![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Most of my relatives seem to be conservative. Recently I was copied on an e-mail forward from a cousin, about the evil ACLU. It was about how they're the ones trying to abolish religion, and all that. They came up with a spamming strategy to shut them down, at least temporarily.
( here's the text )
I couldn't let this go by without responding.
I'm surprised at this message. This country was founded on the belief that everyone should have the right to express his opinion about religion or anything else. Freedom of religion and freedom of speech should not be restricted to Christians. The American Civil Liberties Union has always fought for the freedoms that our founding fathers wrote into our Constitution, and that our soldiers fight for.
The message below asserts that the "ACLU, (the American Civil Liberties Union) is the one suing the U.S. Government to take God, Christmas or anything Christian away from us." This is pure BS.
Check out these press releases from the ACLU...
What most people hold against the ACLU, is that they prevent the expression of religion in government situation, like schools and courts. That sounds like a bad thing, but what people fail to realize is that many people do not follow Christianity. Most Christians would be unhappy at being wished a joyous Hanukkah, so I don't understand why most Christians seem to take so much pleasure in wishing Jewish people a Merry Christmas. We wouldn't feel good being tried by a judge who professed to judge us by Allah's will, would we? How do you think a Muslim would feel being tried by a judge sitting in front of the Ten Commandments?
Maybe that doesn't bother you. How about this... Forcing our religion on others fosters an us-versus-them mentality. We don't need to set up another conflict. This sort of conflict is borne on the idea that might makes right. As soon as the "other side" believes that, they start gearing up for the conflict. And when they have the might, they will take the right. We don't want to foster this conflict. If the "other side" ever gains the might, we want them to grant everyone the right to practice their own religion. Let's do our part to grant them their religion now. Liberty and justice for all.
Love,
Kevin
I replied to all, and got only one response. That was from the one who originally sent it. He was apologetic, and explained that he agreed with me, and that he forwarded without thinking.
( here's the text )
I couldn't let this go by without responding.
I'm surprised at this message. This country was founded on the belief that everyone should have the right to express his opinion about religion or anything else. Freedom of religion and freedom of speech should not be restricted to Christians. The American Civil Liberties Union has always fought for the freedoms that our founding fathers wrote into our Constitution, and that our soldiers fight for.
The message below asserts that the "ACLU, (the American Civil Liberties Union) is the one suing the U.S. Government to take God, Christmas or anything Christian away from us." This is pure BS.
Check out these press releases from the ACLU...
Prompted by an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit, state prison officials in New Jersey have agreed to restore the right of a devout Christian prisoner to preach at weekly worship services and teach Bible study classes.
http://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/ordained-pentecostal-minister-can-preach-prison-after-aclu-lawsuit
"To deny prisoners their constitutional right to access religious materials is bad enough. But to attempt to do so in a way that skirts transparency and prevents the public from knowing what they are doing is entirely unacceptable."
http://www.aclu.org/prisoners-rights-religion-belief/aclu-demands-information-about-bureau-prisons-attempts-ban-religiou
"What the ACLU did do in 2006 was file a lawsuit seeking to protect the right of veterans and their families to choose religious symbols to engrave on headstones in federal cemeteries."
http://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech-religion-belief/aclu-and-religion-dont-believe-everything-you-read-internet
"Nashville should always protect its residents' right to worship freely," said David Briley, ACLU-TN Cooperating Attorney. "The old Parks Department policy imposed unreasonable restrictions on our client's ability to hold church services for those in need..."
http://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/aclu-tn-successfully-advocates-behalf-student-preachers
What most people hold against the ACLU, is that they prevent the expression of religion in government situation, like schools and courts. That sounds like a bad thing, but what people fail to realize is that many people do not follow Christianity. Most Christians would be unhappy at being wished a joyous Hanukkah, so I don't understand why most Christians seem to take so much pleasure in wishing Jewish people a Merry Christmas. We wouldn't feel good being tried by a judge who professed to judge us by Allah's will, would we? How do you think a Muslim would feel being tried by a judge sitting in front of the Ten Commandments?
Maybe that doesn't bother you. How about this... Forcing our religion on others fosters an us-versus-them mentality. We don't need to set up another conflict. This sort of conflict is borne on the idea that might makes right. As soon as the "other side" believes that, they start gearing up for the conflict. And when they have the might, they will take the right. We don't want to foster this conflict. If the "other side" ever gains the might, we want them to grant everyone the right to practice their own religion. Let's do our part to grant them their religion now. Liberty and justice for all.
Love,
Kevin
I replied to all, and got only one response. That was from the one who originally sent it. He was apologetic, and explained that he agreed with me, and that he forwarded without thinking.
