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"Under God" in Pledge of Allegiance, OUT; Prayers to Allah, IN?
News Release from Thomas More Law Center ^ | June 26, 2002 | Thomas More Law Center

Posted on 06/26/2002 4:26:22 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy

***BREAKING NEWS*** Religion in Public Schools:

“under God” Pledge Out; Prayer to Allah In?

In the same week that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional, a federal lawsuit was filed in San Francisco Monday after Christian students across California were forced to pretend they were Muslims for three weeks, praying in the name of Allah the Compassionate the Merciful, chanting Praise to Allah, picking a Muslim name from a list to replace their own name and to stage their own Jihad via a dice game.

The Thomas More Law Center, representing parents and four children, filed the lawsuit against the Byron Union School District and various school officials to stop the use of the “Islam Simulation” materials in the Byron/Excelsior Public School in Byron, California.

What’s at issue is the true meaning of the Establishment Clause. The use of the words ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance in no way establishes a national religion. However, the Byron Union school district crossed the line and clearly is in violation of the Establishment clause by using taxpayer dollars to teach students how to worship as a Muslim.

At issue in the lawsuit is a three-week segment of the seventh grade “World History” class using the textbook “Across the Centuries” published by Houghton Mifflin and supplemented by Islam simulation materials. Students were told that, “you and your classmates will become Muslims.”

To receive points toward their overall grade, students were encouraged to dress as Muslims and to use such phrases in their speech as “Allah Akbar,” which is Arabic for “God is great”. Students were required to memorize Muslim prayers, fulfill the Five Pillars of Faith and fast during lunch period to simulate fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Furthermore, parents with children in this course were totally caught off guard and had no idea what their children were being taught.

This is unbelievable. While public schools prohibit Christian students from reading the Bible, praying, displaying the Ten Commandments, and even mentioning the word “God”, students in California are being indoctrinated into the religion of Islam. Public schools would never tolerate teaching Christianity in this way. Just imagine the ACLU’s outcry if students were told that they had to pray the Lords Prayer, memorize the Ten Commandments, use such phrases as ‘Jesus is the Messiah,’ and fast during Lent.

Although it is constitutional for public schools to have an instructional program about comparative religion or teach about religion and utilize religious books such as the Bible in courses about our history and culture, the Byron Union School District crossed way over the constitutional line when it coerced impressionable twelve year olds to engage in particular religious rituals and worship, simulated or not.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through litigation, education, and related activities. The Center provides its services at no charge, and is dependent upon individual donations, foundations, and corporations for financial support. The IRS recognizes the Center as a 501(c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible. You may contact the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit its website at

www.thomasmore.org .

The Thomas More Law Center is funded by the generous contributions of individuals, corporations, and foundations. To contribute online via our secure online transaction form, please visit:

www.thomasmore.org


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; pledge; thomasmore
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To: TLBSHOW
Let me try again!
What we need is a 1776 revolution. Not from England but from the liberal commie enemy within this country that has become much more dangeous to all of us.






21 posted on 06/26/2002 4:48:08 PM PDT by TLBSHOW
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To: bluesagewoman
Bless you for freeping the anti American crowd. Whatever you have going there, it's worse here. Ack!!!!!!!
22 posted on 06/26/2002 4:48:09 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy
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To: Saundra Duffy
Then you understand why we feel that way. Maybe we should build that wall from the Texas border up to and around California. Let Mexico have it back. I'm sick of your state and the commies that run it.
23 posted on 06/26/2002 4:48:35 PM PDT by Nuke'm Glowing
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To: geege
I guess just about every city in California could be called "the city of evil" EXCEPT Fresno, of course! For victory & freedom!!!
24 posted on 06/26/2002 4:49:16 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy
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To: geege
Never heard of Ithaca being the city of evil.....what's the deal with that?????

A few reasons why "Ithaca is the City of Evil":

Ithaca is home to two colleges, Cornell U (aptly nick-named "the Big Red") and Ithaca College (which flies the gay flag over its campus), the two major employers in the area. They insure that a disproportionate amount of "ivory tower liberals" dominate the city.

A few typical Ithacans:

Locating copies of National Review or the American Spectator requires a trip out of town, while Ithaca magazine racks remain well-stocked with copies of The Progressive, and The Nation.Readers interested in exposing themselves to a full range of national opinion are simply out of luck.

As a result of this dominiance, politics in Ithaca runs the gamet from "liberal" to "communist." For years, the town had an openly socialist mayor. They later elected him to the school board.

Even today, the City and County governments are dominated by democrats and Green party members. Ithaca is so "Green" that Ralph Nader got more votes in Ithaca than George W. Bush, and the NYS Green Party is holding its 2002 nominating convention there. The current Chair of the County Legislature is a radical former anti-war protester, self-described hippie, who says "My values haven't changed, just my tactics."

As a result, we get lunacy like spending $500,000 to install solar panels on the new library (in cold, dark, upstate NY). Even law enforcement is subject to political correctness. The outgoing police chief's major concern was "pushing for departmental diversity." The acting chief was chosen simply because they wanted a woman.

To make matters worse, the liberals who dominate Ithaca work overtime to impose their ultra liberal agenda on the area children. The School District has mandated that elementary school students in the first and second grades be graded on how well they "respect others of varying cultures, genders, experiences, and abilities." It's even listed on the schools' report card. Despite this alleged tolerance, a student who was found reading the bible on her lunch hour was chatised for doing so. Another was directed not to bring a book about Christmas to school.

There's even a taxpayer funded "alternative" (ie, hippie) school that let's students graduate in majors like basket weaving and political activism, and has a convicted cop killer as its graduation speaker.

These schools churn out "educated idiots," who are so liberal, they write editorials that argue "Bin Laden is Human too."

Need more proof? Do a search for "Ithaca" here at FR. You'll see a near daily dose of institutionalized, unfettered, liberal idiocy.

As a result of its unfettered liberalism, Ithaca was voted most enlightened (ie, liberal) city in America by the ultra left Utne Reader. As a good, conservative Freeper, I'm sure you'll agree that, contrary to what Utne says, "liberal" is not "enlightened." Unfettered liberalism is, well, evil.

As the most liberal city in America,"Ithaca is the City of Evil."

25 posted on 06/26/2002 4:51:29 PM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
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To: Nuke'm Glowing
I'm sick of your state and the commies that run it.

Me, too. A little good news: The Republican Assembly Members (of which there are few) are united as we "speak" holding out against all odds, determined NOT TO PASS THE BUDGET! It's gonna be a battle royal. Go, Republicans!!!!

26 posted on 06/26/2002 4:51:50 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy
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To: Nuke'm Glowing
Here's my plan: From the northern-most border of LOS ANGELES on down south - should become part of Mexico, lock stock & barrel. That would suit me just fine.
27 posted on 06/26/2002 4:53:17 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy
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To: Saundra Duffy
Don't forget south Orange County...notice I have to say "south" nowadays?
28 posted on 06/26/2002 4:53:35 PM PDT by A Navy Vet
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To: Behind Liberal Lines
Gee what a shame....guess I won't be taking my vacation in exciting Ithaca......Thanks for the heads up!!!!!!!!!!!
29 posted on 06/26/2002 4:54:10 PM PDT by geege
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To: Saundra Duffy
Go Republicans? What have the republicans done lately? Farm subsidies. Airline bailout. Steel Tarrifs. Amtrak Bailout. a "whites need not apply" housing loan program. Oh. and a great expansion of the military and federal police. Wheeee. They can't do anything but spend cash without abandon either.
30 posted on 06/26/2002 4:54:14 PM PDT by Orblivion
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To: Behind Liberal Lines
I had no idea about Ithaca. My condolences.
31 posted on 06/26/2002 4:54:47 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy
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To: Saundra Duffy
You forgot the Bay Area. Here's another idea...let 'em have the coast which is mostly lib and we'll move inland.
32 posted on 06/26/2002 4:55:08 PM PDT by A Navy Vet
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To: Saundra Duffy
Actually, you have to extend the wall all the way up the San Andreas Fault and up to San Fruitcisco. That's the one city, after Michael Savage evacuates, that this country does not need.
33 posted on 06/26/2002 4:55:48 PM PDT by Nuke'm Glowing
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To: Orblivion
The Republican situation in California is the worst but they can take a stand on the budget since it takes 2/3 majority to pass it. Last year the few Republicans who folded paid a hefty price. This year, they'll hang tight. It's just a little light, I know, but cause for hope just the same. For victory & freedom!!!
34 posted on 06/26/2002 4:57:22 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy
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To: A Navy Vet
Oh, that's right. Home of Barbara Lee and Pete Stark et al. Problem with the Bay Area is that both my sons live there and three grandchildren. Like I said: Ack!!!!!!!!
35 posted on 06/26/2002 4:58:26 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy
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To: Saundra Duffy
freedom is gone. there hasn't been freedom in this country for like 180 years
36 posted on 06/26/2002 5:01:40 PM PDT by Orblivion
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To: Nuke'm Glowing
God can't destroy San Fran cuz Michael Savage is there.
37 posted on 06/26/2002 5:05:14 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy
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To: Behind Liberal Lines
i never thought i'd see this day......but then again, it was the inevitable result

38 posted on 06/26/2002 5:07:22 PM PDT by Will_Zurmacht
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To: Nuke'm Glowing
Sandra, nothing personal, but we east of you wish your entire (Word banned by the 9th Circuit as unconstitutional) Damn state would sink to the bottom of the ocean asap. And with this ruling, certainly you would have the sense to move out and understand why we feel this way.

A Ditto BTTT!

39 posted on 06/26/2002 5:23:09 PM PDT by Itzlzha
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To: Saundra Duffy
Next these so called educated idiots will rule God does not belong in my KJV Bible because it is a misprint from 1611. I am so angry I can hardly type!!!
40 posted on 06/26/2002 5:32:41 PM PDT by AutumnLeaf
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