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ACLU Looking to File Suit Over JHS Graduation "Altar Call" (Someone shoot me)
http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=4150375&nav=0jsh ^ | November 21, 2005 | Heather Flanigan

Posted on 11/23/2005 10:30:31 AM PST by AZRepublican

In May of this year, a Jonesboro student gave a prayer during a high school graduation ceremony at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center. During the prayer, which lasted four minutes, she gave an “altar call” to the community, asking those in the audience to come forward to accept Jesus Christ.

“In the closing moments of this service, if you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, here's your chance,” said senior Jessica Reed in a May 20, 2005 taped video of JHS graduation ceremonies.

“We were contacted sometime after that by the American Civil Liberties Union that they felt like there had been a violation of the First Amendment, separation of church and state with regard to a prayer,” said Jonesboro Public Schools Attorney Donn Mixon.

And now the ACLU is looking for a plaintiff in a case against Jonesboro High School. In a letter written by the Arkansas ACLU executive director Rita Sklar, the event is described as a “blatant display of contempt for the First Amendment.”

(Excerpt) Read more at kait8.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; US: Arkansas
KEYWORDS: aclu; christianstudents; godtalk; moralabsolutes; schoolprayer
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1 posted on 11/23/2005 10:30:32 AM PST by AZRepublican
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To: AZRepublican

ACLU = BIGOTS


2 posted on 11/23/2005 10:31:13 AM PST by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: BenLurkin

Once again, where are all these so-called "conservative lawyers" who aren't suing the ACLU because they are taking away someone's 1st Amendment rights? Gee...do I have to do everything???


3 posted on 11/23/2005 10:32:35 AM PST by gman992
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To: AZRepublican
“blatant display of contempt for the First Amendment.”

Really? I'd think it was a blatant display of honoring the First Amendment.

4 posted on 11/23/2005 10:32:56 AM PST by theDentist (The Dems have put all their eggs in one basket-case: Howard "Belltower" Dean.)
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To: AZRepublican
And now the ACLU is looking for a plaintiff

Isn't this ambulance chasing? Find me a plaintiff, any plaintiff. This turns the legal system on it's head. If noone feels strongly enough to, themselves, seek out counsel, why should the ACLU be out stirring up litigation.

5 posted on 11/23/2005 10:32:58 AM PST by ModelBreaker
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To: AZRepublican

ACLU = commie bastards


6 posted on 11/23/2005 10:34:35 AM PST by samtheman
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To: AZRepublican

WHAT THE H*LL!!!! She didnt violate the 1st Ammendment...SHE USED IT!!!

There is no such thing as freedom from religion only freedom OF......(i know, im preaching to the choir)


7 posted on 11/23/2005 10:34:53 AM PST by HHKrepublican_2 (OP Spread the Truth)
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To: AZRepublican
the ACLU is looking for a plaintiff

The ACLU is a solution looking for a problem.

At least, they purport to be a solution. What they really are are extortionists.

8 posted on 11/23/2005 10:34:53 AM PST by Disambiguator (Making accusations of racism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.)
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To: BenLurkin

Where's the ACLJ on this? They ought to be arguing the other side.


9 posted on 11/23/2005 10:34:55 AM PST by Republic If You Can Keep It
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To: AZRepublican

Every suit like this the ACLU files widens the gulf between christian voters and the dem party.


10 posted on 11/23/2005 10:35:22 AM PST by FlipWilson
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To: AZRepublican
In May of this year, a Jonesboro student gave a prayer during a high school graduation ceremony at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center. During the prayer, which lasted four minutes, she gave an “altar call” to the community, asking those in the audience to come forward to accept Jesus Christ.

Totally inappropriate and exactly the type of thing that should not be done in a public graduation ceremony.

Wanting to acknowledge God and thank Him is a fine and noble thing. Turning a high school graduation into a conversion experience is stupid.

SD

11 posted on 11/23/2005 10:35:24 AM PST by SoothingDave
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To: AZRepublican
LOL! Saying a personal prayer is "blatant contempt for the First Amendment?" That's a new one. I thought the content of speech is protected, regardless of one thinks of it. Silly me. Its that God Talk the ACLU finds objectionable. I guess some speech is more equal than other speech.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

12 posted on 11/23/2005 10:35:35 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: samtheman

American Commumist League and Union


13 posted on 11/23/2005 10:35:46 AM PST by HHKrepublican_2 (OP Spread the Truth)
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To: AZRepublican

The IRS ought to revoke the ACLU's nonprofit status for being involved in religious activities.


14 posted on 11/23/2005 10:35:46 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: AZRepublican

I see the ACLU is still looking for a plaintiff. So they are ready to sue as long as some student will come forward as a plaintiff.
Hopefully no one comes forward.
The woman who gave the altar call should counter sue saying her right to freedom of speech is being abbrogated by the ACLU.


15 posted on 11/23/2005 10:38:53 AM PST by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: AZRepublican
Sounded to me exactly like what the First Amendment calls for ~ the complete and unfettered profession and practice of religion anywhere, anytime, by anyone.

What does the ACLU wish the jackbooted government thugs to do to this young lady? Perhaps they are supposed to keep a sniper around at all public gatherings just in case somebody says "In the Name of Jesus"?!

16 posted on 11/23/2005 10:39:33 AM PST by muawiyah (u)
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To: AZRepublican

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Congress shall make no law...This was a student. A student is under no legal limitations. The school, as an entity of the state may be (wrongly IMHO) but not the individual student.



17 posted on 11/23/2005 10:39:42 AM PST by cyclotic (Cub Scouts-Teach 'em young to be men, and politically incorrect in the process)
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To: SoothingDave
If people feel offended, they can protest or they can leave. Or they can decide to boycott it. Last I heard, its a free country. The fact the ACLU is looking for a plaintiff indicates few people felt it bothered them. Lots of people find things offensive but if we had to make a list of them, every one would be tied up in the courtrooms through doomsday.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

18 posted on 11/23/2005 10:39:47 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: FlipWilson

Actually it's simply no longer possible to be a Democrat and a true Christian.


19 posted on 11/23/2005 10:41:09 AM PST by muawiyah (u)
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To: goldstategop
Saying a personal prayer is "blatant contempt for the First Amendment?" That's a new one.

She didn't say a personal prayer. Read the article: she gave an “altar call” to the community, asking those in the audience to come forward to accept Jesus Christ.

This is the wrong venue for that type of thing. Absolutely wrong. Now, the article doesn't say, but I assume everyone had enough sense to not accept her ill-timed invitation.

But suppose they had. Was she going to then go through an emotional "come-to-Jesus" stunt in the middle of her ceremony, hijacking the audience and the rest of her fellow graduates?

Selfish and innapropriate.

SD

20 posted on 11/23/2005 10:41:50 AM PST by SoothingDave
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