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Posted on 11/11/2008 2:19:25 AM PST by Man50D
The Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union fired off a letter to the mayor of Thibodaux, La., warning that the small town's promotion of a city festival featuring Christian bands may be a violation of the First Amendment.
The Thibodeauxville Festival, which draws nearly 12,000 people to the town whose population barely exceeds 14,000, has featured fun, food, street dancing and bands from a variety of genres for the past 16 years.
But when the ACLU spied the city's seal on a flier that also promoted the Christian bands performing at the festival, it took action.
Marjorie Esman, executive director of ACLU Louisiana told WWL-TV, New Orleans, "We wrote to a letter to the mayor, copied the president of the chamber, asking them for the future to not include religious expression in the event." Kathy Benoit, president of Thibodeaux Chamber of Commerce, told the station she was surprised by the letter.
"The city's logo appears on the some of marketing materials because of the cooperation we get," said Benoit. "They allow us to use these streets, and it's just a partnership, but they do not give us any money at all."
Esman, however, contends differently.
"We know that the city does provide some funds to the chamber," Esman said. "We're not sure what those funds are used for. The fact is, the city has its official logo on these fliers."
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
The Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union fired off a letter to the mayor of Thibodaux, La., warning that the small town’s promotion of a city festival featuring Christian bands may be a violation of the First Amendment.
They’re trying to present the performance of a Christian band at a town festival as “establishment of religion.” Of course, if Judas Priest or that Swedish death-metal band with the cellos played, it wouldn’t be “establishment of Satanism.”
You’ve made a great point. But conversely, I think that’s the ACLU’s point too (stay with me on this, simply for arguement’s sake)
The idea, I think, the ACLU is trying to point out is that under the First Amendment if one group with a religious viewpoint is presented as a cultural event with city (i.e., government) sponsorship, then ALL bands have an equal right to the same treatment. So if a Christian band gets to perform on the pubic dime, so does a Jewish group, Muslim group, Hindu, and so on and so forth. But unfortunately, that means such “religions” as Satanists and Scientologists would also have an equal share in that pie, since the government isn’t in the business of saying which religions are acceptable and which are not. That’s part of what the Founders of the nation established from the get go. If you provide space and/or $$$ for one way of looking at God, then other faiths have an equal share in that pie.
Not that we have to like it! But it’s part of the code that established this nation and we have to abide by it if we want to uphold the values of our country and constitution.
“We know that the city does provide some funds to the chamber,” Esman said. “We’re not sure what those funds are used for. The fact is, the city has its official logo on these fliers.”
Nor is it any of your dam business.
I certainly hope the good people ignore this nonsense. The mere mention of “Christian bands” is establishment of religion?
Only if you accept that the mention of ACLU is the establishment of stupidity.
[No...wait...that didn’t come out right...;]
You think Judas Priest is satanic?
No, it's really not. There's nothing in the Constitution to say that every event has to include every viewpoint. If the patrons of the Thibodaux festival wanted to hear the Swedish metal-cello band, or a local equivalent, there's no reason to believe they wouldn't be hired. However, the market for such - or sitar-playing, Dervish-whirling, or Judas Priest - in small-town Louisiana is limited, to say the least.
Just going by what my teenagers say.
?
My brother in law is a very conservative lawyer.
Belongs to the Florida Bar. That group takes his dues and gives it to liberal lawyers running for public office.
Other conservative who have to belong to the Bar complain of their money being used solely for liberal causes and none going for conservatives.
The quote is from Shakespere.
I just changed it to A.C.L.U. types. I think that fair.
As for your father, I hope he is not in the a.c.l.u. taking away folks rights.
Some lawyers I’ve found to be good folks. course I know a dentist who is a good guy too so anyone has a chance to be good.
Take the ACLU folks over to the Atchafalaya for a sightseeing tour.
The ACLU and their ilk somehow always manage to miss the part of the 1st Amendment that reads “or prohibition thereof.”
I pity the yankee lawyer who goes to LA to tell those Cajuns that they cannot have a party! Think tar, feathers, and fence-rail time ... with hot sauce in the tar!
Me too! These guys haven't seen "rough & ready" like they will if they show up there wanting to break up a good cajun party. My sister lived in New Orleans for years so I have a little insight. They do love their celebrations! Let them yankees come on down! LOL
There was a society of men among us, bred up
from their youth in the art of proving by words
multiplied for the purpose, that white is black
and black is white, according as they are paid.
Jonathan Swift (IV:5)
The second amendment is for "the right of the people" but the ACLU will fail to act on behalf of individual people.
The ACLU is a group of evil people who understand that the way to destroy America is to destroy the moral foundation we rest on. They have done a great job of it but have more work to do. They do it with relish and pleasure.
This lady went to my daughters school. She is a real piece of work. Very anti-military.
“We know that the city does provide some funds to the chamber,” Esman said.”
In other words, the city has funds that the ACLU wants to get their hands on. That is the only reason they exist—to grab public funds.
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