ACLU or ACLJ - The Difference is Like Night and Day
Many people who don't vote and remain aloof to all political
participation are unaware of the long history of the American
Civil Liberties Union. That is one of the ACLU's greatest
strengths. Although much newer the ACLJ has quite a different
history and it would cause little embarrassment if it were
discovered by more Americans.
The ACLU has championed many causes since it was founded in 1920
by Mr. Roger Baldwin. Some of the most notable causes or rulings
the ACLU supported have to do with abortion rights, homosexual
and lesbian rights and removal of prayer from the public
schools. Some of its most notable positions were of lesser
significance but created much more press because they bordered
on the frivolous and were more a nuisance than a legitimate
cause. They adopted positions against bible studies and prayer
groups in public schools and the removal of manger scenes in
public during the Christmas season. Can't you hear the voices of
many grateful Americans in a resounding...gee thanks?
Not to be mistaken for something that actually qualifies as the
protection of our civil liberties is the new battlefield
conjured up by the ACLU in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The three
crosses adorning the city logo is a point of pride and history
for the residents there but for the ACLU, they have given cause
for it to rear its head and wield the battle axe. It has
resulted in making "what ever happened to common sense" being
the most oft used phrase in internet blogging history. But wait,
it doesn't stop there.
The latest fit the ACLU has begun; concerns prayer offered by
the U.S. military's chaplains. In short the ACLU thinks it
should be stopped. Whew! That's good thinking. I don't know
about you but the last thing I would want to have happen to me
just before I went to battle for my country is to have my
country tell me I couldn't go to God in prayer. In particular
they are trying to stop chaplains from praying in the name of
Jesus Christ. In a volunteer force made up of mostly Christian
men and women isn't that an infringement of their religious
freedom? In fact it is more than that.
The constitution says "Congress shall make no laws touching
religion, or to infringe the rights of conscience." What genius
does it take to see that the ACLU is actually crying
"unconstitutional" while they are proposing laws that are
clearly unconstitutional? Don't want to be crass but perhaps the
ACLU lawyers and aides should all take a day off to watch
Forrest Gump together. If I remember correctly the most often
repeated line in that movie is, "stupid is, as stupid does"
Diametrically opposite the ACLU is the newly formed but no less
formidable, ACLJ. The American Center for Law and Justice
founded in 1990 is headed by Jay Sekulow who is the ACLJ's Chief
Counsel. He is a well respected advocate for constitutional
freedoms and has argued many cases before the U.S, Supreme Court.
The Center for Law and Justice has successfully argued cases and
supported positions in other cases which resulted in an
impressive list of good common sense decisions and rulings. A
short list of the accomplishments of the ACLJ is as follows.
* A guarantee for minors who want to be involved in the
political process by protecting their free speech rights in
political affairs.
* Rulings to protect the constitutional rights of religious
groups to obtain equal access to public facilities.
* Protection for the free speech rights of pro-life demonstrators
* The right for public school students to form and participate
in religious organizations such as Bible clubs.
The ACLJ is currently on the radio waves daily soliciting
signatures for a petition to stop the ban on prayer by the
military chaplains. The response is said to be very powerful at
the least. Upwards of ten thousand people a day are asking to
have their names added to the petitions.
It is shameful that Americans must pound away to ward off
organizations like the ACLU whose agenda looks like it
originated in la-la land. The constitution is under attack by
those who feign that they are working to protect it. After all
this is America and they have a constitutional right to mess
with the constitution. Let's not mess with their right to do
that, but lets hope and pray (if they don't stop us) that they
don't prevail.
The Bible tells the believer to respect the rulings and laws
provided by the secular rulers because the powers that be, are
all ordained of God. Romans 13:1. Almost all bible believing
Christians take this mandate seriously and endeavor to be law
abiding citizens. You would think that this respect for secular
law would hold things in balance between those who believe in
the Bible and revere the constitution and groups like the ACLU,
but it does not. The ACLU seems bent on removing all reference
and allusion to God on any level. What would the result be if
they were successful in this plight? I choose to let the Bible
answer that question.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which
are not convenient; Romans 1:28