Posted on 01/29/2002 6:23:08 AM PST by lucyblue
Edited on 04/29/2004 2:00:02 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Kennedy tells students: "There's a time for debate and a time for consensus. There's a time for advocacy and time for first principles."
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy engaged in a sometimes lively hour-long exchange Monday with high school seniors about the nation's fundamental rights in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
(Excerpt) Read more at fyi.cnn.com ...
If you didn't actually watch the exchange between Justice Kennedy and these students, and only read the CNN piece above, you would be deprived of the real story here.
Having watched almost an hour of this (admitting I missed a few minutes of the beginning), I feel obliged to report on a few disturbing things I observed that will not be mentioned in tidy CNN articles (or anywhere else in the mainstream media).
1. The event was held at a place called "School Without Walls" in Washington, D.C. I could say a great deal about this alone, but it strays from my primary intent here.
2. Discussion of the Declaration of Independence - Justice Kennedy asked the students where the founders "got" the principles of our basic freedoms. He kept trying to lead them toward "certain inalienable rights" but the word "GOD" was noticably, intentionally absent.
3. When asked what books or movies they would leave to this hypothetical person to convey the principles and "evolving, maturing" nature of the US (especially in light of September 11, 2001) the students' answers included;
Books:
--The Autobiography of Malcom X (commentary: Islam)
--A Biography of Ghandi (commentary: "Activism")
--The Sneeches (sic?) by Dr. Suess (commentary: Multicultural Acceptance)
--One girl offered that she would include the Bible. Justice Kennedy looked uncomfortable, muttered something dismissive and moved right on to the next student.
--Laura Bush suggested a Sunday newspaper from any major city, a compilation of greatest American speeches and something else I cannot recall.
Movies:
--Malcom X
--American History X
--Clockwork Orange
--Independence Day
4. This article refers to Kennedy as a "conservative" Justice. I submit that his aversion to concept of God as a fundamental to the principles upon which our nation was founded and his strenuous emphasis on tolerance and multiculturalism as evidence to the contrary.
My astonishment at the tone of these discussions is at the level of POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, RACIAL ISSUES, & MULTICULTURAL SERMONIZING. We have all become somewhat accustomed to the PC propaganda we are constantly assailed with. Many of us recognize it for what it is. The young people in classrooms all over the country BELIEVE in this stuff almost like a religion. The students in this class were more interested in "understanding" and "accepting" other cultures, religions, and governments than celebrating and defending American culture and ideals.
Inexplicably, in the midst of the politically correct discussion, Justice Kennedy said, "The most dangerous government is one which tries to control what its' people THINK." A profound statement, especially if you witnessed the programmed PC comments of these students!
I know this is a bit long, and not really earthshattering, but I felt the strong need to submit this for the record. Maybe someday, some future society will try to determine where WE went wrong. I hope they find Free Republic - it's well documented here!
I like your screen name!
The third one was a catalogue from a major state university. I saw it too, it was very interesting. I thought sure someone would have suggested "To Kill a Mockingbird" as one of the movies that W should see.
Were you as disappointed with the PC stuff as I was? I kept telling myself that those who attend a "School Without Walls" in Washington, D.C. are probably not representative of the students across the country, but I found it disquieting to think of these kids as our future leaders.
Our nation's 'mission' is the organized protection of individual rights. It is not to govern so that justice is done, because that is subject to majority group rule when Constitution does not grant any 'group rights. The purpose of government is to provide national defense against foreign nations and to PREVENT INJUSTICE by protecting INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
If the same question were posed to our elected federal Senators and Representatives, how many do you think would provide that response?
I agree totally. Kinda worried about our future.
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