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ERASING CHRISTIANITY...

Wolseley

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feral said:
In America, Christianity is the mainstream religion. The majority of Americans are Christians, or give lipservice to that religion in any case. Everyone has already heard about Christianity, and Christianity is widely accepted and at least partially understoof by nearly every American. Giving Christian lessons would be seen as endorsing the religion, as Christianity is the majority religion and the most likely to be made into the state religion, if one were declared...


So teaching students about a mainstream religion is endorsement of the religion, while teaching them about a non-mainstream religion is not.

Interesting interpretation. I'm not sure it has any legal precedent, but it's interesting nonetheless.

Islam, on the other hand, is virtually unknown by most.... It makes sense that they learn the basics in high school.

You misunderstand me. I have no problem with teaching students about different faiths or cultures. I am merely pointing out the total hypocrisy displayed by the ACLU and their ilk when the religion in question is Christianity and not something else. That, and the fact that I think there are vastly better ways of teaching the culture than to require students to role-play.

Do you think when kids take Spanish in high school the point is to make them Mexican citizens, disloyal to America, eager to emulate Che? No, of course not. The point is to EDUCATE them and give them essential knowledge that will help them in life. Same with this course on Islam.

Again, there are better ways of doing it than role-playing, IMHO.

And Jihad means the struggle to survive and have faith in the face of oppression. The Qur'an doesn't mention crashing into buildings... ;)
I am aware of what the term jihad means. I was not under the impression that it was being discussed in this particular thread. :)
 
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revolutio

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Wolseley said:
Read it. Unconvinced there is not an underlying agenda. Sorry.
What agenda do they have and how do they enact it?

Any anti-Christian agenda they may have is clearly not entirley consistent since they do accept cases for a Christian cause. Plus you have to consider your own attitudes towards them. Many Christians feel the same way thus making them less likely to turn towards the ACLU for help when they could and should.
 
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USincognito

a post by Alan Smithee
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I generally prefer to get my information on cases like this from the decision rather than some propagana outlet like the link in the OP, but I can't find anything in the 9th C. Court's recent descions using it's internal seach, a hand check of all cases from 9 and 10 Dec or a check of Google aside from outraged accomodationist sites.
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/new...by+date?OpenView&Start=1&Count=100&Expand=1.1

Strange.
 
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FutureTeller

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Buck72

Here you are a clear evidence on your topic!! Please read it esp. the colored lines!!


mediamonitors.net/khodr60.html

George W. Bush: Albuquerque, N.M., the Washington Post,

May 31, 2002



President George W. Bush: State of the Union Address: January 29, 2002

Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, members of Congress, and My Fellow Americans:

It is with deep pride and without prejudice that I report to you tonight that the State of the White and Rich Judeo-Christian Union is Strong. Never before in our history has American power, American domination, and American values been as strong, as feared, as respected, and as welcomed in the world as it is today. Today the American flag, the American military, the American C.I.A. and the American F.B.I. are present in over 100 nations to ensure peace, compliance, and freedom from fear and terrorism. Americans should be proud of me, their government, and the outstanding men and women in uniform who sacrifice the comforts of life for our American lifestyle.

My fellow Americans, I am proud to report that the Taliban is out and Kabul is free, that Osama Bin Laden and Mullah Omar are either dead, dying, or hiding, but not for long, for I am determined to bring them to justice "dead or alive", the Afghan women are shedding their burkas for good old American tank tops, that girls are going back to school reading "How the West Was Won", and that the most important cultural icon of western civilization, television, is back. Afghans are now happy and free to roam the country planting poppy seeds. Americans and especially American children should be proud of their generosity of sending money and food to Afghanistan. It warms my heart to see Afghan children enjoying my favorite foods, peanut butter, jelly and pretzels. Although the war in Afghanistan is winding down, we still have a long way to go in many other Arab and Muslim nations. "We won't stop until every Arab and Muslim is disarmed, unveiled, shaven, irreligious, indoctrinated, peaceful, and loves America." I am determined to use all of our resources to bring that about before my next election.

What a difference a year makes. A year ago on February 27, 2001, my entire State of the Union address focused almost exclusively on domestic issues. Last year our main domestic issue was how to spend the enormous budget surplus. The Congressional Budget Office, a year ago was forecasting $5.6 trillion in surpluses over the next ten years. It now envisions only $1.6 trillion instead. For the next two years, CBO says, the federal budget will run in the red. Four Trillion dollars is a small price to pay to protect our freedoms, our civilization, fight Bin Laden and give a large tax cut to wealthy Americans.

In that address I said: "Too much government crowds out initiative and hard work, private charity and the private economy. Our new governing vision says government should be active, but limited; engaged, but not overbearing.


Education is not my top priority -- education is my top priority and, by supporting this budget, you'll make it yours, as well. We have a serious energy problem that demands a national energy policy. America has a window of opportunity to extend and secure our present peace by promoting a distinctly American internationalism. We will work with our allies and friends to be a force for good and a champion of freedom. We will work for free markets, free trade and freedom from oppression. Nations making progress toward freedom will find America is their friend. We will promote our values. We will promote the peace. And we need a strong military to keep the peace"

Well, no one could have foreseen the coming of Bin Laden and the impact he'll have on our nation and its domestic and foreign policy. Yet, despite the evildoers, I kept my promise to the American people with one exception. "Our "war on terrorism" has forced me to immensely expand our government's budget for Homeland security and the Pentagon. We've had to expand our role in the realm of security, intelligence, F.B.I. and C.I.A Surveillance on Muslim Americans of whom thousands were arrested and detained without due process, we've severely curtailed civil rights and liberties, we've imposed limits on the media and free speech here and on Al-Jazeera Television, and we've federalized airport screening. Americans support me on these important security nations. The presence of non- white, non-Judeo Christians in our country whether legally or illegally constitute a risk to our nation" and as your President I am entrusted with your safety. Our immigration policy will change to reflect our security concerns. In due time, New York City that has suffered so much will be a homogenous white city again.

"I did deliver the tax cut to the wealthy as promised and am working for further tax cuts despite the budget deficits. I have worked with the Congress to pass Senator Kennedy's Education bill. With Secretary Rumsfeld's help "The Stud" (laughter and applause), Dr. Rice, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, the Congressional Jewish Delegation, and A.I.P.A.C. (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee) we have developed a uniquely American internationalist foreign policy. America will no longer be a party to any International Treaty that jeopardizes our economic or military objectives. We now, using my friend Sharon's word "Irrelevant", consider all International Organizations that oppose any American-Israeli national interest objective to be "Irrelevant", organizations like the United Nations, the European Union, the International Criminal Court, the World Trade Organization, U.N. Commission on Human Rights, U.N. Commission on Refugees, the World Health Organization, the Arab League which in my opinion should be dissolved immediately, the International Red Cross, the Vatican, and all Muslim organizations." Although fighting the "evil doers" has consumed most of the surplus, nevertheless I am proposing we spend $5B, which is less than we send Israel every year, to help our needy senior citizens with their prescription drug costs. Anything more would have to come out of our special foreign aid package to Israel. I am also asking for another $50 Billion increase in our defense budget for a total of $400 Billion for FY 2003 as well as $38 Billion increase for Homeland Security. My administration did address and formulate a national energy policy spearheaded by V. P. Cheney (he's the one behind me to the right) who worked very closely with Enron, Exxon-Mobil, and other energy related industries. Mr. Cheney has however asked me to invoke Executive Privilege and the Fifth Amendment against Self-incrimination, which I am doing, against any attempt to ascertain the makeup or minutes of the Enron Energy Task Force. "We will immediately begin drilling across our land for oil as well as embarking on an ambitious project of building a direct under water pipeline from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, Iraq, and Iran to New York, at their expense to ensure uninterrupted oil. "
As I said to this body on September 20, 2001 "Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done. Al-Qaida is to terror what our Italian Mafia is to crime But stupidly its goal is not making money; its goal is remaking the world and imposing its radical beliefs on people everywhere."

Well, turn around is fair play. It is now our turn as Prime Minister Blair said "Let us reform the world in our image". Thus by the Grace of our Judeo-Christian God it is us, the civilized white people of the world who will impose our decent, loving, and libertarian beliefs on a world hungry for our money and message. "Men and women will no longer be forced to wear beards or cover their faces and bodies. From now on the world is free to drink, smoke, have hetero or homosexual sex including incest and sodomy, affairs, rob, kill, drive fast cars and enjoy porno movies and videos in the privacy of their hotels or bedrooms. Our companies that produce such products will have unfettered access to the backward nations who've denied such freedoms for their people." The Muslim terrorists are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, to hijack Islam itself. That is why we in the civilized Judeo-Christian world separate our politics from our faith, separate our wars and our terrorism from faith that is why you don't see reported in the media--Jewish or Catholic Terrorism-- when we kill it is not done in the name of our faith, it is done to defend our freedom and our civilization. Why do they hate us? They hate what I see right here in this chamber, men and women elected democratically by the money from Enron, Oil, Telecommunications, Insurance Companies, Lawyers, and most importantly they hate that our Jewish American citizens spend millions to get your undying support of our only ally in the world, beside England, Israel. They hate our freedoms, our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other. They want to overthrow existing governments in many Muslim countries, such as "Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan." We won't let that happen. "President Mubarak, King Abdullah, and King Fahd are our puppets," our friends who only want what's best for America. They also want to drive Israel out of the Middle East and send the Jews to our Jewish state, New York. They want to drive non-white Christians and Jews out of vast regions of Asia and Africa and send them here. Over my dead body.

Our "war on terrorism" does not use subliminable messages. This campaign has included not only killing the Afghani's but also starving the terrorists of funding by closing every non-Judeo-Christian charity, bank, and moneychanger here and around the world. No longer will their excuse of feeding starving children be tolerated. We have pursued every nation in the southern hemisphere to root out and destroy any and all opposition to their status quo governments. Each nation has had to make a choice. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. I am happy to report that every nation has kowtowed to our demand. The governments of each of these nations has taken decisive action against their internal enemies who oppose their friendly allegiance to our nation.

America has not only won the Cold War under my Daddy's leadership, but we now have an opportunity to form strong and permanent alliances with our former foes. From Russia, China, to India, America has formed a partnership of global reach to eradicate all semblance and hope of "Muslim" separatists or yearning of independence within these nations. These nations constituting almost half of the world's population now enjoy our total support for their suppression and elimination by whatever means of "Islamic Fundamentalism" in Chechnya, Kashmir, and The Uygurs in the province of Xinjiang. But most of all I want to proclaim to the world that our total subservience and alliance with Israel is iron clad. I totally support Sharon's "war on terrorism" and his destruction of the Palestinian Authority and Arafat. I am announcing today that the United States is ending any and all contacts with Arafat and his Palestinian "evil doers" who bomb and kill our Judeo brothers and sisters. We will no longer support U.N. Resolution 242 that America voted for in 1967 as any basis for a peace process. Sharon pointed out to me that we can't be practitioners of a double standard whereby we fight Bin Laden's Islamic terrorism and yet oppose Israel's similar war. "Israel has suffered for 53 years under the constant threat of Arab armies and Palestinian occupation of its land." I know that the State Department under the General has occasionally and erroneously criticized Israel whenever its used our F-16's to bomb a school or church in Bethlehem but I can safely say that the General and I see eye to eye on this and thus his remaining tenure at State will be spent ensuring Israel's peace, security and economic welfare. "On that note I am proposing that we increase our economic aid to Israel by $2 Billion to help offset their economic losses due to the September 11 attack. "We cannot let terrorists and rogue nations hold this nation hostile or hold our allies hostile.

America's finally found its manifest destiny, we will no longer be reactive and dragged into conflicts, we'll no longer be the nation the world comes to make peace and build nations. America's destiny is now obvious to the world: "We will be the ones to make wars on whomever we choose, we will be the ones to destroy before we rebuild," we will no longer be on the sidelines while the world drowns in its own blood. America stands for peace but if we determine there's a need for blood spilling to be done we'll do it ourselves. From now on America will decide when, where, how, and why we make the war or make the peace. Our nation has proudly gone from "Road Rage" to "Foreign Rage". It's worked for Israel, now it's working for us and our allies Russia, China, and India.

As my Daddy said in his State of the Union Address on January 29, 1991:

"I come to this House of the people to speak to you and all Americans, certain that we stand at a defining hour. Halfway around the world, we are engaged in a great struggle in the skies and on the seas and sands. We know why we're there: We are Americans, part of something larger than ourselves. For two centuries, we've done the hard work of freedom. And tonight, we lead the world in facing down a threat to decency and humanity.

With few exceptions, the world now stands as one."

"Daddy, I hope I've kept the Bush legacy alive to fight the Arab and Muslim world every ten years to ensure their chaos and complicity. No Arab oil King or Prince is going to force us to improve our SUV fuel efficiency, not while I'm President. On the contrary, they will be made to increase production and decrease prices." Daddy, I hope you and your friends in the Carlyle Group and the military-industrial-oil complex are happy with the rewards courtesy of Bin Laden and my policies. All Americans should have the opportunity to make money from our revenge upon Bin Laden and his Muslim "evil doers". It's the least we can do to honor our fallen heroes of September 11, a day that will live in fury.

Thank you and God Bless America.
 
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USincognito

a post by Alan Smithee
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Ummmm. I'm not sure if you're posting that as a joke or if you're serious, but here's the real transcript of the 2002 State of the Union Address. You might notice the 'whitehouse.gov' part of the link.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html

We last met in an hour of shock and suffering. In four short months, our nation has comforted the victims, begun to rebuild New York and the Pentagon, rallied a great coalition, captured, arrested, and rid the world of thousands of terrorists, destroyed Afghanistan's terrorist training camps, saved a people from starvation, and freed a country from brutal oppression. (Applause.)

The American flag flies again over our embassy in Kabul. Terrorists who once occupied Afghanistan now occupy cells at Guantanamo Bay. (Applause.) And terrorist leaders who urged followers to sacrifice their lives are running for their own. (Applause.)

America and Afghanistan are now allies against terror. We'll be partners in rebuilding that country. And this evening we welcome the distinguished interim leader of a liberated Afghanistan: Chairman Hamid Karzai. (Applause.)

The last time we met in this chamber, the mothers and daughters of Afghanistan were captives in their own homes, forbidden from working or going to school. Today women are free, and are part of Afghanistan's new government. And we welcome the new Minister of Women's Affairs, Doctor Sima Samar.

The differences continue on as you read...
 
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feral

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I am all for comparative religion classes that include Christianity as one of the topics. However, I can see why people are currently focusing on Islam. There is a huge lack of information about what Islam means, what it really supports, and what Muslims of different sects believe. Islam is hugely misunderstood and misrepresented in American media and by the average citizen. I don't see education about a topic as endorsement of it...I've read about Islam, homosexual eroticism, Satanism and white supremacists, and have yet to become Muslim, turn into a gay man, worship the devil or join the KKK. We need to learn about Islam because of the big role it plays and will continue to play in American life.

I agree that dress up and role play is a odd way to teach about Islam. Perhaps analyzing Qur'an verses, discussing Middle eastern politics and learning about Bedouin, Persian and Arab culture would be a better way to go.
 
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revolutio

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I commend my school on one thing. A class I had in which I studied each of the major world religions in depth. We went to a Jewish temple (which is apparently not the same thing as a synagogue), a mosque (interesting located side-by-side with a church), and had speakers on Christianity and Hinduism.

It was an incredibly enlightening experience. All the people we talked with were incredibly insightful and open about their religion. A total of 14 of us took the class. :\
 
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