I was originally going to write this week's post similarly to the way I've written past ones; namely, with links to other stories and with personal commentary. However, something has happened (and indeed IS happening) in my hometown this week as Pace High School seniors repare to graduate. And I feel the need to weigh in on what I feel is about as shameful, un-American, and just downright wrong an injustice as could be done to a person or a group of American citizens.
Here goes.
Back in January, Judge Casey Rodgers issued a federal ruling, at the behest of the American Communist Lawyers Union (ACLU) stating that baccalaureate services during graduation week could not be organized by faculty and administrators...despite the fact that Pace High and just about every other school in the two-county area has done so for decades, without so much as a peep of opposition out of anyone...except the ACLU, of course. Their contention is that doing so violates the "no establishment" clause of the First Amendment.
I wrote a viewpoint column shortly thereafter that was published by the Pensacola News Journal and subsequently created quite a firestorm...not to mention a "debate" of sorts with a local attorney who strongly disagreed with me. My column and the one written afterward by the attorney can be read here.
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=69080955&blogId=468140545
This week, however, the ACLU has taken their secular crusade a step further and is apparently threatening litigation if school officials allow "hand-picked" students, such as the class president and others to speak at graduation. In other words, students who are elected by the student body to REPRESENT the student body, according to the ACLU, are incapable of doing so because...well...because they might say something intolerant or pray in an intolerant way. That's why!
Let me just go ahead and say it: I know church-state relations is a controversial topic. I personally am against school- or any government-sponsored religion of any kind. Personally, I am in favor of an accomodation policy whereby the majority of students in a given school (not teachers, not government officials, and certainly not a federal judge backed by a rabble of litigators) determine what role and shape religion should play in their academic life. And that is precisely what takes place on a regular basis at Pace High School and that is precisely why I (along with so many others) am so enraged about this.
The students were not "hand-picked" by ANYONE, unless you count being democratically elected by the student body as being "hand-picked." And anybody familiar with Pace High School (which, by the way, pretty much disqualifies every lawyer at the ACLU) knows that those democratically-elected students leaders give an annual speech at graduation each year. So what is the problem?
Well, the problem is simply this: for years, the ACLU has set itself squarely against the religious heritage and principles that have been the very foundation of our nation's government and way of life. Their intent is to completely secularize America. And this not through democratically-elected processes, which historically is how decisions have been made regarding our national life, but through judicial fiat with activist lawyers and agenda-driven judges making the call. What results, of course, is a rendering of the public square devoid of any religious influence (particularly Judeo-Christian influence) and, as the above quote by the late Carl F.H. Henry states, an erosion of the vitality of our democracy. Make no mistake, the ACLU is succeeding step by miniscule step. And they are now succeeding in my backyard.
So what can we do? First of all, we can (no, we MUST) pray. Pray for Principal Frank Lay of Pace High School, who has truly become one of my heroes throughout this whole ordeal. His steadfast faith, decisive leadership, and commitment to the Bill of Rights is a model for us all to follow. Pray for Santa Rosa County superintendent Tim Wyrosdick who is having to make perhaps some career decisions regarding the events of recent days. Pray for strength and wisdom for him. Pray for Judge Casey Rodgers, that God would change her heart about the decisions that she's made, give her a repentant spirit and give her wisdom regarding future decisions. And pray the same for those who work for the ACLU.
Our God is still sovereign and HE IS ABLE!
Secondly, we need to get involved. If you're on facebook, then the best way I can tell you to insert yourself into this citizen movement is to join the group "Let them speak." Some reading this may already have joined...THANK YOU. For the rest, it's simple: go to facebook "search," type in "Let them speak," and join up once the page appears. If you want specific information about how to really be involved, you can contact Lauren Welch, the group moderator.
Please step up and help out any way you can. Maybe you've never even been to tiny Pace, FL and have no personal connection to Pace High School whatsoever. Don't let that be an excuse for not getting involved. We need you. We need your voice. America's heritage depends on it. Believe me, if the ACLU can have some success in this little corner of the Bible belt, imagine what they can do where you live. (That's not a knock on any particular area of the country, by the way. However, anybody that is familiar with Pace, FL knows first-hand what kind of evangelical influence this region has).
Let's defeat judicial tyranny together and send a message.
God bless.
http://www.aclu.org/religion/schools/36568prs20080827.htmlhttp://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090523/NEWS01/905230315&s=d&page=10
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