ACLU v. Slidell, Louisiana et al.
“To Know Peace, Obey These Laws,” reads a plaque below a painting in a Louisiana courthouse lobby. That’ll be easier said than done, because the town of Slidell won’t be getting any peace soon and “these laws,” the American Civil Liberties Union would remind us, are still open to interpretation.
The always interesting ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of an unnamed plaintiff who registered a complaint about the painting, which portrays Jesus Christ with a Russian-language Bible. Defendants to-be are the city of Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, and city judge James Lamz.
The ACLU is, of course, arguing issues of church and state. In a well-quoted statement, president and acting executive director of the Louisiana ACLU chapter Vincent Booth said that “We did not file this lawsuit because the ACLU is anti-religion … We did file this lawsuit because we believe this display is clearly in violation of the law.”
Naturally, many rallied round Jesus’ cause, as protestors demonstrated in support of keeping the artwork. By far the most hilarious quote came from Slidell Mayor Ben Morris. His Honor compared the ACLU to “American Taliban who seek to destroy our culture and heritage.”
Local talk radio host Jeff Crouere has no doubt gotten lots of airtime out of the flap; online, he’s got an editorial running entitled, “Louisiana Jesus Court Portrait Right Move.”
Crouere seeks to set the record straight about the ACLU. “What is sad,” he opines, “is that the ACLU is pursuing a matter that was never a controversy in the past. In fact, in the ten years that court has been in existence, no one has ever complained and no one has ever been able to point to an incident of discrimination based on religion. It was a manufactured crisis to get headlines for the ACLU.”
The ACLU specializes in such activities, writes Crouere: “Typically, the ACLU is acting like a bully and trying to force the court to make an action that is counter to the wishes of the vast majority of citizens in the community. … Real violations of civil liberties are not a focus of the ACLU; instead headline grabbing controversies are their forte.”
Interestingly, Crouere then proceeds to openly question why the ACLU doesn’t do something about the poor performance of law enforcement, the DA and judges in
Louisiana.
Um, Jeff, that’s not really their business, is it? And shouldn’t Crouere be remembering ACLU participation in Hurricane Katrina actions, as well? In theory, this gang is an equal-opportunity rights defender, after all…
The ACLU is no more concerned with “equal opportunity” and constitutional rights than was, oh, Joe Stalin. ACLU founder, Roger Baldwin, flatly stated, “Communism is the goal.” These four words explain the actual anti-American history and actions of the ACLU. I offer here just two of many proofs.
The first step of communist takeover: disarm the people. Thus ACLU’s policy of ignoring 2nd amendment violations. Another critical step toward communism: Abolish any faith in a higher power other than the state. Thus ACLU’s relentless and very successful attacks on faith-based displays, as well as relentless but unsuccessful attacks on the Boy Scouts.
Mayor Morris’s quote is spot-on. The Taliban is a good recent example of how not to lead a nation and tactically, they parallel the ACLU on many fronts. He could have included the Khmer Rouge and Third Reich but Joe Sixpack probably wouldn’t know who they were. Do you? At any rate, please be more informed. Ignorance is bad form, no matter who exhibits it.
If you learn nothing else here, learn this: communism, not the protection of our constitutional rights, is the goal of the ACLU.
Please join stoptheaclu.com.
Regards,
W. Kelly Martin
Dear W. Kelly Martin,
Thanks for writing! In researching this piece and others, i’ve come across StopTheACLU.com, a very good website.
I’m no fan of the ACLU and, regardless of whether you agree with the organization or not, surely as good Americans we should defend its right to argue constitutional cases in court, no?
However, W. (can i call you W.?), your cheap shot was completely unwarranted. Yes, i know what the Third Reich and the Khmer Rouge are. Nice try, but referring to “Joe Sixpack” does yourself a bit of a disservice, surely. I’m glad to see that StopTheACLU members look as loftily down on the common man as their opposition.
As for the “equal opportunity” comment, note that the article reads “‘equal opportunity’ defender.” You may recall that, back in the 1980s, the ACLU went high-profile in defending a man that would have made Goebbels proud: Lt. Col. Oliver North. (Do you know who he was?)
Yours,
Os Davis