Question about the ACLU

[Fezwood]

I have a few questions in regards to the ACLU. To begin with I HAVE done a search here, and the articles I found are fairly weak for what I am looking for. I have never formed an opinion of the ACLU. Most of what I have heard about the organization is that they are an organization no self respecting conservative would have anything to do with while liberals cannot wait to get their membership card in the mail.

Why is this?

A co-worker of mine recently joined the ACLU and he said that since I am a conservative with libertarian leanings, I should consider joining too.

Knowing no specifics about this organization, I cannot argue either way intelligently. Could someone point me to some pro/con articles involving the ACLU?

[Sam Cree]

The ACLU purports to be an organization whose purpose is to protect our Constitution and individual freedom. While these are worthy goals that would seem to be conservative, my belief is that the ACLU does everything it can to help the Left and the Democrats.

In other words, I believe that they take the principles and traditions that we all cherish, and do their best to twist them into a justification for the advancement of those philosophies that are exactly the opposite, the philosophies derived from socialism.

What little reading I've done of texts published by them made this seem apparent to me.

[sean327]

Thier real name should be The American Communist Liars Union. That should about sum it up for you.

[boris]

They claim to be "protectors of the Bill of Rights".

Ask them if they've ever taken action to protect the Second Amendment--which was, last time I looked, part of the Bill of Rights. Ask them the same about the 9th and 10th amendments.

--Boris

[gcruse]

One wishes the ACLU would be as protective of the Second Amendment as they are of the First. Also, the Tenth Amendment is being raped and strangled by Ashcroft as we speak and they don't say a word. Actually people around here cheer that.
Well, anyway, the black charred burned out hole where the Tenth used to be is the work of Lifestyle Police and Big Government backers, strange bedfellows you'd think.

[longtermmemmory]

Just don't. While they sit on their hands for conservative issues rather than fight for what is right. They prefere leftist types of causes. Professionally membership in the ACLU is professional suicide unless you are going to work for the ACLU. I have found most if not all aclu members are anticapitalists, socialist, or closset commies.

Your friend is no friend to pressure you to join this organization.

[Sam Cree]

I figure the lifestyle police are "egalitarians" at heart, and "equality" is something that requires big government to achieve.

I have an art teacher who professes to be both a leftist and a libertarian. Since she's gay, I'm pretty sure the egalitarianism is what she likes about the Left, she hasn't made the connection yet that egalitarianism destroys individual liberty.

Now to look up the 10th Amendment, so I'll know what you are talking about.

[SendShaqtoIraq]

Actually they don't do much protecting of the First Amendment, either. They want a total anhialation of Christianity.

[Christian Soldier]

Read the book by F. Lagard Smith, "ACLU, The Devils Advocate". It will tell all you need to know about the ACLU. Available at from Coral Ridge Ministries in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. (www.coralridge.org). Cost is only $2. They also have a book I have not read called "The ACLU Exposed". Only a $1.

[gcruse]

I don't think they want it annihilated, just kept within its banks. A secular government is more likely to protect the rights of all.

[SendShaqtoIraq]

Really? Then why aren't they raising a fuss over the required Muslim classes in universities and secondary schools? They say NOTHING about those. When they start raising a fuss about that and stop trying to screw the Boy Scouts(who uphold the Christian value that homosexuality is wrong), then and ONLY then will I believe they aren't trying to annihilate Christianity.

[gcruse]

I don't care if they annihilate it or not. I just don't want it wielding the levers of political power.

[SendShaqtoIraq]

This comment tells me you are an atheist.

[gcruse]

Well, I guess taglines aren't all that revealing. Heh.

[SendShaqtoIraq]

Not when they contradict what you say in your messages.

[gcruse]

Whatever.

[conservagrrrl]

Ok, I have just enough time to answer this question, too...

I had to do a report on the ACLU for Law class way back when, when I was a misguided liberal who actually fell for the "American President" trick of thinking of ACLU as being a noble organization. What I found out was shocking. They absolutely refused to have anything to do time and again with whistleblowers such as Jeffrey Wigand (the tobacco company employee who was portrayed by Russell Crowe in "The Insider"), but have bullied churches around the country.

From that point on, I had to reexamine my views on the ACLU. I came to the conclusion that they are an organization of hypocrites, who hold viewpoints that are only convenient to themselves. They harp on and on about being against things such as job discrimination, but when a Caucasian is discriminated against, they do nothing, and that's just one example of their hypocrisy.

In short, don't join. If you want to join some worthwhile organization, join your local ASPCA chapter or the Salvation Army or MADD. Use the power of the vote and contact your lawmakers if you're interested in civil liberties. Just don't expect the ACLU to be actually "for" civil liberties.

[lurky]

Hi, conservagrrrl. I would love to read your report. Is that possible at all? I'm curious about the ACLU's objective principles in action, or lack thereof.

Didn't the ACLU also take up some notorious cases on behalf of the KKK?