ACLU/constitution

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Rewriting the Constitution

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

By David Asman



The ACLU (search) calls itself a fierce guardian of the U.S. Constitution (search). It invariably cites the Constitution while working overtime to kick Boy Scouts and Santa Claus out of public gatherings.

But as James Taranto notes in his ?Best of the Web? column, the ACLU is guilty of re-writing the Constitution to suit its own needs. The ACLU Web site boldly proclaims: ?It is probably no accident that freedom of speech is the first freedom mentioned in the First Amendment.?

But that?s not true. Freedom of speech is not the first freedom mentioned in the First Amendment (search). Here?s the first part of the First Amendment, which the ACLU web site has excised from the Constitution: ?Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof?? Only then does the First Amendment mention freedom of speech.

Maybe it?s just a coincidence that the ACLU ignores the part of the Constitution that respects the free exercise of religion. But after a winter of challenging countless numbers of Christmas celebrations, we can only guess that challenging religious expression is more important to the ACLU than respecting it.

And that?s the Asman Observer

 

[Master Capper]

The ACLU is the Right Wing Republican Army's worst nightmare as they will oppose the moral majority's push to change the constitution to their moral beliefs. There is no doubt that the ACLU is a BEACON for FREEDOM to stop these hypocrites from altering a constitution that our forefathers wrote and died for.

 

[Eddie Haskell]

Well said, MC, well said.

Eddie

 

[smurphy]

unfortunatley though - the aclu probably hurts the efforts of more reasonable centrist democrats. they gotta stop these absurd cases that end up being a field day for fox and friends - essentially making everyone on the left look like socialist anti-american fools.

as a bush bashing democrat, i cringe whenever i hear a story that involves aclu. i know most of what they do is worth-while and flies under the radar, but there are enough of these high profile destructive things they do to only further divide people.

 

[Eddie Haskell]

Saul:

Good to see you. Obviously the ACLU will lose the public relations war due to the sensationalist conservative media coupled with your average American whose general level of depth and intelligence approaches that of Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton.

Despite the fact that the corporate media will denegrate and demean the positions taken by the aclu in the defense of civil liberties, this organization continues to fight against the onslaught of those who will systematically and under the veil of moral values, take away the freedoms of forefathers died for.

Granted those positions are fodder for the less illuminated, those of us with a modicum of intelligence realize that such organization is one of the few groups preventing this country from turning into 1930's Germany. Unfortuneately, however, I believe they will eventually lose the war.

Eddie

 

[smurphy]

I think many liberal organizations need to be pragamtic and realistic. Not EVERYTHING is worthy of an expensive fight that probably damages the big picture.

They are not obsolete, but they certainly don't need to be as active as they once were. Some causes simply fall into the "who cares?" category. I put things that involve perceived discrimination in that category. If your pursuit of happiness and basic freedoms are not being infringed - then it's not something I think should be a huge battle.

Make a fair legal playing ground, and really the rest is up to individuals. And honestly - the overwhelming majority of Americans are on the same page. We lose people when we start arguing over prayer groups in schools, Boy Scouts going to military bases, 10 Commandment statues, etc. They don't infringe on anybody's freedoms or pursuit of happiness.

Protect people legally - yes absolutely. But we can't make everyone feel good or included in every activity. Some things just have to be left up to individuals and their own personal strengths and weaknesses.

GOOD TO SEE U2 EDDIE!

 

[djv]

As Americans find out there getting it in the back side. If they understand what it means VS the Constitution. Americans always come down on the side of the Constitution.

 

[Eddie Haskell]

Saul:

Although I agree with much of what you post, I will take issue with you on this one. Seperate out the public relations aspect of the fights picked by the aclu from the civil liberties or constitutional defense they are trying to make.

Prayer groups in public schools, boy scouts etc. are not, on the surface, important issues but rather the slight constitutional infringements that such issues represent can be used to further additional more profound diminishment of protected rights. Kinda like a small hole in a dike which, unless noticed, checked and repaired, can grow into a full scale collapse.

With that said, these public relations disasters they take on do, in my opinion, infringe on individuals freedoms and happiness. Not directly, but over time. They can set a precedent which unless checked, could result in a 1930's Germany type society.

Eddie

 

[smurphy]

Well we have to draw a line somewhere. Not everything is going to be perfectly balanced on all social and religious levels. Unless it's direct, I just don't see the validity of much of it. I like the idea of a compromise viewpoint - where we always have watchdogs, but a more moderate line of what goes to far and what is worth fighting over. Everyone needs to choose battles wisely - the ACLU is no exception. The fact is they lose people and appear wasteful with many of these high profile battles.

 

[Eddie Haskell]

Saul:

I agree that they, with the help of the liberal Fox media, lose the public relations war. However, I look at it from a legal viewpoint. From that viewpoint, I cheer them on as one of the few, real, defenders of freedom.

Scoring points with the average joe, nope. Defending the dolts rights and freedoms without him realizing it, yep.

Eddie

 

[smurphy]

i think if we ran the show, we'd figure out a good compromise. no doubt the right jumps all over the slightest questionable thing they do. but they need to be pragmatic about this - to be effective - i think the aclu really does need the support of the average joe. if not, it can almost have a reverse effect.

 

[gardenweasel]

unfortunately for you guys,the majority of american people think of the aclu as a radical fringe left wing advocacy group.....

they would like you to believe that their singular goal is the unbiased, non-partisan defense of your civil liberties.........


they claim that they defend the freedoms established in our constitution in order to ensure, most especially, your first amendment rights.

they do not..... they seek to replace the democracy the founding fathers fought for with their own atheist vision.....

after all,several of THEIR founding fathers were members of the communist party....

and i`m no religious zealot.....far from it....these guys are the zealots...

never before in the history of this nation has any organization done more to promote moral decay as has the aclu..... the aclu has steadly blurred the clear distinction between liberty and license ..........

not surprised that they are the champions of atheists and ambulance chasers....

 

[I LOVE WR]

WELL PUT WEASEL. REALLY WELL PUT AND FACTUAL.

TIME TO WAKE UP AMERICA. PLEASE DONT LOSE THE RACE. AND LATELY YOU HAVE BEEN LOSING. PLEASE BRING BACK THE GOOD OLE USA I USED TO LOVE. PLEASE

 

[Master Capper]

If it was not for groups like the ACLU our country would be abiding by two sets of rules one for the common folks as dictated to us by crooks like Dick Cheney and one for the financial blue bloods that would give them greater license to steal under the veil of morality! The tide will begin to change on these idiots soon as the common man begins to lose rights and money and see's their sons and daughters being sacrificed for the powerful! People like Falwell and Cheney will tell YOU how YOU should live and what is acceptable but at the same these types of people will take from you until you have no more to give, if we did not have a counter to stop these devils then we would live in a veiled state of a Monarchy type of government with a semi caste system!

 

[smurphy]

Sanity is the counter to the Falwells and Cheneys. When the ACLU grabs hold of ridiculous fights, it forces people to choose between extremes. That doesn't help our situation.

I kind of understand all the babble from the Right about leaders of the Left being out of touch. In some ways, they are. If we are forced to choose between Fallwell and everything the ACLU does, then we are not left with good moderate centrist common sense.

Divided country. Where's the reasonable middle ground?

 

[djv]

Middle ground. Ask G W he has no understanding of middle. It's more like just piddle on the middle. It's like wall mart today crying that people just don't understand what a great company they are. Sam must be rolling over in his grave. I can remember when W M was proud to say 90% of our items are made here in America. Now W M is the biggest importer of goods from China in America. And 10% of there product is made here at home. Thats how those in power think of middle. When you only have yes men around you there is no way to understanding the other side of anything.

 

[smurphy]

yeah - no doubt. it's too bad. it's hard to get enough people on the proper side of these issues when the choices are so extreme. The Right does such a good job of painting everyone against them as being socialist that the imbalance continues to grow. There will be a breaking point if both sides don't genuinely move to the center.

 

[Eddie Haskell]

Ah my favorite right wing wack job. The aclu wants to keep god in church and out of government. Ironic how you say they are trying to replace democracy with atheism. Funny, I thought your republican friends are trying (and succeeding, I might add) to inject democracy with their view of religion. I mean really Weasel, doesnt the the big criminal in DC ask God what to do on major decisions?

The ACLU will fight to keep the Bible and 10 Commandments out of taxpayer funded public schools and governmental forums. True, and I mean true Americans who understand freedom and liberty support them. Mindless minions such as yourself oppose such organizations and will continue to goose step through life as long as there leaders tell them to do so. Your insecurity is showing.

By the way, if Mohammed Saleh or any other wealthy American muslim wants to put the Koran in Putnam County Courthouse as a favor for a large political donation, I assume you would have trouble with that and welcome the ACLU's opposition. You are a meek little minion.

Eddie

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Amazing I did know there were so many here that prefer gays to boyscouts--thinks its ok to say **** but don't mention God--are for child porography ect. Maybe you all ought to start your own communty in the heart of San Fran or DC where you can get some support.

 

[Eddie Haskell]

No Wayne:

Its not gays v. boy scouts.
Its freedom v. tyranny.

Eddie