Americans United for Separation of Church and State today hailed a Senate vote rejecting tax funding for religious facilities in the economic recovery package.

“The Senate has voted to reaffirm an important American principle that religious groups should pay their own way and not expect funding from the taxpayer,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United.

The 54-43 vote came after Religious Right groups began complaining that the proposed economic recovery bill (H.R. 1) was hostile to religion. In fact, the legislation merely states that tax funds used for school construction and rehabilitation may not be diverted to religious institutions.Church-state experts said such language has traditionally been part of legislation that deals with building projects and infrastructure. It’s necessary, they note, because the Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution bars use of public funds to build or renovate houses of worship and other religious facilities.

During the past few days, Religious Right groups have been asserting that the language will bar student religious groups from meeting at universities. Americans United pointed out that the provision has nothing to do with such meetings.

AU noted that the Supreme Court ruled in 1981 that public universities must give the same access to facilities to religious groups that is granted to non-religious ones.

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), an ally of the Religious Right, attempted to remove language in the bill that bans tax funding of religious facilities. AU and other organizations quickly pointed out that the DeMint provision is unconstitutional and unnecessary.

In a letter to all 100 senators, AU Legislative Director Aaron Schuham wrote, “The best and most important way our Founding Fathers sought to protect and promote religion was to ensure that government does not interfere with it. This language is just one more way that our laws reflect this constitutional requirement and important national tradition.”

Lynn expressed delight over the vote, the first up-or-down tally on a church-state issue in many years.

“Religion has traditionally paid for its own buildings and projects in America, and we’ve been better off for that,” Lynn said. “I’m thankful that the Senate has rejected this misguided and reckless gambit to sneak government-funded religion in through the back door.”

About the author: Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

AU Executive Director Barry Lynn

Americans United for Separation of Church and State on Wednesday urged the Texas State Board of Education to stick to sound science and reject creationist concepts when revising its science standards. The state school board is currently examining the science curriculum, which is reviewed and updated every 10 years. The Seattle-based Discovery Institute and other Religious Right forces are seeking to include loopholes that undermine instruction about evolution and open the door to creationist ideas.

Scientists, teachers, mainstream religious leaders and civil liberties activists want to improve the Texas standards to ensure that the public school classroom does not become a vehicle for religious indoctrination.

“Public schools should educate, not indoctrinate. The Religious Right is exploiting Texas public schools to push a narrow viewpoint and in the process is doing a great disservice to its students, not to mention undermining the mandates of our Constitution.” ~~   Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director.

The battle in Texas is focused on Religious Right-backed language currently in the standards that requires schools to teach the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution. That wording, experts say, is an invitation to introduce creationist concepts based on fundamentalist religion, not science.

“Let’s just hope members of the Texas school board recognize the ‘strengths and weaknesses’ language for what it is,” Lynn concluded. “If they don’t, they could be inviting public school districts to face some costly litigation.”

In its letter to the board, Americans United makes it clear that litigation may result if religious beliefs are introduced into public school science classrooms.

The board’s decision, which is expected to be made in March, could influence science instruction across the country. Texas is the second largest purchaser of textbooks, after California. To meet Texas standards, textbook producers may include creationist concepts in books that would circulate nationally.

A hearing is scheduled for today in Austin for individuals and groups to testify on the curriculum.

Religious Right groups have already succeeded in pushing through their agenda in Louisiana, which now allows science teachers to use “supplemental materials” to teach the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution. AU is closely monitoring whether religious beliefs are being introduced unconstitutionally as science by teachers in Louisiana.

The federal courts have repeatedly struck down other tactics used by the Religious Right to push religion in public science classes. In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court in Edwards v. Aguillard invalidated a Louisiana statute requiring science educators to “balance” teaching evolution concepts with “creation science” concepts.

In 2005, a federal district court said in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District that Pennsylvania public schools cannot teach “intelligent design,” a creationist concept that claims the universe and living things were created by an “intelligent cause.” The court ruled “intelligent design” unconstitutional for use in public schools because it is unscientific and religious.

About the Author: Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Not so, it seems. With McCain himself now saying he’ll kick Obama’s “you-know-what” in the upcoming debate (of course, it’s been the opposite at all of the debates so far), Palin has gotten the blessing to keep on blathering about things she clearly does not understand.

ABC News says that Palin “tones it down a notch,” but a “notch” down from the fever pitch of accusing the Democratic nominee of “pallin’ around with terrorists” and insinuating that he’s a terrorist himself, is, well, not much of a notch at all.

The ABC article reflects much of what’s been reported in the Associated Press, so the quotes that follow are pretty universal. With each passing statement, she proves just how out-of-touch with reality she really is. Take, for example, her asinine interpretation of just what all the “anger” their campaign has seen is all about:

While Palin cited the anger felt by many of her supporters — as expressed verbally at two separate town meetings earlier in the week — Palin attempted to turn it into a positive message on Republican nominee John McCain reforming Washington.  She did not turn it into anger at the Democratic nominee, who is leading the race in most national and battleground state polls.

“All across America, I know that there’s a lot of anger right now,” Palin said. “There’s anger about the insider dealing of lobbyists and anger at the greed of Wall Street, and anger about the arrogance of the Washington elite. And with serious reforms to change Washington, John McCain is going to turn your anger into action.”

Okay, Governor, let me see if I can explain it in small words so that you can understand. The anger you’ve seen isn’t about “insider dealing” or “lobbyists.” It’s all because you and your running mate (that’s the old guy who calls Obama “that one”) have whipped your base into a frenzy of vile hate. You’ve accused your opponents of “pallin’ around with terrorists,” and have created a state of fear across the country.

You, like many Americans, don’t even know the difference between a lobbyist and a lobby, which is made evident by all of these preachers who violated their 501(c)3 code last month with their “freedom Sunday” garbage. They clearly don’t understand the difference between an educational organization (which is what they’re supposed to be) and a lobbying group, which is a 501(c)4 organization.

Apparently, a “Christian-based” group of attorneys, the Alliance Defense Fund, encouraged pastors all across the country to do exactly what the 501(c)3 charter says they can’t do: attempt to influence an election from official positions within their organizations. Those many thousands of pastors violated the agreement they signed, and should be given the appropriate fines. Their goal, apparently, is to file a suit to have the tax laws rewritten or struck down by the Supreme Court.

Good luck with that.

So, Governor, since you have no clue what lobbying is for, and you have even less of a clue as to why there’s so much anger in your rallies, maybe you need to seriously consider the possibility that you just need you shut your mouth and learn something about how your government really works.

Clearly, this is a person who doesn’t need to be anywhere near the White House, let alone a heartbeat away from occupying it.

The ABC article further discusses her usage of the phrase “bad guys.” Apparently, she’s replaced “terrorist” with “bad guys” in order to continue to rile that low-level base of supporters for whom “terrorist” is probably too big of a word. No, wait. Maybe it’s too big of a word for Governor Palin. After all, she’s “one of us,” right? As Newsweek’s cover said recently, maybe that’s the problem:

While Palin made no mention of William Ayers, who just days ago she charged was “a terrorist” with closer ties to Obama than he will acknowledge, she did speak about “terrorists” in general as the “bad guys,” and then went on to describe the “bad guys” in the current economic crisis. It was unclear if Palin was attempting to allude to Ayers when speaking about “terrorists.”

“Help me Ohio to help put John McCain in the White House,” Palin said. “He understands… For one thing, we know who the bad guys are, OK? We know, we know that in the war, it’s terrorists, terrorists who hate America and her allies and would seek to destroy us, and the bad guys are those who would support and sympathize with the terrorists. They do not like America because of what we stand for: liberty, freedom, equal rights. Those who sympathize and support those terrorists who would seek to destroy all that it is that we value, those are the bad guys, ok?”

Really, Governor? Those are the bad guys? You mean that those who have completely shredded our constitution, diluted the right to free speech and the right to assemble peacefully, supported rampant wire taps, and have even put gay rights groups on list of “domestic terrorist” groups in recent years aren’t the bad guys?

There’s one phrase we need to look out for: “destroy all that it is that we value.” You see, dear friends and neighbors, her “values” have been clearly demonstrated in this past week as she continues to spread the lies and insinuations that Senator Obama is “pallin’ around with terrorists who would strike at their own country” and that she has abused her power in the firing of her ex brother-in-law.

Her “values” even questioned the local librarian as to whether or not certain books would be removed from the shelves of the Wasila public library if the then-mayor asked them to be. The librarian said no. She was later fired. More here and here.

Her “values” have said that she believes that homosexuality can be “prayed away” despite the fact that every single major medical, psychiatric, and professional group that works within the gay and lesbian community says otherwise.

Do us all a favor, Governor. You’ve said that you can see Russia from the front door of your home. Great. Go home. Better yet, we’ll help send you back there on November 4th.

Clarksville Women For Obama

Celebration marks 88th anniversary of passage of 19th Amendment. Tennessee’s ratification, as the 33rd state to do so, made the law effective. Many women made great sacrifices to make this legislation the law of the land. It is one of many fronts in the struggle for civil rights.

WomenForObama held a celebratory commemoration of the 88th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It was the 19th Amendment which gave women in the United States the right to vote. The Montgomery County Democratic Party Headquarters was the celebration site with a roster of prominent local women speakers who addressed the significance of women suffrage and civil rights in the furtherance of the American Ideal.

Motivational speaker Cindy Pitts with moderator Wanda McMoore

Wanda McMoore was the event moderator. As a mother, nurse, military service veteran and community organizer, she was a prime example of the women in times past who have fought for equality and justice while still balancing the demands of a family and career. She introduced each speaker and kept the event moving along on schedule.

Elizabeth Valdez-Adamski is from the Dominican Republic. She spoke of her childhood memories of being regarded as an outsider, a foreigner, because her skin was different and because she spoke with an accent. Her parents legally immigrated to the United States and worked hard to provide for their children. Yet she saw them suffer discrimination, prejudice and even denial. She has worked against those evils all her adult life as a community organizer. In her native country, it was women, the mothers, who waged the civil rights battles against their oppressive government. She told the gathering that more than anything else, government officials fear an active, involved citizenry. They fear it more than any terrorist threat. Citizens apathy and indifference actually work to a controlling government’s favor. To prevent this, every citizen has a responsibility to be engaged and watchful of its government.

Ms Laverne Walker addresses Women's Suffrage 88th Anniversary Commemoration

LaVerne Walker has made a career as an Equal Opportunity specialist and consultant. Her presentation was an acknowledgment of the women who had come before her in the struggle for civil rights. She told the gathering of women who fought, not just for women’s right to vote, but for universal civil rights when it was not a popular argument.

Walker pointed out that the struggle for women’s suffrage itself was born out of the struggle for voting rights for former slaves. Women of Color have played prominent roles in the fight for civil rights and for women suffrage. These women were often leading voices in those battles. This was particularly so in the Black community.

Isabella Baumfree is an unassuming name. She is better known as Sojurner Truth – and was a civil rights activist born in Ulster County, New York. Her given surname meant “tall as a tree,” which was appropriate – she grew to be 6 feet tall. Baumfree claimed that she talked to God quite often, which inspired her to go out and spread His word throughout the countryside.

In the 1840s abolitionists convinced Baumfree to work with them to end slavery. She used her oratorical skills and God’s “inner inspiration” to deliver the message that slavery should be ended. This inspired her to take the name “Sojourner Truth” because she said God told her to be a sojourner on the earth and to tell the truth. Both before and after the Emancipation Proclamation, Sojourner Truth remained a fervent black rights activist. She urged freedmen to educate themselves and pressed for rehabilitation of former slaves on Western U.S. soil. In her famous, “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech, she took direct aim at white women suffragists opposed to Black women also getting the right to vote.This exposed the racial prejudice within the womens’ suffrage movement. Ultimately, it served to advance Black suffrage and made Black women vested partners in the womens’ movement as well.

Ida B. Wells-Barnett sketch drawing

Ida B. Wells, who was a daughter of slaves, became a teacher. It was while teaching near Memphis, that she bought a half-interest in the Memphis Free Speech. She used the paper to denounce lynchings, and to urge blacks to boycott streetcars and to migrate west. The paper’s office was destroyed by a mob in 1882. After refusing a seat in a Jim Crow car, Wells carried an unsuccessful suit to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1887. Under the pen name of “Iola” she criticized the inadequacy of schools for blacks. The Memphis school board dismissed her from her job in 1891. In 1895, she married Ferdinand Lee Barnett, editor of the Chicago Conservator. A daughter, Alfreda, published her mother’s autobiography with the title, Crusade for Justice. Wells-Barnett was secretary of the National Afro-American Council in 1898. On February 12, 1909, she signed “The Call to Discuss Means for Securing Political and Civil Equality for the Negro.” As a result of that call, the Committee of Forty was formed (including Wells-Barnett). It led directly to the founding of the NAACP on May 12, 1910.

Sarah Breedlove, who is better known as Madame C J Walker, was one of America’s first Black woman millionaire. She built her financial empire on Black hair care products. In 1910 she settled in Indianapolis and established her Madam C J Walker Laboratories to produce her line of products and train her sales beauticians. Later she moved to New York city where she quickly became involved in the social and political life of the Harlem Renaissance. She became an ardent anti-lynching advocate, becoming an active supporter of the NAACP’s anti-lynching campaign.

Septima Poinsette Clark, of Charleston, S.C., was another pioneering woman civil rights advocate. She waged her battle long before the Voting Rights Act of 1964. In 1956 she was fired by the Charleston Board of Education when she refused to give up her membership in the NAACP. She came to Tennessee, joining the Highlander Folk School and along with Bernice Robinson, developed Citizenship Schools which taught Blacks how to read, write, fill out driver’s license exams, voter registration forms, Sears mail order forms and how to sign checks. These schools were a response to legislation in Southern states which required literacy and interpreting various portions of the US Constitution in order to be allowed to register to vote. These laws were used to disenfranchise black citizens. Citizenship Schools also taught students to act collectively and protest against racism. One her students was Rosa Parks. A teacher herself, she was a lifelong advocate for education, for Black people registering to vote and exercising their rights as American citizens, as guaranteed under the Constitution. She believed in Black women taking leadership roles in the struggle for civil rights.

Linda Barnes, a English instructor at APSU, said she tries to be sensitive to her female students, encouraging them to strive to excel in their studies and be strong individuals in themselves and their communities. Womanhood in America is no easy thing and these young women need to be aware of what struggles and sacrifices have gone before them to allow them to stand as they do now. Such encouragement was shown to her and she strives to ‘pay it forward,’ as it were, in acknowledging that debt.

Cindy Pitts is a motivational speaker. She is also the wife of State Rep. Joe Pitts. She uses her own life as a wife, mother, and professional women in addressing the various audiences she is called upon to address. The world view that women possess is often more complex than many men would admit or suspect. Denying citizens their civil rights because of gender, ethnicity, education level, marital status, socio-economic status or political party affiliation are all wrong.

Rejection of efforts to limit citizens’ supervision of their government was the foundation upon which this nation was built. How could we possibly propose to resort to such shameful human rights violations? Women are well aware of what hardships life can bestow. The power of committed women has shown the world the way out of many a despot’s suffocating grip.

The women who fought for women suffrage were such courageous women. Arguments they espoused in their struggle still resonate in today’s world. Women around the world envy the rights women enjoy in the United States. However, American women are not home free on the equality front. We all must remain committed to advancing human rights around our global community. The ballot is the key to that struggle. And, it belongs to every adult man and woman.

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(Non-bylined photos by Turner McCullough Jr.)

The ACLU focus is protecting the rights of individuals, whether they be in the minority or the majority. The ACLU shields citizens from abuse directed to minority groups. The are dedicated to defending, speaking up, and representing groups and individuals in court when said groups or individuals are threatened with loss of their constitutional rights.

An example of this singular purpose can be found in the neighboring state of Kentucky, as reported by the Associated Press. One recent headline, “ACLU to defend Amish on buggy light charges,” demonstrates ACLU involvement. In that article, distributed by Associated Press, the ACLU “will defend a group of Amish men in Kentucky charged with not displaying slow moving emblems on their horse-drawn buggies.”

Louisville Attorney William Sharp defend the seven men charged with not displaying state-mandated  flashing lights and an orange triangular symbol. The defendants said that “using the emblems and lights would violate their religious beliefs that prohibit possessions that are too worldly.” Sharp said the ACLU was interested in the case in the context of the Kentucky Constitutional right to the “free exercise of religion.”

The religious right of the Amish, a dedicated minority faith group, is being represented through the ACLU. The ACLU reminds us that we should all have the goal of respecting the religious rights of others and applying the principles of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to all citizens regardless of their religious affiliation.

I am grateful for the ACLU and their dedication in protecting the American public.

This is a reprint of Mr. Kucinich’s Op/Ed statement:

America must move from the errant, retributive justice of 9/11 to a healing, restorative process of truth and reconciliation.

Before the Congress adjourns, I will bring forth a new proposal for the establishment of a National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation, which will have the power to compel testimony and gather official documents to reveal to the American people not only the underlying deception which has divided us, but in that process of truth seeking set our nation on a path of reconciliation.

We suffer in our remembrance of 9/11, because of the terrible loss of innocent lives on that grim day. We also suffer because 9/11 was seized as an opportunity to run a political agenda, which has set America on a course of the destruction of another nation and the destruction of our own Constitution. And we have become less secure as a result of the warped practice of pursing peace through the exercise of pre-emptive military strength.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It is not simply 9/11 that needs to be remembered. We also need to remember the politicization of 9/11 and the polarizing narrative which followed, locking us into endless conflict, a war on terror which has wrought further terror worldwide and which has severely damaged our standing worldwide as an honorable, compassionate nation. As we were all victims of 9/11, so we have become victims of the interpretation of 9/11.

Our government’s external response to 9/11 was to attack a nation which did not attack us. Indeed on the first anniversary of 9/11, the Bush administration issued a well-publicized stern warning to Iraq which was part of a campaign to induce people to believe Iraq had something to do with 9/11.

The deliberate, systematic connection of Iraq with 9/11 has led America into a philosophical and moral cul-de-sac as over one million Iraqis and over 4155 US soldiers have died in a war which will cost over $3 trillion. Additionally, soldiers from 23 other countries have died in the Iraq war.

We attempt to unite Iraq by further dividing it. We talk about restoring Iraq while taking steps to place control of its vast oil wealth in the hands of US oil giants. And we intend to impose upon the Iraqi people the cost of rebuilding a country which our government ruined, keeping a once prosperous nation lashed to debt and poverty for a long, long time. Iraq has paid for 9/11. We all continue to pay for 9/11.

The heartbreaking loss of the lives and injuries to America troops further binds us to the Administration’s illogic of the Iraq war: We remember our troops’ sacrifice by demanding more sacrifice; we support our troops by continuing the war.

The dominant color of our new national security since 911 is neither red, white nor blue. Everyday is orange. Everyday reminders of fear of 9/11 become banal.. Yet we no longer hear the airport announcements nor see the orange colored warnings because they have commonplace standards in our new national security state, as is the Patriot Act, wiretapping, and a host of invasions of privacy and diminution of civil liberties. The Constitution has been roundly attacked by the very people who took an oath to defend it.

There is a powerful desire across America for change, not necessarily from control by one political party to another, but a change from living with lies to living with truth.

Over two dozen nations, facing peril within and without, deeply divided by politics and war have travelled down a path of restoring civil society through a formal process of reconciliation. At some point within each of those countries it was understood that the way forward is shown through the light of truth. This process is not without pain because it requires a willingness to study evidence to which eyes had been averted and ears had been closed. But in the process of truth and reconciliation, nations found new strength, new resolve, new commitment.

The South African Truth and Reconciliation enabled that nation to come to grips with its past through a public confessional, bringing forward those who committed crimes and having the power to grant amnesty for full disclosure of crimes against the people. Of course, our path may necessarily be different: High US government officials stand accused in Impeachment petitions of violating national and international law. Our continued existence as a democracy may depend upon how thoroughly we seek the truth. I will call upon the America people to join me in supporting this effort.

The truth can move us forward, as a unified whole, so that we can one day become a re-United States. 9/11 is the day the world changed. It is the day America embraced a metaphor of war. If we are open to truth and reconciliation, we may one day be able, once again, to embrace peace.

Editor: This column appears as an op/ed piece on Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s site.

I have been covering elections since 1968, back when I was too young to vote but old enough to be a journalist covering the elections. Just like the soldiers old enough to ship to Vietnam but not old enough to legally vote against that war.

I’ve only missed two elections in my voting life, and as a writer I’ve covered 30 years worth of voting ups and downs. I have painstakingly worked to implant the importance of voting to my daughter, my grandchildren (two of whom are now old enough to vote), and anyone who can and should be registered to vote. That’s why I found myself upset and disturbed at the end of the day, Thursday, August 7. Primary day. A day of another kind of infamy: a day of voter apathy.

What else can you call it when a meager 11.86% of the registered voters show up to cast their vote?

I have a number of other adjectives: disgraceful, unpatriotic, disrespectful, and just plain lazy. When I first voted in New England one brisk September morning, we had one day and one day only to show up and vote. It was dicier in November, when the odds of a cold November rain or even an early blizzard could change the shape of an election by placing oversized puddles, torrential downpours, an occasional ice storm, or a small blizzard in the way, limiting how easily a voter could get to a precinct on that solitary voting day. Forty years later in Tennessee, I have the opportunity of voting at my leisure anytime in the two-week “early voting” period or voting on the “day of…” Somewhere in that 15 day window of opportunity I can find time and enough good weather to get out and vote. What are we waiting for, door to door service?

Tim Barnes (far right) with supporters on the campaign trail as early voting ends. Barnes lost his senate bid in an election with a turnout of 11.86%.

Voting is right, a privilege, an opportunity. And yes, voting as it is done now with machines and ambiguous technology has its challenges, as evidenced by the demand for a return to veriafiable (read: Paper) ballots. But anyone who dares to think one vote, their vote, doesn’t make a difference need only look at the results in District 22 on August 7. A 19-vote difference with 11.89% of the registered voters showing up. Imaging the possibilities if even 50% had turned out.

Apathy and ambivalence rule; people think they cannot make a difference, that their voice doesn’t matter, that politicians listen then do as they please. Why not, since no one, including voters who have the power, opt to challenge them?

Apathy and ambivalence rule; as long as people are too lazy, too disinterested, too inattentive to get out and vote, they will continue to get the very thing they complain about: politicians who are disinterested and inattentive to the needs of the people. Do not dare to complain about conditions — political, economic, social — in this country unless you have taken the time to cast a ballot and speak your mind as should be allowed under the ever-diminishing U.S. Constitution.

As we are sleeping in our self-centered cocoons, our civil liberties and constitutional rights eroding before our eyes, and we have no one to blame but ourselves. We have the power to effect change; we simply choose not to use it. Yet we are arrogant enough to complain about the aftermath of our own indifference.

My mother used to say “clean your plate. There are starving children who would love to have what you have to eat.”

Listen up, folks. There are people in the world who would love to shape their government but will never have that opportunity. The average American, it seems, would rather toss that chance away with yesterday’s trash. We get what we deserve.

Tennessee Senator Rosalind Kurita

On Tuesday, and again on Wednesday, in the final stretch of the primary campaign, voters across the city of Clarksville received oversized full color postcards in the mail from State Senator Rosalind Kurita, cards that drove spikes of criticism at Tim Barnes and his law practice. Barnes is challenging Kurita for her 22nd District Senate seat on today’s election.

Today a coalition of 38 area attorneys came to Barnes defense while simultaneously calling on Senator Kurita to retract her statements and stating unequivocably that her comments as written on this mailer (and recapped on television and radio ads) were “shameful, and beneath the dignity, and the honor, of a Tennessee Senator.”

In a matter of four hours, the legal community rallied, creating a full page block ad denouncing the “Smear Barnes” ads and obtaining hand-signed signatures of dozens of local “legal eagles” as part of a statement of support for Tim Barnes. (Complete ad text/signatures at end of story). The full page ad is slated to run in The Leaf Chronicle today.

Atty. Mark Olson, one of the signatories on the response ad, submitted the following statement to Clarksville Online late Wednesday evening (8.6.08):

“Kurita’s ads attack the very foundation of our legal system. They are intended to question the integrity of the system. Clarksville, Tennessee is blessed with courageous Lawyers and Judges. Each person has their own thoughts, and I do not presume to speak for my fellow Lawyers, however, I believe the Lawyers who signed this ad were shocked by the attacks on the legal system from someone who is responsible for writing laws. I have practiced with and against everyone who signed. I have practiced before every Judge in the County. The Lawyers represent their clients honestly, without regard to who they “are”, and the Judges judge fairly on the facts alone. Kurita’s ads suggest something different and that is very, very wrong.

We got this advertisement together in about four hours. Given more time, more Lawyers would have participated.

Tennessee Senate District 22 candidate Tim Barnes

The distortions and half truths in Kurita’s ads are almost too numerous to count. But that is not as great a concern as her lack of understanding of the legal process. As a lawmaker she should at least have a basic understanding of the legal system. She does not.

Kurita’s ads claim Tim Barnes works to release criminals. Only a judge or jury can find the accused not guilty and “release” them. And then, only after a fair trial. People in Montgomery County receive fair trials. If they are guilty, they are punished. Is she against the Jury system? If she is against the Jury, she does not trust the people of Montgomery County.

Kurita’s comments demonstrate contempt for the legal system and the people of Montgomery County. Each and every year that she has served as a Senator, Kurita has voted on a Tennessee state budget which includes money to be paid to lawyers for the defense of the indigent in Tennessee. Does this mean that she supports “criminals”? Could it be that her statements made about Tim Barnes are made because a lawyer is running against her? This makes one question her true motives, doesn’t it? Is win at any cost her game?

Tim Barnes’ main legal practice is adoption. He brings together children who need a family with parents who desperately desire a child. You wouldn’t know that from her ad, would you? Tim Barnes has done more to create families with one adoption than this woman has done in all her time in office.

–Mark Olson

The ads in question, was likely designed by the Nashville firm, Fletcher and Rowley, whose company logo is “It’s all about winning!” The postcard dealt not with the heated issues of the campaign or the issues — everything from the economy to health care to jobs — that challenge residents across the district and the state. Instead, it targeted the kind of legal services offered through Barnes’ law practice. Although Barnes’ legal practice is rooted in family and adoption law, he, like many other attorneys in every city and county in America, has defended people facing charges that may include driving under the influence, spousal abuse/domestic violence, and other crimes. But that is far from the whole story.

This eleventh hour ads came across as a rant against both the lawyer and his clients; by denegrating the former,  defendants are also deemed not worthy of being afforded a defense as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. Without the dedicated work by prosecution attorneys, defense attorneys, and judges, there is no justice under the law. Not every defendant is guilty, or found guilty under the law. No individual is less worthy of defense than another.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Across the board, every person this editor spoke with, who viewed these ads, were appalled by the contents.

Clarksville Online has posted two items, an editorial and a political commentary, addressing these issues and the District 22 campaign (As the August 7th primary nears, campaign strategy turns “ugly” and Tennessee Senate District 22: In case of emergency, unleash Fletch ).

The following is copy of the controversial oversized postcard ad:

The latest anti-Barnes ad sponsored by Sen. Rosalind Kurita cites Barnes as anti-family, pro-criminal. Barnes in fact specializes in adoption law, helping to create and solidify family life for children in need of good homes.

The "back" of the latest anti-Barnes ad implies that Barnes makes a living from freeing criminals when in fact Adoption work is a prime focus of his legal practice.

The following is a copy of the response to this postcard ad by area attorneys, followed by a list of those who endorsed the ad, and thus the integrity of Mr. Barnes: 

Today’s thoughts on prayer concentrates on the issue of prayer in public schools, specifically in Florida, and how one organization is moving to remind school officials of how the United States Constitution applies to Florida — and to every state in the Union.

AU challenges school-sponsored prayer in Florida

Attorneys with Americans United have advised a Florida Public School to stop allowing a principal and other staffers to pray with students.

AU, after receiving complaints from community residents, asserts that Principal Mike Rio and several teachers were filmed on videotape praying with students on May 3, 2007, during a National Day of Prayer observance at Virgil Mills Elementary School in Bradenton. AU sent its letter on April 29 so there would be no recurrence of teacher-led prayer during this year’s National Day of Prayer, which was May 1.

“Government neutrality in matters of religion is particularly important in the context of public schools because students are legally required to attend – and are thus a captive audience – and because schoolchildren are considerably more impressionable than adults. ” AU’s letter asserts. “In accordance with these principles, the courts have held that school officials, teachers, and employees are not permitted to lead, participate in, or promote prayer with students.”

John Bowen, attorney for the school board , insisted nothing illegal is going on.

“I’ve talked to the principal, the assistant principal, and the school secretary, and a lot of information is erroneous,” Bowen told the Bradenton Herald. “To say the prayer meetings occur periodically throughout the school year is not true.”

AU asserts the tape clearly shows Rio participating in prayer and also pointed out that the prayer event was announced over the school’s public address system. (Reprinted with permission from AU)

This true story illustrates points that merit our thoughtfulness.

1. AU is in favor of prayer under the right circumstances. Their objection to mandatory time is in keeping with the teachings of Jesus.
2. Prayer over the PA system likely will violate other students concept of God. Even among protestant churches there are theological differences. Is a prayer in public assembly or a set time over a PA system Baptist, Methodist, or Mormon (or other) in content?
3. No matter how religiously dedicated the teachers or administration are, school isn’t the place for evangelizing.
4. The courts are always available to resolve such conflicts.
5. It is appropriate to speak out when our public schools violate neutrality on religious matters. It takes boldness to do so.

Last year I received word that a Christian drama group was to perform at one of our public high schools. This would be a violation of school policy and common sense if such an assembly was made mandatory or conducted during regular school hours. As to the content, such performances are acceptable if only values but not religious doctrine are presented.

Our educational leaders need our support and sometimes our guidance on meeting the needs of our students.

Yes we can “pray without ceasing.” In high school, I prayed often. I reserved Friday noon as the time for prayer and fasting in the privacy of the school stairwell. Private prayer in public schools isn’t prohibited, but it is to be done respectfully without infringing on the rights of other students.

AU is sometimes criticized for representing and supporting individuals whose constitutional rights are being violated. Their mission is to protect Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhist Americans and others from civil and religious leaders who restrict the rights of others based on religious belief or disbelief.

Recently the AU defied tradition in two South Carolina school districts where school were allowing religious proselytizing in their schools.

How the AU responded at the request of parents demonstrates their commitment and understanding that the Constitution applies to everyone. This story illustrates their mission in protecting the rights of children regarding proselytizing.

A baptist minister began with merit to help schoolchildren by supplying shoes to the most needy. Such a project up to this point is in keeping with the teachings of Jesus and other faith founders. That’s a positive action deserving of praise. Such a distribution is a holy and sacred act. It is sacrificial compassion.

So you may ask, where is the rub? What is there to object to since good is being done?

It is the second part of the project that precipitated this imbroglio. The good Baptist pushed the give-away with foot-washing rituals as an integral part of the give-way. Remember where this is occurring: on public school property. Christian rituals have meaning in our lives, and have appropriate places for such rituals to be conducted.

This “Laces of Love” program, sponsored by the First Baptist Church of North Augusta, had the addition of a religious ritual in a dollop and measure or evangelicalism/proselytizing.

The AU gave a positive and negative interpretation of this well-meaning project. Director Barry Lynn said:

“Providing poor children with new shoes is a worthy endeavor. But the manner in which the church is doing so is blatantly unconstitutional.”

The offending schools were informed that facilitating the program with the ancient ritual of foot-washing, or providing a list of needy children, hosting the foot-washing on school time was crossing and violating constitutional rights.

The result was that the school denied knowledge of the “foot-washing” ritual when the children received their shoes.

From this incident we learn several lessons on how to approach such issues:

1. Be kind to the person who reported this violation of religion separation or abuse in our schools.
2. Inform the school board or have an attorney report those abuses.
3. Just doing something good for the children is a sacred in itself. The imposition of religious ritual is unnecessary. The Spirit will bear witness to our acts of kindness.
4. Above all, the adage “there is a time and a place for everything” applies to religious rituals too.
5. We must be alert to respect our public schools in this matter of education. They do not need distractions or disruptions of the Constitutional rights of any citizen – child or adult.

I appreciate the Americans United and their wholesome contribution to our communities.

Editor’s Note: “… before Americans United issued its report, the local paper, the Augusta Chronicle, published several references to the practice. In a November 28th story previewing the giveaway, the Augusta Chronicle reported in a caption beneath the photo of Mark Owens (above), who leads the church’s “Laces 4 Love” project: “Before the Passover, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. In two weeks, nearly 300 volunteers will follow his example and kneel before school children to wash their feet.” Other photos …published by the Chronicle also refer to and show foot-washing.” http://www.jewsonfirst.org

Day after exhausting day this mid-western state was daily on TV and in the news. It overshadowed and neglected a recent but equally newsworthy event, yet this eclipsed event deserves an equally careful hearing and analysis.

The issue: a judgment by the 8th Circuit Court.

Americans United [for Separation of Church and State] won a lawsuit in federal court challenging the Iowa Corrections Department’s support for Charles Colson’s InnerChange, a prison program that trains inmates in evangelical Christianity.

“Faith-based” initiatives, which propose turning the provision of social services over to religious groups, threaten individual rights and could lead to taxpayer support of religious ministries. In those cases where religious groups want to take tax aid to provide relief, they should first agree to run secular programs and drop all forms of religiously based discrimination from their hiring policies.” – Americans United for Separation of Church and State

This Iowa court rendered a profound, sharp and ringing endorsement on on religion and the use of tax-dollars to support and subsidize the “Inner Change Freedom Initiative” [ICFI] in Iowa prisons.

The ICFI’s mission, with a fundamentalist indoctrination tenet, inclination and proclivity, is to minister to prisoners. Perhaps you already know that Charles Colson of Watergate fame [and a convicted criminal] is the author and presenter of this type of evangelizing and proselytizing program. While the program of ICFI is admissible to reduce recidivism among inmates, the use of tax dollars to accomplish it is in conflict with the U.S. Constitution. Evidence at the trial showed that the ICFI in Iowa disparaged Catholics and their staff members declared that Catholics were not Christians. The non-evangelical Christians didn’t escape scathing criticism either. Again, the staff referred to them as lost, pagan and those who serve the flesh.”

The ICFI is free to publicly endorse their own religious beliefs and publicly degrade the religious beliefs and faith of others. But in their prison ministry they received tax dollar support and special benefits to carry out this discriminatory outreach.

After the hearings and pronouncements by three judges, one prophetic voice summarized the significance of the ruling when he stated “I expected the decision to have a huge impact in support of our own fight to combat federal and state officials’ efforts to expand taxpayer funding of religious social services … and to halt the expansion of government aided religious ‘rehabilitation’ programs in prison more specifically.”

Whatever our faith — Baptist, Lutherans, Christians, Presbyterians — let us as U.S. citizens protect the U.S. Constitution. There are efforts to funnel our tax dollars to faith groups who in turn discriminate in their hiring and try to use social services and programs to push a personal religious agenda. With vigilance and courage to confront such efforts, the state of Tennessee will avoid such sectarian goals.

The trial was staged as part of a Constitutional Law I class taught by Professor Greg Rabidoux, Ph.D., J.D., and included a panel of Judges, Defense Counsel and Prosecutors, and witnesses; it filled room 308 of the Morgan Center and was a “dream come true” for many of us in the audience. Class member Michael Price said he “jumped” at the opportunity to be a prosecutor in this case.

Dr. Rabidoux and Defense Attorney DeJesus

Dr. Rabidoux explained to the audience that he had incorporated several features and procedures from different judicial forums and different types of law to help students learn the most in the shortest amount of time. On Tuesday, the prosecution and defense read their opening statements to the panel of judges; the prosecutors presented two key witnesses, and cross examination and re-direct was allowed. Re-direct allows prosecutors to ask questions again of the witness after the defendants are done with cross examination.

Four charges were brought against President Bush:

1. Disparate Treatment of US Citizens during Hurricane Katrina Response in violation of 14th Amendment. The Federal response to Hurricane Katrina provided unequal protection under the law by unqualified director Michael Brown who was picked by Bush as he passed over others more qualified. Defense so far: qualifications of officials are approved by President and reviewed and then approved by Congress.
2. Violation of Separation of Powers within Articles I-III of US Constitution. Bush is not just interpreting to clarify laws through signing statements, but actually and intentionally changing the actual law, attempting to assert power as a lawmaker and not just through his Article II [“He shall faithfully execute the law”] powers from the Constitution. A President is not a lawmaker. He has altered 750 laws. [Reference the following website: http://writ.news.findlaw.com/commentary/20060109_bergen.html]. Defense questioning: Was he not defining the laws, rather than changing them? Where in the constitution does it say he cannot do that?
3. Violation of Amendments I & IV, Freedom of Speech and Illegal Search and Seizure. Concerning wire tapping and eavesdropping on the American people: What is legal under the 4th Amendment and FISA, versus what has been made legal under the USA Patriot Act, and if in conflict, which one should prevail. There was deception on the part of the President in order to get the Patriot Act passed.  Had Congress had the facts, they would not have signed the Patriot Act to begin with, considering the clear violations of priviliges and due process rights offered by the Constitution under the Bill of Rights. The Prosecution presented FBI witness who testified she obtained no search warrants because of the President’s direct order to eavesdrop/wiretap. Defense so far: In time of war President has the right to defend the people’s freedom (Author’s note: At issue: Defend freedom by taking it?) The Act was passed by Congress; witness was almost abandoned as she seemed shaky on her presentation, but a motion to strike her testimony was denied.
4. Violation of the Geneva Convention Articles: Iraqis, specifically those in militias, were taken prisoner by the United States military when the U.S. military acted as an invading force.  Prosecutors presented CIA witness who testified that most Iraqis captured and held had no ties with insurgents and were released. When Iraq was invaded, the Iraqi soldiers were of course supposed to defend their country. They were found by the CIA to be law abiding citizens, not terrorists. The definition of terrorist per G.W. Bush is “a suspected member of Al Quaeda or the Taliban”. For taking prisoners of war on Iraqi soil, the U.S. and military must adhere to Geneva Convention Articles. Defense so far: What is this war called? (War on Terror) Are we at war with the Iraqi people? (That latter question was stricken as the witness was not an authority)

It was obvious to me that it was difficult for everyone to present their statements, to be interrupted with questions, be interrupted with objections about “leading” witnesses, changing the question, listening and voicing objections. Still, they did very well, and as the process went on the students improved their strategies, thought processes and reactions. The Judges had a time period of asking questions of both sides. The prosecution offered ample evidence of detailed case preparation: they knew their stuff. Judges asked for definitions and how each side stood on the issues.

A defense attorney tried to get a witness to say that we didn’t violate Iraqi citizen’s rights because we are at “war with terror,”not with the Iraqi people. When asked for facts she said, “It’s all over the news!” as if that proved it.

Serving as Lead Prosecutors were Michael Hughey, Mike Price and Liz Borsavage. Candace Broady also conducted some direct examination. Lead Defense is Frankie A. DeJesus, along with Matt Harris and Jessica Lance.

Day 2 of the U.S. vs Bush continues Thursday, Nov 29, from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. at the Morgan Center, Room 308. The day’s agenda includes the presentation of defense witnesses, rebuttal witnesses and closing arguments. This landmark APSU event is open to the public.

Judge Walters asks a question

Photos by Debbie Boen

Political leaders are well aware of the power of stories. They manipulate people by trying to control the story, to force the narrative into the channel they desire. Through modern techniques of psychological manipulation and mind control they have become very good at managing the populace. That has never been more true than today, when the American people seem to have turned over their fate to the Bush regime in Washington.

What is the story used by Bush and his minions to lull the people into mindless obedience? It is the strong daddy protector. In this story, we are innocent, helpless children who are threatened by an evil being that want to destroy us. But the strong daddy protector will not allow this to happen. Where the evil being is all darkness and malevolence, the strong daddy protector is all light and good.

The motivating force in the strong daddy story is fear. As innocent, helpless children, we cannot defend ourselves against the malevolent evil. We can only flee to the beneficent strong daddy for protection. We must choose between the good and the evil, which is portrayed in absolute terms: the evil is all evil and the good is completely good. To doubt the strong daddy in any way is a betrayal of the good and a triumph for evil.

I believe that this is the current story being played out in America today. It helps explain the vitriol poured upon those who dare question the motives or policies of the president. It explains also the seeming paralysis of people, who know something is very wrong, but can’t seem to do anything about it (helpless children). It explains the need for periodic fixes of fear designed to insure continued addiction.

A darker vision, a more sinister tale, has come to haunt me. I feel as though I were living through some of those 50’s and 60′ s sci-fi movies that used to scare and thrill me. The movies where everyone and everything seemed to be normal�, but there was a sense of underlying dread and unreality. I think of Invasion of the Body Snatchers� as alien invaders insidiously usurp the bodies and minds of people. They still look and act the same, but not quite. Or, again, The Village of the Damned�, where the children of the village have been transformed by an unknown, malevolent force into unfeeling automatons.

The sci-fi movies of that era are generally regarded as symbolic representations of the communist menace, which, it was claimed, subverted men’s (and women’s) souls to the will of the party. The individual ceased to exist and the state became all. I remember that era well. Remember reading about how horrible the Soviet Union was, were there was no individual freedom. Where the state spied upon its citizens. Where you were not allowed to speak out against the state. Where people would be taken in the middle of the night and thrown into secret prisons. And tortured. And killed. I remember thinking how terrible this was. I remember being grateful that I lived in a country that celebrated human freedom and expression.

But in the past few years I increasingly feel as if I am trapped in some kind of time warp, where fiction has become reality. People continue to act as though everything is normal, despite some really weird things happening. They talk about freedom, even as the president and the congress shreds the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Gone is the right to security of your own home: the FBI can search your home anytime it wants without having to notify you. Gone is your right to privacy: the president claims the right to wiretap you anytime and any where he pleases. Gone are your legal rights: habeus corpus, bedrock of the law for centuries, is no longer. Gone are your rights of citizenship: the president can declare you an enemy combatant and snatch you off the streets and disappear you, apparently forever. Can someone please tell me when we became the Soviet Union?

Of course, if the picture of present reality as I have painted it is true, I am left with explaining why so few people get it�. This is where we return to the strong daddy story. Most people have bought so strongly into that narrative that they must ignore evidence to the contrary. They want so much to believe in it that they are unable to allow that evidence to penetrate awareness. They mutter the mantra USA! USA! USA!� while continuing to believe in the goodness of their leaders.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I hear the theme music and Rod Sterling’s voice: You are entering the Twilight Zone!