Blessed are the Innocent

[hermann]

This web site carries an ADF story at this link:
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion01908.shtml

The trouble is, it's just that: a story. No truth to it. My children go to the school in question.

http://www.stevenscreekparents.org/

The totally innocent (and mostly Christian) staff of this fine school were the victims of over 3000 alleged "Christians" who phoned in threats and profane hate messages because of this false and self promoting ADF story.

I'd encourage you all to write the webmaster of this sight and ask that he/she apologize and set the record straight.

[nChrist]

Hello Hermann,

If you have proof that this article is false, I can only suggest that you write to the source of the article and provide that proof.

Christians Unite carries news stories from many Christian sources. The author of the article has nothing to do with Christians Unite and is not a member here. I would simply say that I'm not aware of a single article by the Christian news sources used by Christians Unite that has been proved false or malicious. If so, I'm not aware of it.

Regardless, the source of the article isn't Christians Unite, so your time would be better spent with the source, not one of the thousands of places where the article is available for Christians to read. I hope this helps some.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 100:5  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

[hermann]

Hi Tom, Thanks for your interest. Many of us parents here at the school have written to the ADF asking them to retract this story, and they have ignored us. We are getting the distinct impression that they are more interested in publicity than truth.

This leaves us with the option of contacting sites, such as this one, which have posted articles based on the ADFs false claims, and asking the site to be responsible. I've found most to be honest sites willing serve the truth by simply removing the content, or better still, at least giving their readers some pointers to more truthful sources.

The "Parents" site in my last posting contains eyewitness, firsthand information from dozens of parents who volunteer at the school; as well as numerous photographs. If you need even more proof the ADF story is false, check the links on our website to article in the LA Times & San Jose Mercury news articles - they back us up 100%. It's also worth noting that Stephen Williams himself asserted on the Hannity & Colmes show that the ADF statement that "The Declaration of Independence was banned" was (in Williams exact words) "a bit of a stretch".

You wrote:" I would simply say that I'm not aware of a single article by the Christian news sources used by Christians Unite that has been proved false or malicious."  Well, there's a first time for everything. People can claim to be Christian and still lie. The ADF press release initially fooled a lot of good people, but has definitely been proven false. "Malicious" is matter of opinion.

If you want more information WRT any aspect of this situation (and it's not on our web site)  feel free to email me.

It's been upsetting to me personally to have my children's school under the sheriffs protection. I get some solace by remembering the words of a famous Christian Preacher:

"Let no man drag you so low as to hate". -MLK

[nChrist]

Brother Hermann,

Let me look into this and pray about it. I'm just a volunteer here and really don't know what I can do. I will try to do what God leads me to do. In the meantime, I will be praying for your school and the children who go there.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 73:26  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

[hermann]

Hi Tom,
Just an update - The ADF has issued a correction to their earlier press release about our school. It stops short of the whole truth, but it's much better. Maybe your prayers helped!  

Here's the text of their correction. I hope you'll link to it in the original story. I'll post updates at www.stevenscreekparents.org

ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND STATEMENT
>
> January 27, 2005 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020
>
> ADF dispels misunderstandings
>
> about lawsuit against Cupertino Union School District
>
> SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Some media reports have incorrectly characterized the
> lawsuit filed on behalf of teacher Stephen Williams against the
> Cupertino Union School District as challenging a complete ban by the
> school of the Declaration of Independence from the entire school. That
> characterization is wrong.
>
> The text of our Nov. 23, 2004, news release on this lawsuit clearly
> stated that Mr. Williams was prohibited from using the Declaration in
> his classroom despite having sound academic reasons to do so.
> Additionally, the actual complaint is a public document and is (and has
> been) available at our Web site at
> www.alliancedefensefund.org/userdocs/WilliamsvCupertinoComplaint.pdf.
>
> What is at issue in this lawsuit is not the reputation or general
> quality of education at Stevens Creek Elementary School, where Mr.
> Williams teaches. It is the question of whether school officials
> violated the U.S. Constitution when they placed particular limitations
> upon Mr. Williams—and only Mr. Williams—pertaining to the teaching of
> his class. This is the question that led to informal efforts to resolve
> the problem and, when those failed, to court.
>
> After the lawsuit was filed, extensive media coverage and a vigorous
> public debate developed on the issue. Unfortunately, some people
> expressed themselves in a hateful, angry manner toward the school and
> others involved in the controversy. ADF deplores such uncivilized
> behavior on all fronts: such crude behavior by any person does nothing
> to further reasoned discussion of the fundamental rights at issue.
>
> ADF is America’s largest legal alliance defending religious liberty
> through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
>
> www.telladf.org

[nChrist]

Hello Hermann,

I did examine this, and I found the original ADF story to be true. I didn't see them trying to condemn the entire school, rather report the act of an administrator with a teacher and take action on it.

I would also disagree with cursing calls and other acts of hatred toward the school. However, the matter appears to be under litigation and could not be resolved without going to court. I would agree with the matter being taken to court.

It appears that ADF simply reported an incident that did happen. I don't see any misrepresentation by ADF. There may have been acts by other media sources, and I'm sure there was, but the ADF story appears to be true and accurate. I do remember some sensationalizing by other news media, but the original story from ADF appears to be accurate.

I know that you won't like my reply, but I won't be sitting on the court that hears the case. The ADF is not retracting or regretting their reporting, rather they are expressing regret that some people reacted in an improper way to their news report. In my mind, it boils down to whether the incident between the teacher and the administrator happened or not. Other parties were unable to resolve the issue without going to court, so I assume that the incident did happen. The ADF story only addresses actions taken against one teacher by the administrator, and it does not suggest a common practice in the entire school.

So, I must be honest and say that I want the matter to be resolved in court.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 113:2  Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

[hermann]

Hi Tom,

We are in complete agreement WRT wanting the matter being resolved in court. That's all any of us parents ever wanted. My issue is with the ADF aggressively booking time on TV shows and claiming we had banned the Declaration. Fortunately they have stopped doing that, and even issued the document I sent you. It seems hypocritical of them to provoke an angry mob like that and then condemn the mob, but that's what I think they did.

It is possible to interpret their original headline as applying only to a single classroom, however both myself and the 3000 angry people who contacted the school assumed it meant that the Declaration was banned school wide, which is obviously silly. christiansunite.com deserves credit in that your story is less inflammatory than the ADFs. I am sure McCaleb's comments (the inflammatory part) will be proven untrue in court, so I'm glad you have correctly attributed those to him and not presented them as fact.

I suspect that the ADF intended this to create the publicity it did to fuel their funding drive. Endangering kids to collect money isn't considered very Christian in my church, but I guess the ADF has a more creative interpretation of Christ than I do.

Thanks again for your prayers,

Hermann

[nChrist]

Brother Hermann,

My wife is a school teacher, and I am very aware of what's going on in ALL of our public schools. It's NOT just your school, but every school. What we are seeing today is an effort to take back and reclaim what has already been taken out of our public schools, ALMIGHTY GOD.

The devil has been busy in all of our public schools over the last 50 years. Our school systems of today don't even resemble the schools of 50 years ago. In terms of what can't be said or taught about GOD in public schools, the list is huge. The same is true of what can't be done that mentions Almighty God. Many of the texts used for instruction have already been changed, and GOD has been removed. There is an all-out assault on what little remains. There are huge lists of things that are ridiculous in every public school, and the lists are going to grow larger.

The Holy Bible tells us that Christians will be persecuted and hated by many for doing anything in HIS NAME. For us, the times grow worse, not better. My wife is a Christian teacher, and so are the vast majority in the school where she works. It has been true for many years that teachers can't teach real American history any longer. The truth has been changed and GOD has been removed. Some of the things that have taken its place are outrageous and evil.

Brother, every school in America is suffering with the same list of Antichrist issues, not just your school. Many Christians are trying to reverse some of what's already been done. I'm one of them, and I pray that all Christian parents and grandparents stand up and try to take our public schools back. I also pray that God guides us and directs us to do this in a way that will be most pleasing to HIM. That obviously will not include cursing, threats, and other forms of hatred.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.