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To: TaxRelief
Way to go Vernon. A fitting gift on MLK's birthday. :-}
102 posted on 01/19/2004 3:46:58 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: jwalsh07; AuH2ORepublican; stainlessbanner; Ethan_Allen; mykdsmom; Tax-chick; billbears; NCSteve; ..
The following is from Robinson's press release, and comments on the historical basis for his gift of the monument:

Councilman Robinson says the display is intended to acknowledge the undeniable role these two great philosophical statements – the Ten Commandments and the Bill of Rights -- have played in the development of American legal thought and moral tradition: “In times such as these, it is more important than ever for Americans of all ages, but especially our younger citizens, to be confronted by these great legal and moral tenets, and to reflect upon their wisdom. These are the ideas upon which our society has been built. These words encapsulate as well as any document in the English language the belief system on which we constructed our American society. It’s important from a historical perspective that we remember them.”

Although some public displays of the Ten Commandments have encountered legal challenges in recent years, the Robinson display avoids these constitutional pitfalls. It is paid for entirely by Councilman Robinson’s personal funds, and therefore represents no investment of public monies. In addition, the inclusion of the Bill of Rights makes clear that the text is not an overt tribute to the Judeo-Christian religion, but rather a simple acknowledgement of the historical role these two great documents, one secular and one religious, played in the development and growth of our American legal system.

“This monument is not an effort to proselytize; it is a history lesson, pure and simple, Robinson said. “And history lessons are still constitutional. The atheists can whine all they want, but they can't change history. These words built our nation and made it great. We need to see them in more public places, not fewer. This is my own personal effort to do my part to bring that about.”

Robinson acknowledged that the monument may prove controversial, but says he is not concerned: “This is still a free country, and people are free to disagree with the ideas expressed in this magnificent monument if they would like. They are even free to believe that there is no God. But no one can deny the impact these words have had on America. We may be getting more and more pagan with each passing day, but this simple historical fact remains – our nation’s legal system and its moral code came from these great words and the notions of equality and justice and fairness and obedience and piety that lie behind them. If I were the last Christian left in America, that simple fact would still remain. All this monument does is memorialize that unchangeable historical fact. It is constitutional, and it is the right thing to do, now more than ever.”

Robinson also acknowledged that one or more of the liberals serving with him on the city council might ask that the monument be removed: “I can’t be held accountable for what the other council members choose to do. Over the years I’ve learned that many of them don’t like the Ten Commandments or the Bill of Rights. They keep trying to rewrite them. But if they have the votes and they vote to make me take it away, then I’ll do it. But you better believe I’m already having discussions with some our neighboring governmental bodies to find some other seat of government somewhere in this great country that will accept this monument with open arms.” In anticipation of resistance from some City Council members, the five men who erected the monument dedicated it with a prayer asking the Lord to soften the hard hearts of city officials.

Robinson said it is fitting that the monument be unveiled on the federal holiday honoring the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who is honored for his struggle against racist laws and rules and traditions that did not honor or observe the ideals of equality and justice implicit in the Ten Commandments and the Bill of Rights.

140 posted on 01/20/2004 3:02:28 AM PST by Huber ("Free people, worthy of freedom..." - Churchill)
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To: jwalsh07
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! This is the funniest stuff I have read in a long, long time!!! You people who are saying you are supporting Vernon Robinson are either joking, or you know very little about the true Vernon. My oh my, where to begin. The things I know about Mr. Robinson. First off, I am a devoted Christian (although Vernon would call me an atheist simply because I disagree with him) and a life long conservative Republican (although Vernon would call me a liberal scumbag because I criticize him). In fact, my family and I have worked with Vernon on some of his earlier local campaigns, something I regret deeply now that I know the real Vernon. Vernon will tell you that he is a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, but in reality he is a devoted disciple of Lee Atwater. Vernon will do anything to get his name in the paper (which he always calls liberal rags if they don't glorify him) or a blurb about himself on Fox News.
Vernon thinks that framing himself as a black conservative in the south allows him to exploit racial and religious tensions, willingly pitting whites against blacks and Christians against anybody who disagrees with him. Vernon openly claims this to be his campaign strategy. He says that he can say things about blacks that whites are too afraid to say and nobody can call him a racist because he's black. Vernon is implying that most conservative whites are racists and bigots, but they're just too afraid to act on it. To me, that's offensive.
It is true that Vernon has spent a lot of his political career fighting against race based government programs (a lot of which are unfair and I do not support), but Vernon has taken on his conservative "crusades" more for his own political advancement and publicity rather than any deep belief in conservatism. I can make this claim because I know for a fact that Vernon Robinson is a liar and a hypocrite. I know this is true because Vernon's adopted child attends a local charter school at which I know many teachers and faculty members. According to very reliable witnesses at the school, before the current school year, Vernon and his wife aggressively lobbied the principle to place their child in the class of the only black male teacher on the entire staff. Now, this wouldn't be at all suspicious if that same teacher Vernon so desperately wanted to teach his child wasn't forced to resign before the beginning of the school year because of gross incompetence and an unacceptable lack of teaching ability. I saw this guy teach personally, and with absolute honesty, he was a terrible teacher. Given Vernon's political rhetoric, one would believe that he and his wife wouldn't care what race their child's teacher was, as long as they were the best qualified. But this isn't true at all. Vernon wanted a certain teacher for his child based solely on his race, with a complete disregard for relevant qualifications. I would say this sounds a lot like Affirmative Action, but that would be unfair to Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action usually only favors qualified minority applicants. I don't disapprove of black families wishing their children to be taught by black teachers, but when a man like Vernon so aggressively criticizes the black community for behavior that he commits himself, you can't help but let the public know what a despicable hypocrite he is.
Believe me, I could write for hours and hours about the misdeeds and sleazy stunts Vernon has pulled for his own publicity, and I will try to when I can find the time because it is all quite fascinating, but his hypocrisy is especially disturbing. Take it from someone who had to learn the hard way, supporting Vernon Robinson will only leave you with feelings of regret, and an overwhelming urge to cleanse thyself.

155 posted on 02/27/2004 9:28:42 AM PST by 49er06 (Anybody but Vernon in the 5th District, 2004)
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