ACLU Says "God Bless America" Unconstitutional in School

The Sacramento Bee ^ | October 6, 2001 | Ryan McCarthy

[Star Traveler]

The ACLU says the message 'God Bless America' divides kids by religion and is unconstitutional.

A demand by the American Civil Liberties Union that Breen Elementary School in Rocklin remove a "God Bless America" sign prompted angry parents, students and administrators to rally at the school Friday evening.

[nocommies]

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!! (hope i didnt offend anybody, or make anyone here feel uncomfortable)

[angkor]

Why don't they change it to "In God We Trust."

And when is the ACLU going to sue the U.S. Mint?

[Rustynailww]

painful rectal itch to the aclu.

[Disgusted in Texas]

God Bless America!Love it or leave it!

[lavaroise]

ACLU's beliefs and mandates are unconstitutional in our schools

n'ough said.

[rdb3]

Won't someone relieve me of the menace of the ACLU?

[VA Advogado]

Stella Richardson, media relations director for the ACLU of Northern California, said, "It is entirely unprecedented" for a school not to take down a message such as Breen displays.

Translation: Something's just not right. Usually they roll over for us (ACLU terrorists).

[HEFFERNAN2]

Hope I don't offend anybody but the A.C.L.U. can just jump up Irish *ss. God bless America. Semper Fi, Mike

[mustapha mond]

The enemy is not just in the middle east, watch your backs the ACLU is here.-MM

[ThreeG]

If only every school district stood up to the ACLU like this. The stand being taken by the ACLU does not promote freedom or protect civil liberties. The Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of speech. It also rightly separates church and state. God is not a church. Our children are not the state.

[LeeMcCoy]

The ACLU couldn't have picked a worse time for this nonsense. May God indeed bless America, and remove these idiotic notions from our sight!

[oust the louse]

I ditto your feelings.

[Star Traveler]

Why don't they change it to "In God We Trust."
And when is the ACLU going to sue the U.S. Mint?

I keep waiting for the wild and crazy idiots over there to do that next.

[alloysteel]

Who died and left ACLU in charge of the world? Where does this self-appointed bunch get off by imposing their views on the rest of us? Do we have to obey the unjust legal rulings they foist on the unsuspecting public? How about a little civil disobedience to their edicts?

[mustapha mond]

What you need to understand is that some of us will NEVER accept a Godless taxpayer (ME) funded public sector. Thats not to hard to understand is it?-MM

[susanmdavidson]

Hmmmmm. "Allah Bless America" has an interesting ring to it! Today, I noticed that a local Catholic church has a beautiful flag displayed at its rectory, but the church itself was flagless ... keep Church and State apart! Our mental efforts with regard to our civil and, in these times both corporal and fiscal rights, would be better spent on demanding that our government revoke all the H-1 Visas in this country who have taken jobs from United States citizens, no? Thanks for the post. Susan M. Davidson - my e-mail: susan@susanmdavidson.com

[Star Traveler]

The ACLU couldn't have picked a worse time for this nonsense. May God indeed bless America, and remove these idiotic notions from our sight!

We could send the whole "lot" of them (ACLU) over to talk to Osama bin Laden (tell him their his "defense team"), and then nuke 'em all at once. :) :)

That's getting rid of two evil groups at once (save our cruise missiles...).

[mustapha mond]

How very responsible of you. LOL.-MM

[Star Traveler]

Hmmmmm. "Allah Bless America" has an interesting ring to it!

Well..., then it's about time to start a campaign to "GET ALLAH OUT OF AMERICA" We don't want the devil in America.

[EdReform]

Bump!

[FreePaul]

GOD BLESS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT for not caving in to the ridiculous demands of the ACLU. Too many are not willing to stand up against these troublemakers.

[Bounceback]

Gutless, they pick on an elementary school. Where were they when President Bush said: "God Bless America". Time this nonsense stopped. Stand up to them. They will melt away.

[Major Matt Mason]

I would like to see this organization remove the "American" from their title, since they most certainly do not represent American values. CLU would be more appropriate.

[facedown]

dubya_wins_again member since October 4th, 2001

[fso301]

Such a pity the ACLU HQ wasn't on the top floor of the WTC.

[Star Traveler]

It is time that the ACLU members are placed behind barbed wires.

Better yet..., put them all out on the patrols in Afghanistan. Each can be the "point man", while looking for Osama (put bells on their boots).

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

The ACLU contends that the words broadcast "a hurtful, divisive message."

Message to the ACLU: Keep pushing it on this one. I wouldn't back up, compromise, or appear to give ground in any way. If you do, it will tear down everything you've worked for. Come on, push it on this one.

[Star Traveler]

I would like to see this organization remove the "American" from their title, since they most certainly do not represent American values. CLU would be more appropriate.

More appropriate would be Anti-American Communist Liberation Union.

[Twodees]

If that's your stance, you should have no problem in joining the effort to get the federal government out of our schools. No federal government involvement equals no suppression of the free expression of religion in school districts, right?

[f.Christian]

Govt. schools-teachers-parties(taliban-nazis)--"education(brainwashing-indoctrination)" coupled with high taxation is the worst tyranny-evil-RELIGION perpetuated on our society-families-parents-children!

[GailA]

Where's the contact info for the school so we can send email's to encourage them to tell the aclu to go get lost?

[Media2Powerful]

School is different. That's not too hard to understand is it?

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. So what if the board said "Imaginery Friend Bless America", if it makes people feel good and patriotic so the freak what? The ONLY religion that could be "offended" is no religion at all. In which case, even they should have the good will to recognize that 99% percent of the public is touched and encouraged by such a message.

[Media2Powerful]

Gutless, they pick on an elementary school. Where were they when President Bush said: "God Bless America". Time this nonsense stopped. Stand up to them. They will melt away.

That is an excellent point!

Hey, ACLU, PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE

It's the same with the gay activists picking on Boy Scouts. They should be ashamed. An adult subject like homosexuality should be argued amongst adults, not children.

[alnick]

Hogwash! Separation of church and state is nothing more than the government shall not establish a religion. In other words, the government won't start the Church of America.

To recite the Pledge of Allegiance or say "God Bless America" or to acknowledge or even (gasp!) teach the 10 commandments in school or anywhere else is not unconstitutional.

What is unconstitutional is denying people their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, regardless of where they are at any given moment.

Americans are mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore.

[watchin]

"ACLU attorney Crosby said Friday that "this is a time when we need to promote unity among Americans of all faiths. Many schools are flying flags to instill a sense of unity in a time of trouble."

Jehovah's witnesses have some problems with the flag, and refuse to participate in the flag salute, and there are Muslims who are offended by our flag and all it represents. There are anarchists who are offended by the very existence of government or any symbols of patriotism.

I personally am offended by the ACLU, but I doubt that's enough to make them go away. Too bad.

[OldFriend]

A reminder to New Yorkers, Norman Siegel formerly head of NY ACLU is running for Consumer Advocate. He is in a run off elections Oct.11th.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Displaying such a message is not only unconstitutional "but implies only students who share the faith are truly patriotic," she stated.

Huh? Share WHAT faith? The utterly conflicting faiths which share something called "God" in their belief systems are to numerous to mention--"Allah" just means "God" in Arabic; the Unitarian "God" is just a symbolic entity; the "God" of the Jews has designated them the "chosen people"; the "God" of the Christian Identity crowd wants his followers to exterminate the Jews; the "God" of the Mormons is just one of many gods; etc., etc.

Speaking as a pagan, I can say that a sign reading "God Bless America" causes me no offense whatsoever. The universe got here by means of some incredibly powerful force that none of us can fully comprehend, and referring to it by it most common appellation in the English language should cause offense to no one who isn't on a full-time mission of trying to be offended.

[watchin]

Let's see if you're bright enough to understand. The constitutional phrase is the "establishment of religion". Are you really so theophobic as to maintain that a "God bless America" statement establishes a religion? I think you must be missing your totalitarian homeland, where the practice of religion is prohibited.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

the a.c.l.u.has absolutely no legal authority whatsoever!they probably broke the law when they took down the sign.the only way to neutralize them is by open defiance and a show of people power.

[ThirstyMan]

Speaking as a pagan, I can say that a sign reading "God Bless America" causes me no offense whatsoever. The universe got here by means of some incredibly powerful force that none of us can fully comprehend, and referring to it by it most common appellation in the English language should cause offense to no one who isn't on a full-time mission of trying to be offended.

Would you like to send a message to the ACLU about how unpatriotic is their organization? Your wisdom is why America works, we respect each other's opionions, not get offended by them. That is so tired and we need to get over that "I'm offended" crap. Why can't we tell them to grow up and stop trying to control the world?

[Always Right]

According to the ACLU:

God Bless America - hurtful divisive language.

F**k you - protected free speech.

[Star Traveler]

Where's the contact info for the school so we can send email's to encourage them to tell the aclu to go get lost?

Here's a page for them --

Rocklin Unified School District

 

	Rocklin Unified School District
	5035 Meyers Street, Rocklin, California 95677 (916) 624-2428

SCHOOLS

Rocklin schools offer the finest education in Northern California.  This section will take you to RUSD schools' web pages to obtain individual school information...

Antelope Creek Elementary School 6185 Springview Drive Rocklin, CA 95677 Principal:  Gary Yee Phone:  (916) 632-1095 Antelope Creek Elementary School	Sierra Elementary School 6822 Camborne Way Rocklin, CA 95677 Principal:  Bob Capp Phone:  (916) 788-7141 Sierra Elementary School
Breen Elementary School 2751 Breen Drive Rocklin, CA 95765 Principal:  Terry Thornton Phone:  (916) 632-1155 Breen Elementary School	Valley View Elementary School 3000 Crest Drive Rocklin, CA 95765 Principal:  Charles Kilbourne Phone:  (916) 435-4844 Valley View Elementary School
Cobblestone Elementary School 5740 Cobblestone Drive Rocklin, CA 95765 Principal:  Dorothy Sutter Phone:  (916) 632-0140 Cobblestone Elementary School	Granite Oaks Middle School 2600 Wykford Blvd. Rocklin, CA 95764 Principal:  Mike Melton Phone:  (916) 315-9009 Granite Oaks Middle School
Parker Whitney Elementary School 5145 Topaz Avenue Rocklin, CA 95677 Principal:  Eileen Bitsko Phone:  (916) 624-2491 Parker Whitney Elementary School	Spring View Middle School 5040 5th Street Rocklin, CA 95677 Principal:  Marge Crawford Phone:  (916) 624-3381 Spring View Middle School
Rocklin Elementary School 5025 Meyers Street Rocklin, CA 95677 Principal:  James Trimble Phone:  (916) 624-3311 Rocklin Elementary School	Rocklin High School 5301 Victory Lane Rocklin, CA 95765 Principal:  Debra Hawkins Phone:  (916) 632-1600 Rocklin High School
Twin Oaks Elementary School 2835 Club Drive Rocklin, CA 95765 Principal:  Dixie Richard Phone:  (916) 315-1400 Twin Oaks Elementary School	Victory Alternative Education & Independent Study 3250 Victory Drive Rocklin, CA 95765 Principal:  Craig Beller Phone:  (916) 632-3195 Victory Alternative Education

 

Board of Trustees | Student Achievement | Schools | Curriculum | Human Resources | 
District | Facilities | Directory

Send questions or comments about this website to treed@rocklin.k12.ca.us
Copyright © 2000 Rocklin Unified School District, All Rights Reserved
Last Modified: September 26, 2001

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I suppose they will be after the President next, demanding he not close every speech with God Bless America.