the Bible one of the primary reading texts for the District of Columbia public schools. Why? In his own words, Jefferson noted, "I have always said, and always will say, that the studious perusal of the sacred volume will make us better citizens." Jefferson also used to be remembered for saying, "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis—a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that His justice cannot sleep forever."
Me too Ed. I just do not know what to say regarding these babbling idiots who try so hard to extinguish the knowledge of our founding. I'm eclectic. I've been dead, I think I have a certain perspective. I believe stuff such as this was spoken of in Revelations, yes? These people are in a total world of hurt come "that time". As for which G/god/s/ess/es you choose to worship, that does not change the history of this nation and the content of the founding documents. Exposing the children to this documentary content does not establish religion, it merely shows the thought processes of those who wrote said document. Uhm, wait. With todays political environment, that's EXACTLY what the DON'T want. To have people see the reasoning established, and the thought of freedom to be renewed. Never mind, answered my own question there, now didn't I? Gorsh, heh heh.
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JS-Kit/Echo comments for article at http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2008/07/on-this-independence-day.html (4 comments)
Tentative mapping of comments to original article, corrections solicited.
This particular judge has quite a history. Not a good one,either. I forget the details, but he can be googled. I think he falls into the "activist judge" category. Typical for the Bay Area.
I think you're getting a rather warped description of what I get on. IIRC, the teacher in question was handing out a pamphlet containing various out of context quotes from Colonial era writings and using them to suggest the country was intended to be a Christian theocracy.
The school told him to stop handing it out.
He then goes around claiming he's been told he can't show students The Declaration of Independence because They Hate America (TM)
Guys,
Where is "separation of church and state" in the Constitution?
The First Amendment says that Congress cannot establish an official religion. Last time I checked a dictionary "establishment" and "separation" were two very different things, even in the late 1700's and early 1800's.
"I wonder what Thomas Jefferson would think?"
That's not hard. All we have to do is check his actions:
"Thomas Jefferson is often cited as a strict separationist who insisted on religion and government being kept apart. During George Washington's term as president, Jefferson was president of the District of Columbia school board. As such, he made the Bible one of the primary reading texts for the District of Columbia public schools. Why? In his own words, Jefferson noted, "I have always said, and always will say, that the studious perusal of the sacred volume will make us better citizens." Jefferson also used to be remembered for saying, "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis—a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that His justice cannot sleep forever."
Me too Ed. I just do not know what to say regarding these babbling idiots who try so hard to extinguish the knowledge of our founding. I'm eclectic. I've been dead, I think I have a certain perspective. I believe stuff such as this was spoken of in Revelations, yes? These people are in a total world of hurt come "that time". As for which G/god/s/ess/es you choose to worship, that does not change the history of this nation and the content of the founding documents. Exposing the children to this documentary content does not establish religion, it merely shows the thought processes of those who wrote said document. Uhm, wait. With todays political environment, that's EXACTLY what the DON'T want. To have people see the reasoning established, and the thought of freedom to be renewed. Never mind, answered my own question there, now didn't I? Gorsh, heh heh.
Note: All avatars and any images or other media embedded in comments were hosted on the JS-Kit website and have been lost; references to haloscan comments have been partially automatically remapped, but accuracy is not guaranteed and corrections are solicited.
If you notice any problems with this page or wish to have your home page link updated, please contact John Hardin <jhardin@impsec.org>