Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Even My Aunt Rose Would Be Proud of the ACLU

Last month, my Aunt Rose told me that knew that Senator Barack Obama was a ‘secret Muslim’ because her friend Shirley read it on ‘the website’.

On “the website”. Like there’s one big website with all the information one needs to know, and if it’s on “the website”, it must be true.

Like those ads that say “as seen on TV!”, with the exclamation point added for extra credibility.

In New Jersey, the fine folks at the ACLU work on behalf of people of all religions. A few years back, they made sure that a school in Hunterdon County let a Christian second-grader sing "My God is an Awesome God" at their annual talent show.

More recently, they helped a Muslim student settle an issue from two years ago, that prevented him from attending his graduation from West Side High School. The school held their graduation at Baptist Church, and his Muslim belief prohibits him from entering a building with religious icons. He was forced to choose between “honoring [his] education and [his] faith”.

The result:
“…the district agreed not to sponsor or promote religious events, to no longer re ward students for attendance at religious events or ceremonies, and to stop using religious buildings or places of worship for school events.”
Thank you to the fine folks at the ACLU. I think even my Aunt Rose would be proud.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, they are fine folks and I believe they mean well.

However I am not sure they currently live up to your "Delta Force for Free speech"
post from http://newjerseypoliticsunusual.blogspot.com/2008/02/many-more-mensches-and-pick-of-putzes.html

Maybe I just expect too much.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm. What do you mean?

Anonymous said...

I am currently dealing with them on an issue. I wish I could comment further but it would not be appropriate.