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ACLU bullies small-town festival for including Christians
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | November 10, 2008

Posted on 11/11/2008 2:19:25 AM PST by Man50D

The Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union fired off a letter to the mayor of Thibodaux, La., warning that the small town's promotion of a city festival featuring Christian bands may be a violation of the First Amendment.

The Thibodeauxville Festival, which draws nearly 12,000 people to the town whose population barely exceeds 14,000, has featured fun, food, street dancing and bands from a variety of genres for the past 16 years.

But when the ACLU spied the city's seal on a flier that also promoted the Christian bands performing at the festival, it took action.

Marjorie Esman, executive director of ACLU Louisiana told WWL-TV, New Orleans, "We wrote to a letter to the mayor, copied the president of the chamber, asking them for the future to not include religious expression in the event." Kathy Benoit, president of Thibodeaux Chamber of Commerce, told the station she was surprised by the letter.

"The city's logo appears on the some of marketing materials because of the cooperation we get," said Benoit. "They allow us to use these streets, and it's just a partnership, but they do not give us any money at all."

Esman, however, contends differently.

"We know that the city does provide some funds to the chamber," Esman said. "We're not sure what those funds are used for. The fact is, the city has its official logo on these fliers."

(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: aclu; antichristian; bullies; christianmusic; freespeech; lawyers; louisiana; nofreespeech; religiousliberty; thibodaux

1 posted on 11/11/2008 2:19:25 AM PST by Man50D
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To: Man50D

Feed ‘em to the gators, Thibodaux.


2 posted on 11/11/2008 2:21:42 AM PST by Tax-chick (Teenage mutant tortilla chips - only at Wal-mart!)
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To: Man50D

It is a violation of the freedom of speech to allow Christian bands to perform? I would think it would be freedom of speech to allow anyone and everyone to perform.

But alas, I am only a lowly conservative without double standards.


3 posted on 11/11/2008 2:22:19 AM PST by SoldiersSister (SoldiersSister)
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To: Tax-chick

I agree.

Take the ACLU whack-jobs down to the bayou for a little visit! LOL


4 posted on 11/11/2008 2:23:54 AM PST by SoldiersSister (SoldiersSister)
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To: SoldiersSister

They’re trying to present the performance of a Christian band at a town festival as “establishment of religion.” Of course, if Judas Priest or that Swedish death-metal band with the cellos played, it wouldn’t be “establishment of Satanism.”

I’d say I hope the Louisiana Civil Liberties Union chokes on their crawfish, but that wouldn’t be kind.


5 posted on 11/11/2008 2:29:03 AM PST by Tax-chick (Teenage mutant tortilla chips - only at Wal-mart!)
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To: Man50D

The ACLU contends that the First Amendment does not apply to Christians.


6 posted on 11/11/2008 2:29:53 AM PST by FormerACLUmember (When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.)
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To: Tax-chick

Now if they were hosting a celebration of Moloch to commemorate Roe vs. Wade, that would be a “cultural event” and therefore okay.


7 posted on 11/11/2008 2:31:16 AM PST by BipolarBob (Democrats: Hunting is murder but abortion is a right. God will not be mocked.)
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To: Tax-chick

I agree with that as well. I understand that this is the excuse they always use.

The separation of church and state is a fraud the way they use it anyway. But who are the crazy libs to actually study and learn what our Founding Fathers really intended? No need to start now, I guess.

Crawfish sounds yummy about now. Maybe they can choke on Gator Tail? Or the Gators can choke on them? Now......that was NOT nice! Bad girl, no cookies! ;)


8 posted on 11/11/2008 2:32:28 AM PST by SoldiersSister (SoldiersSister)
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To: FormerACLUmember

Marginalize people first, less guilt when they genocide them later


9 posted on 11/11/2008 2:33:25 AM PST by 1000 silverlings (Everything that deceives also enchants: Plato)
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To: SoldiersSister

Crawfish does sound interesting ... I wonder if I can get any at the frou-frou food market ...


10 posted on 11/11/2008 2:35:23 AM PST by Tax-chick (Teenage mutant tortilla chips - only at Wal-mart!)
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To: Man50D
The fact is, the city has its official logo on these fliers.

Uh oh, wrong seal. Authorized events must have this one:


11 posted on 11/11/2008 2:35:27 AM PST by Ezekiel (Strange things are afoot at the Circle K.)
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To: BipolarBob

Of course.


12 posted on 11/11/2008 2:35:46 AM PST by Tax-chick (Teenage mutant tortilla chips - only at Wal-mart!)
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To: Man50D; All

WE really need to let the folks know that the ACLU is mostly funded by taxpayer dollars. Show the people how radical they really are. I know folk down there in Thibidaux (pronounced Thibido), I see that something bad might happen, If the cajuns accept it, what hope do we have.

Look for buried news reports about this clash.


13 posted on 11/11/2008 2:36:42 AM PST by ChetNavVet (Build It, and they won't come!)
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To: Man50D
FIGHT THEM, Thibodaux.

We need to let the thugs know from the get-go that we're not just going to lie down and take their crap.

14 posted on 11/11/2008 2:39:00 AM PST by Allegra
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To: ChetNavVet

I agree with you. Those are some Louisiana folks are tough people! If they cave we are in trouble.

I also believe the word needs to get out that the ACLU is mostly funded by our tax dollars. I would bet most people do not know that.

Heck most people didn’t know who Obama’s running mate was. :P


15 posted on 11/11/2008 2:39:30 AM PST by SoldiersSister (SoldiersSister)
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To: SoldiersSister

Ha, I knew Texans who wouldn’t even stop for gas driving through Looziana, so you can be sure the ACLU stalwarts will only send a letter.


16 posted on 11/11/2008 2:42:05 AM PST by 1000 silverlings (Everything that deceives also enchants: Plato)
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To: SoldiersSister

Hard to know, especially when they keep Plugs so well hidden...


17 posted on 11/11/2008 2:45:48 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: Man50D
this @$%^&^ should have to spend 6months as a comfort girl at GITMO then feed her to the gators.without a picture I'm guessing this would be considered torture to the detainees but that's life and I've had all I can stand of this @$%^. the only thing that keeps me going is waiting to see the look on the faces of people like her when they are stoned to death by the muslims they destroyed our country and constitution for.
18 posted on 11/11/2008 2:46:50 AM PST by rednekelmo (American Republic 7-4-1776 to 11-4-2008 RIP)
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To: Man50D

“first thing, let’s kill all the lawyers”.
Nahhh, first thing, let’s kill all the A.C.L.U. lawyers.


19 posted on 11/11/2008 2:52:38 AM PST by Joe Boucher (An enemy of Islam)
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To: Allegra

Let the ACLU lawyers appear in Thibodaux to investigate. When no one is looking, clock ‘em on the head and drag ‘em out to the swamp.

“No, no lawyers showed up in this here small town, not that we know of. Did you call your office in Gitmo to see if your staff members showed up there? They seem to spend a LOT of time there.”


20 posted on 11/11/2008 2:55:34 AM PST by 17th Miss Regt
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To: Tax-chick

The Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union fired off a letter to the mayor of Thibodaux, La., warning that the small town’s promotion of a city festival featuring Christian bands may be a violation of the First Amendment.


Okay someone needs to expalin to me how exercising free speech can be a violation of the Free speech amendment. These people are insane and out of control. We Must take our Country back from these Communsits NOW


21 posted on 11/11/2008 3:02:56 AM PST by SECURE AMERICA (Coming to You From the Front Lines of Occupied America)
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To: Tax-chick

They’re trying to present the performance of a Christian band at a town festival as “establishment of religion.” Of course, if Judas Priest or that Swedish death-metal band with the cellos played, it wouldn’t be “establishment of Satanism.”

You’ve made a great point. But conversely, I think that’s the ACLU’s point too (stay with me on this, simply for arguement’s sake)

The idea, I think, the ACLU is trying to point out is that under the First Amendment if one group with a religious viewpoint is presented as a cultural event with city (i.e., government) sponsorship, then ALL bands have an equal right to the same treatment. So if a Christian band gets to perform on the pubic dime, so does a Jewish group, Muslim group, Hindu, and so on and so forth. But unfortunately, that means such “religions” as Satanists and Scientologists would also have an equal share in that pie, since the government isn’t in the business of saying which religions are acceptable and which are not. That’s part of what the Founders of the nation established from the get go. If you provide space and/or $$$ for one way of looking at God, then other faiths have an equal share in that pie.

Not that we have to like it! But it’s part of the code that established this nation and we have to abide by it if we want to uphold the values of our country and constitution.


22 posted on 11/11/2008 3:03:15 AM PST by Arnie001
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To: Man50D

“We know that the city does provide some funds to the chamber,” Esman said. “We’re not sure what those funds are used for. The fact is, the city has its official logo on these fliers.”

Nor is it any of your dam business.
I certainly hope the good people ignore this nonsense. The mere mention of “Christian bands” is establishment of religion?
Only if you accept that the mention of ACLU is the establishment of stupidity.

[No...wait...that didn’t come out right...;]


23 posted on 11/11/2008 3:05:19 AM PST by Adder (typical basicly decent bitter white person)
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To: Joe Boucher
“first thing, let’s kill all the lawyers”.

Careful with the kill the lawyer notion. My father's a lawyer and would never support the socialism that the ACLU is pushing.
24 posted on 11/11/2008 3:07:29 AM PST by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
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To: Tax-chick

You think Judas Priest is satanic?


25 posted on 11/11/2008 3:07:43 AM PST by humblegunner (Where my PIE at, fool?)
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To: Arnie001
But it’s part of the code that established this nation and we have to abide by it if we want to uphold the values of our country and constitution.

No, it's really not. There's nothing in the Constitution to say that every event has to include every viewpoint. If the patrons of the Thibodaux festival wanted to hear the Swedish metal-cello band, or a local equivalent, there's no reason to believe they wouldn't be hired. However, the market for such - or sitar-playing, Dervish-whirling, or Judas Priest - in small-town Louisiana is limited, to say the least.

26 posted on 11/11/2008 3:07:50 AM PST by Tax-chick (Teenage mutant tortilla chips - only at Wal-mart!)
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To: humblegunner

Just going by what my teenagers say.


27 posted on 11/11/2008 3:08:20 AM PST by Tax-chick (Teenage mutant tortilla chips - only at Wal-mart!)
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To: Arnie001
In other words, capitulate to the ?
28 posted on 11/11/2008 3:18:17 AM PST by Bushbacker1 (President Bush has let me down! Palin in 2012!)
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To: Man50D

My brother in law is a very conservative lawyer.
Belongs to the Florida Bar. That group takes his dues and gives it to liberal lawyers running for public office.
Other conservative who have to belong to the Bar complain of their money being used solely for liberal causes and none going for conservatives.
The quote is from Shakespere.
I just changed it to A.C.L.U. types. I think that fair.
As for your father, I hope he is not in the a.c.l.u. taking away folks rights.
Some lawyers I’ve found to be good folks. course I know a dentist who is a good guy too so anyone has a chance to be good.


29 posted on 11/11/2008 3:22:29 AM PST by Joe Boucher (An enemy of Islam)
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To: Man50D

Take the ACLU folks over to the Atchafalaya for a sightseeing tour.


30 posted on 11/11/2008 3:27:04 AM PST by ought-six ( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: Man50D

The ACLU and their ilk somehow always manage to miss the part of the 1st Amendment that reads “or prohibition thereof.”


31 posted on 11/11/2008 3:34:02 AM PST by macrahanish #1
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To: Man50D
Marjorie Esman, director of the Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union, talks with host Harry Greenberger.

Part one of three
Part two of three
Part three of three
32 posted on 11/11/2008 3:38:18 AM PST by Brown Deer
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To: Man50D

I pity the yankee lawyer who goes to LA to tell those Cajuns that they cannot have a party! Think tar, feathers, and fence-rail time ... with hot sauce in the tar!


33 posted on 11/11/2008 4:03:02 AM PST by ByteMercenary (9-11: supported everywhere by followers of the the cult of islam.)
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To: ByteMercenary
I pity the yankee lawyer who goes to LA to tell those Cajuns that they cannot have a party! Think tar, feathers, and fence-rail time ... with hot sauce in the tar!

Me too! These guys haven't seen "rough & ready" like they will if they show up there wanting to break up a good cajun party. My sister lived in New Orleans for years so I have a little insight. They do love their celebrations! Let them yankees come on down! LOL

34 posted on 11/11/2008 4:13:02 AM PST by SoldiersSister (SoldiersSister)
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To: Joe Boucher

There was a society of men among us, bred up
from their youth in the art of proving by words
multiplied for the purpose, that white is black
and black is white, according as they are paid.

Jonathan Swift (IV:5)


35 posted on 11/11/2008 4:13:11 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Obama, Change America will die for.)
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To: SECURE AMERICA
The first amendment states "Congress shall pass no law...", but the ACLU is against even the most marginal connection between any government entity or person and any Christian entity or person.

The second amendment is for "the right of the people" but the ACLU will fail to act on behalf of individual people.

36 posted on 11/11/2008 4:16:34 AM PST by CDFingers (Free Massachusetts!)
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To: Man50D

The ACLU is a group of evil people who understand that the way to destroy America is to destroy the moral foundation we rest on. They have done a great job of it but have more work to do. They do it with relish and pleasure.


37 posted on 11/11/2008 4:19:46 AM PST by Bulldawg Fan (Victory is the last thing Murtha and his fellow Defeatists want.)
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To: Man50D

This lady went to my daughters school. She is a real piece of work. Very anti-military.


38 posted on 11/11/2008 4:25:46 AM PST by Pikachu_Dad
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To: Man50D
The Mayor should have sent a letter back saying that they do not take orders from anti-American Nazi SOBs.
39 posted on 11/11/2008 4:40:37 AM PST by YOUGOTIT (The Greatest Threat to our Security is the Royal 100 Club)
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To: Man50D

“We know that the city does provide some funds to the chamber,” Esman said.”

In other words, the city has funds that the ACLU wants to get their hands on. That is the only reason they exist—to grab public funds.


40 posted on 11/11/2008 4:49:37 AM PST by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: Arnie001

Understand what you are saying....except there is no “public dime”, that we know of. No mention of denying anyone anything...just a statement that Chirstian bands would be there.


41 posted on 11/11/2008 4:56:28 AM PST by Adder (typical basicly decent bitter white person)
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To: Adder

“Understand what you are saying....except there is no “public dime”, that we know of. No mention of denying anyone anything...just a statement that Chirstian bands would be there.”

Good point. And it doesn’t sound like they’re favoring one group at the exclusion of others. That’s very important.


42 posted on 11/11/2008 5:06:13 AM PST by Arnie001
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To: Arnie001
You mistakenly regard government as some kind of final authority. The PEOPLE are the final authority and government SERVES THEM. “The code that established this nation” was brought into being by men who infused it with Reason and who expected that it would be illuminated by such down through time. They never could have realized that Satanism would be dumbly elevated to a status alongside Christianity.

In my view it is time for the Right to cut the crap and start responding to these idiotic, evil arguments like we actully are possessed of some remnant of our God-given brains and balls.

43 posted on 11/11/2008 5:07:01 AM PST by TalBlack
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To: SoldiersSister
WOW!!!These BASTARDS actually think they have the power over What bands get booked at a festival!!!

When wil we rise up and slap these vermin down?

44 posted on 11/11/2008 5:26:01 AM PST by Cheapskate (Play loud and carry BIG sticks!)
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To: BipolarBob
There you go!!!!Abortion IS sacrificing babies to Moloch!!!
45 posted on 11/11/2008 5:30:17 AM PST by Cheapskate (Play loud and carry BIG sticks!)
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To: Joe Boucher

.....could be the first acts of a new dawn of freedom.


46 posted on 11/11/2008 6:31:41 AM PST by B.O. Plenty (I am not ....him!)
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To: All
Christian Bands? When did salvation get extended to covering bands? Do they get baptized simultaneously?

Why can't they just be bands who happen to sing about Jesus?
47 posted on 11/11/2008 6:36:42 AM PST by j_k_l
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To: Man50D
Here's the offending flyer...

There's a city seal on the flyer, right above the listing of Corporate Sponsors. However, the flyer clearly states that the festival is sponsored by the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, NOT the City of Thibodaux.

The city logo is there denoting an event being held in the city.

The aclu can go pound sand.

48 posted on 11/11/2008 11:19:07 AM PST by rock_lobsta (Not Your Ordinary Crustacean.)
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To: Bulldawg Fan
The ACLU is a group of evil people who understand that the way to destroy America is to destroy the moral foundation we rest on.

That is confirmed by the Communist Goals as read into the 1963 Congressional record. Some of the points:

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."
49 posted on 11/11/2008 5:00:02 PM PST by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
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