John R. Houk
© August 6, 2011
A group of atheists have filed a lawsuit against the Memorial Museum being constructed for public remembrance of purist Muslims attacking the World Trade Center/Twin Towers that killed thousands on American soil.
Are the atheists angry about al Qaeda Islamists performing an act of a Jihad/holy war against secular America?
Are the atheists angry that a Mosque has approval to be built right next to the Ground Zero spot where thousands of Americans lost their lives?
The answer to the questions is predictably “no”.
Also predictably the atheists are angry of the symbol of hope found in the Twin Tower rubble: two iron beams fused together in a form of a Cross. This is another case of reinforcing the term “Separation of Church and State” which is nowhere found in the U.S. Constitution. Until 1947 the Original Intent of the Constitution’s First Amendment was properly interpreted; viz. the government cannot designate a State Church but the Church may be an influence toward the betterment of American society even if that influence stretches to public institutions.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The bold type of the First Amendment is simple to understand. Then in 1947 the Supreme Court fabricated law from words not found in the Constitution. Here is a summary of that decision of Everson v. Board of Education:
”The establishment of religion’ clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organization or groups and vice-versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect a ‘wall of separation between church and state’.”
You have to know that Justice Hugo Black writing for the majority opinion was on a roll for Original Intent until the part I emphasized with bold print. Justice Black placed into law by Judicial fiat Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptist Church that was concerned about an Established Church on a State level. Although the U.S. Constitution forbade the Federal government from establishing a State Church, many of the original States still had State Established Churches. Not only did these States have an Established Church, NO ONE filed a suit that would make it to the Supreme Court to end an Established Church on a State level.
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has decided to take on the atheists and is preparing an Amicus Brief backed by the signatures of Americans showing the absurdity of preventing the Ground Zero Cross to be a part of a memorial commemorating the unjust death of Americans at the hands of purist Muslims. Below is the email sent that included the urging of readers to pass this info along to others in order to raise signatures to be added to the Amicus Brief.
JRH 8/6/11
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New Confirmation
By Jay Sekulow
Sent: Aug 5, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Sent from: ACLJ
A new Rasmussen survey finds that 72% of Americans believe that the Ground Zero Cross should be included in the National September 11 Memorial and Museum -- further confirmation that the American Atheists’ lawsuit against the Ground Zero Cross is absurd.
The Cross – two intersecting steel beams found in the wreckage of the World Trade Center by rescue workers two days after 9/11 – is a symbol of hope for so many people. It is an integral part of the story of 9/11 and belongs in the national museum.
The ACLJ must file our amicus brief challenging the atheists’ claims by August 14th – in one week. If you join our Committee to Protect the Ground Zero Cross, your name will be added to the brief we submit to the court.
In less than a week, over 30,000 of you have already joined our Committee online. I would like to see that number grow to 72,000 by the time we submit our brief; 72,000 representing the 72% of Americans who support this important part of the Ground Zero story.
If you have already joined this Committee, please help us meet our goal of 72,000 online signatures by forwarding this email to anyone you know who would like to stand up in support of those who have sacrificed so much. You could also join the over 4,000 people who have “Liked” this Committee on Facebook by using the “Like” buttons in this email.
It is critical that we accurately represent the groundswell of support for the Ground Zero Cross so that it is preserved as a memorial for our children and grandchildren.
The Ground Zero Cross is not an artist’s rendering that could be perceived as “offensive and repugnant” as the atheists claim in their suit; it is surviving steel - an actual piece of 9/11 history. Hundreds of people, of all faiths, working amid the death and destruction resulting from the terrorist attacks found comfort and solace in this Cross rising out of the ashes.
We cannot stand idly by and allow a few individuals to mock and hide an important piece of the Ground Zero story with claims of getting headaches by simply looking at the Cross.
As I have said before, if there are those who don’t like it – look the other way.
Help us meet our goal of over 72,000 online signatures representing the 72% of Americans who support the Cross before our August 14th court deadline.
You will be able to tell your children and grandchildren that you helped protect this integral piece of American history for future generations.
Thank you for taking action to protect the Ground Zero Cross, and for your continued support for the ACLJ.
Sincerely,
Jay Sekulow
ACLJ Chief Counsel
ACLJ Chief Counsel
P.S. If you have already signed on to our brief, please forward this email and join the thousands of others who have shared the Committee to Protect the Ground Zero Cross on Facebook and Twitter.
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Atheists, Church-State and Ground Zero Cross
John R. Houk
© August 6, 2011
_____________________
New Confirmation
American Center for Law and Justice
P.O. Box 90555, Washington, D.C. 20090-0555
Phone: (800) 296-4529
Copyright © 2011, ACLJ
P.O. Box 90555, Washington, D.C. 20090-0555
Phone: (800) 296-4529
Copyright © 2011, ACLJ
The ACLJ is an organization dedicated to the defense of constitutional liberties secured by law.
American Center for Law and Justice is a d/b/a for Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism, Inc., a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, religious corporation as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and freedom of speech are inalienable, God-given rights. The Center's purpose is to engage legal, legislative and cultural issues by implementing an effective strategy of advocacy, education and litigation to ensure that those rights are protected under the law….
American Center for Law and Justice is a d/b/a for Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism, Inc., a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, religious corporation as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and freedom of speech are inalienable, God-given rights. The Center's purpose is to engage legal, legislative and cultural issues by implementing an effective strategy of advocacy, education and litigation to ensure that those rights are protected under the law….
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