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« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2018, 01:18:48 PM » |
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The Patriot Post Digest 3-15-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
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Hiram Sasser, chief counsel for First Liberty, notes, “If [the Fourth Circuit] decision stands, other memorials, including those in nearby Arlington Cemetery, will be targeted for destruction as well.” If the decision from the Fourth Circuit stands, and the Supreme Court refuses to hear the appeal case, it would mean that all crosses on public property are “unconstitutional.”
The case rests on whether the Establishment Clause — the first sentence of the First Amendment38, which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” — prohibits the public display of crosses.
The establishment of a religion means having an official, government-sponsored religion. Some have also interpreted the Establishment Clause as meaning government “neutrality.” According to the American Humanist Association’s website39, the Establishment Clause also prohibits the government from “entangling itself in religious matters without a religiously neutral reason.” Government ought to be “neutral” toward religion and not favor one over the other. But a big difference exists between “neutrality” and “hostility.”
While the AHA claims “Good Without A God,” as its motto, is it fair or tolerant to force that belief on everyone else? Radical atheism does not say, “I believe in nothing, and you can believe in God if you want.” Rather, it says, “I believe in nothing and it is my right to not see, hear or experience anything about God anywhere.” Whether it is “No, you can’t pray40,” or “No, you can’t put a Bible verse41 there,” or “No, I don’t want to see a cross” — even if it’s in the middle of the desert42 — the radical atheists do not seek to live in mutual tolerance. They cannot rest until they have converted all of society into a religiously sterile culture. Our legal system should not bow down to this dogmatic, anti-tolerant behavior as the “neutral” option. Rather, radical atheists should practice the tolerance they demand from others.
Following their Fourth Circuit win, AHA Senior Counsel Monica Miller, who argued the case, stated43, “This is a big win not only for separation of church and state, but for all non-Christian veterans who are excluded from an enormous Christian cross war memorial.”
But how many of the fallen men were actually atheists? The families of the fallen soldiers decided on that particular shape to remember their fallen sons, brothers and husbands. Would it not dishonor their choice to remove or destroy it? If, in fact, the non-Christian veterans feel excluded, why do they not build their own non-cross memorial?
Further, while the AHA argues that the cross represents a sectarian, exclusionary religious symbol, the cross also represents military heroism. Some of the highest military honors include crosses44 such as the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Force Cross, the Navy Cross, and others granted for exemplary military service. The cross also stands as an internationally recognized symbol of bravery and sacrifice as exemplified in the Victoria Cross45 in England and the Croix de Guerre46 (Cross of War) in France.
The cross also represents a memorial. These men lost their lives in a foreign war on foreign soil. While some of their bodies were later repatriated, many were buried overseas. For several families, the “Peace Cross” stood as the only place where grieving families could pay honor to their loved ones.
Michael Carvin, lead counsel for The American Legion and partner at Jones Day, notes, “This memorial has stood in honor of local veterans for almost 100 years and is lawful under the First Amendment. To remove it would be a tremendous dishonor to the local men who gave their lives during the Great War.”
The case also has bipartisan support. Eight Republican and Democrat members of Congress joined in support of the memorial by filing an amicus brief47 with the Fourth Circuit Court.
Kelly Shackelford, president and CEO of First Liberty, states, “Memorials are living reminders of our country’s history and the cost of war. How will we remember the fallen or teach the next generation about service and sacrifice if we start bulldozing veterans memorials and cemeteries across America? We will continue our work to overturn this decision and defend the memory of those who preserved freedom.”
MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST
Identity Politics Insanity50 — Perhaps nothing offers greater insight into the progressive mindset than what its adherents deem proper and improper expressions of identity politics.
Yes, Abstinence Is Beneficial and Worth Promoting51 — Despite what the Guttmacher Institute insists, sexual abstinence is important to teach if we want to put America back on track.
Video: Corker Discusses Pompeo, Taxes, Sanctuary Cities52 — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman addresses some critical issues.
BEST OF RIGHT OPINION
Gary Bauer: Scores of GOP House Seats Could Be Vulnerable53
Ann Coulter: Secret Debate Tip for GOP54
Larry Elder: Dem Pundit: ‘Paying Off a Porn Star Is Presidential?’55
Cal Thomas: Apocalypse Now?56
Victor Davis Hanson: Lessons From Germany’s ‘Spring Offensive’ 100 Years Later57
For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion58.
OPINION IN BRIEF
Investor’s Business Daily32: “California’s bullet train project, also known as Jerry Brown’s Folly, has turned into a fiscal nightmare for the Golden State. … The original promise, made in a proposition voted on in 2008, called for the entire ‘high-speed’ rail system to be built at a cost of just $37 billion and to be finished by 2020. … Just last week, the state’s rail authority announced that the system will now cost $77.3 billion, 20% more than the $64 billion estimated a mere two years ago. And, oh yes, instead of being done in 2029, it will be done in 2033. But they also admitted that costs might soar to $98 billion. … And the ticket costs they now estimate will be $93 a pop, not $55. Big difference. … The idea that the ‘high-speed’ trains, which by the way will never achieve true bullet-train speeds of over 100 miles per hour, will carry 120,000 passengers a day is a total fantasy with no basis — none — in any statistical reality. … Aside from the cost, that area is riddled with seismically active fault lines, which will make any attempt at building a lengthy tunnel dangerous at best. The San Andreas Fault — due, seismologists say, for an 8.0 or even higher quake — is right in the area they would have to tunnel. Here’s the bad part: Everyone involved in the project knew from the very first the cost would be astronomical, but ignored it. … But don’t worry: The Democrats in this one-party state will find a scapegoat, as they always have, when the bills come due. They’ll blame the Republicans.”
SHORT CUTS
Insight: “Our own heart, and not other men’s opinions, form our true honor.” —Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)
For the record: “At the height of the socialistic world in 1980, 44.3 percent of the world lived in extreme poverty. By 2017, that number was around nine percent. Nearly every nation on earth that has turned away from collectivist economic policies and embraced market-based capitalism has seen the lives of their people improve dramatically.” —David Harsanyi
Re: The Left: “[Hillary Clinton] ran one of the worst campaigns ever. … Honestly, I have to tell you: It’s one thing to lose to President Obama. It’s entirely another thing to pull off losing to President Trump. And you have to come up with a better excuse than this59.” —Meghan McCain
Friendly fire: “[Clinton’s] argument doesn’t hold water. Whether you say black people voted for Obama because he’s black, or women voted for a woman because she’s a woman, I think everyone just needs to stop talking. I don’t know why she was answering these questions.” —Whoopi Goldberg
Braying Jenny: “The NRA has held Congress hostage for years now. These young people1 have shown up to spring us free; to say you’re not here to do the work of the gun lobby, you’re here to do the work of the American people. I believe they will lead us. They are making a huge difference in our democracy.” —Sen. Elizabeth Warren
And last… “School walkouts show two of the Left’s worst tendencies: the rejection of any boundaries on political activism (kids should be off-limits), and identity politics. Gun control debate never had an identity politics angle. Now it does, in the form of 7th graders.” —Noah Pollak
Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of Liberty, and for their families. We also humbly ask prayer for your Patriot team, that our mission would seed and encourage the spirit of Liberty in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Nate Jackson, Managing Editor
Mark Alexander, Publisher |
