... far and wide!!
Are you going to continue sitting on your arse and let this happen
to Your State?
The pain I'm enduring for the fate of out Nation
is unbearable and I'm more than ready to fight
those b & b's supporting the forces of darkness.
I wonder if the rapist appointed this bitch,
Judge Jennifer Coffman?
--
Bard
WEDNESDAY
MAY 17
2000
TESTING THE FAITH
Banned in Kentucky:
God, country, etc.
10 Commandments, Mayflower Compact,
Declaration of Independence, U.S. motto
By Julie Foster
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com
Today, schools and courthouses in eastern
Kentucky are taking down displays of historical
documents -- including the Mayflower Compact
and the preamble to the state's constitution -- in
compliance with an order from Federal District
Judge Jennifer Coffman, who said the displays
are a violation of the First Amendment.
Set up over the course of last year in Harlan
County schools and the courthouses of
McCreary and Pulaski counties, the displays
have the effect of "conveying a very specific
governmental endorsement of religion," says
Coffman's order.
Beginning as postings of the Ten
Commandments, the exhibits were augmented
to include historical documents that show
America's reliance on Judeo-Christian value
systems in civic life.
According to Coffman's ruling, issued May 5,
the additional documents were added by the
schools and counties who "conceded that they
did so in an attempt to bring the display within
the parameters of the First Amendment and to
insulate themselves" from a lawsuit filed by
American Civil Liberties Union in November of
last year.
The judge claimed, however, the revised
displays still do not pass constitutional muster,
as they were specifically designed to promote
Christianity.
Displays contained the following documents:
an excerpt from the Declaration of
Independence, saying, "All men ... are
endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness";
the preamble to the Constitution of
Kentucky, which states, "We, the people of
the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful
to Almighty God for the civil, political and
religious liberties we enjoy, and invoking
the continuance of these blessings, do
ordain and establish this Constitution";
the national motto, "In God we trust";
a page from the congressional record of
Wednesday, Feb. 2, 1983, Vol. 129, No. 8,
which declares 1983 as the "Year of the
Bible" and lists the Ten Commandments;
a proclamation by President Ronald
Reagan marking 1983 the "Year of the
Bible";
a proclamation by President Abraham
Lincoln designating April 30, 1863, a
"National Day of Prayer and Humiliation";
an excerpt from President Lincoln's "Reply
to Loyal Colored People of Baltimore
upon Presentation of a Bible" reading,
"The Bible is the best gift God has ever
given to man";
the Mayflower Compact, in which the
colony's founders invoke "the name of
God" and explain that their journey was
taken, among other reasons, "for the glory
of God and advancement of the Christian
faith."
Because displays originally included only the
Ten Commandments, and because the revised
displays still contained copies of them, Coffman
refers to the displays throughout her ruling as
"the Ten Commandments."
Defendants, including Judge Darrell BeShears of
Pulaski County, who set up a display in his
courthouse, maintain their purpose was to teach
residents and students about American
religious history and the foundations of the
modern state.
However, Coffman said defendants "narrowly
tailored" their selection of "foundational
documents to incorporate only those with
specific references to Christianity and texts that,
while promulgated by the federal government,
were chosen solely for their religious
references."
"The display does not appear to have been
intended to educate ... [c]ounty residents, in a
balanced or accurate manner, about the
traditions and texts that were drawn upon by
this nation's founders or about the complex role
religion has played in this country's history,"
she continued.
Coffman admitted "a display of some of these
documents may not have the effect of endorsing
religion in another context," but the defendants'
motives and lack of a posted explanation that
the display was to show "the documents'
historical significance" render the exhibits
unconstitutional.
Harlan, Pulaski and McCreary counties asked
Coffman for a stay of the ruling during the
appeals process, but the request was denied on
the basis that the anonymous plaintiffs "will be
substantially harmed ... because they will
continue to suffer the violation of their
constitutional rights."
"We certainly agree with her ruling," said Jeff
Vessels, executive director of the ACLU of
Kentucky. "[Coffman's] denial of the stay
demonstrates that there is significant and
immediate harm to the plaintiffs and that, in her
judgment, there is little chance that these
displays could be found constitutional."
Vessels indicated the counties had ulterior
motives in including historical documents in the
display.
"The excerpts were selected because of their
religious content," he said. "She saw right
through that."
"The courts typically look at motivation or the
purpose ... and they also look at the effect,"
Vessels told WorldNetDaily. "In this case, the
purpose and effect [was] to clearly promote
religion. The context is very critical. These kinds
of displays really need to be looked at on a
case-by-case basis."
Attorney Johnnie Turner, who represents the
Harlan County schools, told WND the exhibited
documents are mistakenly referred to as
"excerpts."
"The only thing you can say is an excerpt ... is
the Declaration of Independence and the
preamble to the Kentucky Constitution," he
said.
Each display in Harlan County schools was
accompanied by copies of a resolution passed
by the school board on Dec. 30, 1999,
encouraging the display of historical documents
regardless of religious content, and a Kentucky
statute authorizing the exhibit of founding,
historical documents.
In fact, KRS 158.195, passed by the Kentucky
General Assembly in 1992, states unequivocally:
"There shall be no content-based censorship of
American history or heritage in the
Commonwealth based on religious references in
these writings, documents, and records."
The counties have filed for an appeal, though
attorneys may request that the case be
remanded for clarification of the ruling.
"The judge says we cannot post anything
similar. Does she mean we cannot post the
Kentucky Constitution?" asked Turner, also a
state legislator.
In reference to the Lincoln quote included in the
exhibits, Turner asks, "How much of that
document do you have to post" before it
becomes constitutional?
"The American people better look at what's
happening in these cases," he urged. "We are
allowing ... our history to be censored and
suppressed. Do we have to ask a judge each
time, 'Do we have enough of [this document]
up?' Or can the ACLU come in and say [the
document] had a religious intent?"
"This holding is scary, and it should be scary to
every American," Turner added. "The fight has
just begun."
"With the good Lord's help, we shall win," the
attorney concluded. "We need the prayers and
support of Americans."
Readers can express their views on this or any other
public policy issue at WorldNetDaily's Legislative
Action Center, which provides instant access to state
and federal representatives, media outlets and
additional legislative information.
Julie Foster is a staff reporter for WorldNetDaily.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_fosterj_news/20000517_xnfoj_banned_ken.shtml
BUCHANAN-Reform
http://gopatgo2000.com/default.htm
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There's not a dime bit of difference between a DemoRat and a RepubRat,
they're simply two wings of the same bird of prey which pecks at your
earnings while insidiously devouring your Freedom.
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