Today's Cultural Warfare Update
Dec. 23rd, 2005 10:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
solarbirdThings have finally quietened down. These are the last few drabs, and there likely won't be a CWU until the new year. I'll keep an eye out, of course, and I expect the inevitable shitstorm come the new year, but for now, people have decided to take a week off. This includes the Canadian election campaign; all the major party leaders have agreed to take the holidays off and start back up in January, three weeks before the election.
Roy Moore's new fundraising letter targets marriage rights;
Focus on the Family continues pushing Alito's Supreme Court nomination;
Sens. Clinton and (D-NY) and Lieberman (D-CT) earn disturbing (and rather confused) praise from anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund for introducing "Family Protection Act" to monitor the videogame industry;
CWA cheers 6th Circuit Court of Appeals for calling church-state separation "tiresome";
Edmonton woman attempts to indirectly bring abortion into the Canadian election - she's collected around 1,000 signatures on a petition, hopes for 10,000; Canadians may want to note that this is an imported tactic.
----- 1 -----
GOP Candidate Using Homophobia To Raise Cash
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
December 22, 2005
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon05/12/122105moore.htm
Posted: December 22, 2005 12:01 am ET
(Montgomery, Alabama) Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is asking supporters for a Christmas gift of cash to help his campaign for governor.
Moore is facing off against Gov. Bob Riley for the GOP nomination.
In an e-mail sent to supporters and signed by Moore's wife Kayla, she asks for donations and says that her husband is opposed by people who want to promote gay marriage and who "fear nothing more than the emergence of a powerful national spokesperson for Christian conservatism.
"And make no mistake: If elected governor of Alabama, my husband will be that spokesman!" she wrote.
[...]
Moore has a long record of anti-gay rulings.
In February 2002 when the state Supreme Court ruled against a lesbian mother who was seeking custody of her three daughters Moore used a litany of homophobic adjectives in his written decision.
Moore said that homosexuality is "an inherent evil" that should not be tolerated.
[More at URL]
----- 2 -----
ORIGINALISM BETTER THAN POLITICS ON THE HIGH COURT
Alito's nomination will center on how the Constitution should be interpreted.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
December 22, 2005
http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039013.cfm
As the hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito
begin next month, there will be a lot of discussion of
"originalism" and whether he is a "strict
constructionist." Generally, the terms refer to
interpreting the Constitution as the Founding Fathers
intended -- as opposed to a modern-day political goal.
That stands in stark contrast to liberal judges who
legislate from the bench and even cite laws from other
nations to support the political agenda in their
decisions.
[...]
FOR MORE INFORMATION: In his book "Men in Black," Mark R.
Levin examines some of the outrageous recent court
decisions and provides a blueprint for action for those
who oppose judicial tyranny.
http://www.family.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=5286&refcd=CE05LCZL&tvar=no
[More at URL]
----- 3 -----
CONGRESS CONSIDERS OFFENSIVE VIDEO GAMES
Senators suggest monitoring the industry.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
December 22, 2005
http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039012.cfm
Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Joseph
Lieberman, D-Conn., introduced the Family Protection Act
last week in the Senate with a goal of monitoring the
industry.
"We are determined to stop a situation in which video
games with pornographic and violent content are being
peddled to our children," Clinton said. "It's almost
routine in popular games for players to spray other people
with Uzis, to drive over pedestrians, to attack women and
in some cases even to engage in cannibalism."
The bill calls for an analysis of the current ratings
system, prohibition of sales to minors and an annual
retailer audit. It would also impose fines on retailers
that sell mature rated games to minors.
While some question Clinton's motives -- suggesting it's
just more posturing toward a presidential run -- others,
like Pat Trueman, special counsel with the Alliance
Defense Fund, praise any effort to keep such games out of
the hands of kids.
"I think it's a good thing, whether we agree with every
aspect of the legislation, it's a good thing that liberals
are fighting this with conservatives," he said.
[More at URL]
----- 4 -----
Sixth Circuit Upholds Courthouse Commandments Display
Concerned Women for America
12/24/2005
By Jan LaRue, Chief Counsel
Panel drops lump of coal in ACLU’s ‘holiday’ stocking and dismantles ‘wall of separation.’
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/9795/LEGAL/scourt/index.htm
In ACLU v. Mercer County, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled December 20 that a display of the Ten Commandments in a Kentucky Courthouse “lacks a religious purpose” and further concluded “that it does not endorse religion.” The court minced no words rejecting the “three fundamental flaws” in the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU’s) argument.
[...]
The display included a commentary explaining each of the nine items including the following explanation for the Ten Commandments:
The Ten Commandments have profoundly influenced the formation of Western legal thought and the formation of our country. That influence is clearly seen in the Declaration of Independence, which declared that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” The Ten Commandments provide the moral background of the Declaration of Independence and the foundation of our legal tradition.
Enter the ACLU with its “offended” client, claiming the display violates the “separation of church and state.” Mercer County argued that its display is constitutional “because, in contrast with McCreary County, the predominant purpose of the display in this case is secular.” The court agreed.
The court rejected the ACLU’s arguments and found “three fundamental flaws.” The court found the ACLU’s “repeated reference to ‘the separation of church and state’ … has grown tiresome.” Second, “‘[P]roving’ that the Ten Commandments themselves are religious does not prove an Establishment Clause violation.” Third, “[T]he ACLU erroneously, though perhaps, intentionally equates recognition with endorsement. To endorse is necessarily to recognize, but the converse does not follow.”
[More at URL]
----- 5 -----
Petitioning for the unborn
Focus on the Family Canada
December 21, 2006
http://www.fotf.ca/tfn/life/stories/122105.html
An Edmonton woman has launched a petition calling on Parliament to pass a law that would ensure that the alleged murderers of pregnant women would be charged with two counts of homicide – one for the woman herself and the second for her unborn child.
As the Edmonton Sun reported last week, Tammy Brownlee began her campaign after 19-year-old Olivia Talbot was shot to death in her home on November 24. She was 27 weeks’ pregnant at the time. Brownlee is the sister of Lane Griffiths, the baby’s father.
Brownlee says that so far, she has collected more than 1,000 signatures from people across Canada. Her goal is to gather 10,000 signatures, as well as to make it an issue in the federal election campaign.
[More at URL]
Roy Moore's new fundraising letter targets marriage rights;
Focus on the Family continues pushing Alito's Supreme Court nomination;
Sens. Clinton and (D-NY) and Lieberman (D-CT) earn disturbing (and rather confused) praise from anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund for introducing "Family Protection Act" to monitor the videogame industry;
CWA cheers 6th Circuit Court of Appeals for calling church-state separation "tiresome";
Edmonton woman attempts to indirectly bring abortion into the Canadian election - she's collected around 1,000 signatures on a petition, hopes for 10,000; Canadians may want to note that this is an imported tactic.
----- 1 -----
GOP Candidate Using Homophobia To Raise Cash
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
December 22, 2005
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon05/12/122105moore.htm
Posted: December 22, 2005 12:01 am ET
(Montgomery, Alabama) Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is asking supporters for a Christmas gift of cash to help his campaign for governor.
Moore is facing off against Gov. Bob Riley for the GOP nomination.
In an e-mail sent to supporters and signed by Moore's wife Kayla, she asks for donations and says that her husband is opposed by people who want to promote gay marriage and who "fear nothing more than the emergence of a powerful national spokesperson for Christian conservatism.
"And make no mistake: If elected governor of Alabama, my husband will be that spokesman!" she wrote.
[...]
Moore has a long record of anti-gay rulings.
In February 2002 when the state Supreme Court ruled against a lesbian mother who was seeking custody of her three daughters Moore used a litany of homophobic adjectives in his written decision.
Moore said that homosexuality is "an inherent evil" that should not be tolerated.
[More at URL]
----- 2 -----
ORIGINALISM BETTER THAN POLITICS ON THE HIGH COURT
Alito's nomination will center on how the Constitution should be interpreted.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
December 22, 2005
http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039013.cfm
As the hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito
begin next month, there will be a lot of discussion of
"originalism" and whether he is a "strict
constructionist." Generally, the terms refer to
interpreting the Constitution as the Founding Fathers
intended -- as opposed to a modern-day political goal.
That stands in stark contrast to liberal judges who
legislate from the bench and even cite laws from other
nations to support the political agenda in their
decisions.
[...]
FOR MORE INFORMATION: In his book "Men in Black," Mark R.
Levin examines some of the outrageous recent court
decisions and provides a blueprint for action for those
who oppose judicial tyranny.
http://www.family.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=5286&refcd=CE05LCZL&tvar=no
[More at URL]
----- 3 -----
CONGRESS CONSIDERS OFFENSIVE VIDEO GAMES
Senators suggest monitoring the industry.
Focus on the Family
Family News in Focus
December 22, 2005
http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039012.cfm
Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Joseph
Lieberman, D-Conn., introduced the Family Protection Act
last week in the Senate with a goal of monitoring the
industry.
"We are determined to stop a situation in which video
games with pornographic and violent content are being
peddled to our children," Clinton said. "It's almost
routine in popular games for players to spray other people
with Uzis, to drive over pedestrians, to attack women and
in some cases even to engage in cannibalism."
The bill calls for an analysis of the current ratings
system, prohibition of sales to minors and an annual
retailer audit. It would also impose fines on retailers
that sell mature rated games to minors.
While some question Clinton's motives -- suggesting it's
just more posturing toward a presidential run -- others,
like Pat Trueman, special counsel with the Alliance
Defense Fund, praise any effort to keep such games out of
the hands of kids.
"I think it's a good thing, whether we agree with every
aspect of the legislation, it's a good thing that liberals
are fighting this with conservatives," he said.
[More at URL]
----- 4 -----
Sixth Circuit Upholds Courthouse Commandments Display
Concerned Women for America
12/24/2005
By Jan LaRue, Chief Counsel
Panel drops lump of coal in ACLU’s ‘holiday’ stocking and dismantles ‘wall of separation.’
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/9795/LEGAL/scourt/index.htm
In ACLU v. Mercer County, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled December 20 that a display of the Ten Commandments in a Kentucky Courthouse “lacks a religious purpose” and further concluded “that it does not endorse religion.” The court minced no words rejecting the “three fundamental flaws” in the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU’s) argument.
[...]
The display included a commentary explaining each of the nine items including the following explanation for the Ten Commandments:
The Ten Commandments have profoundly influenced the formation of Western legal thought and the formation of our country. That influence is clearly seen in the Declaration of Independence, which declared that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” The Ten Commandments provide the moral background of the Declaration of Independence and the foundation of our legal tradition.
Enter the ACLU with its “offended” client, claiming the display violates the “separation of church and state.” Mercer County argued that its display is constitutional “because, in contrast with McCreary County, the predominant purpose of the display in this case is secular.” The court agreed.
The court rejected the ACLU’s arguments and found “three fundamental flaws.” The court found the ACLU’s “repeated reference to ‘the separation of church and state’ … has grown tiresome.” Second, “‘[P]roving’ that the Ten Commandments themselves are religious does not prove an Establishment Clause violation.” Third, “[T]he ACLU erroneously, though perhaps, intentionally equates recognition with endorsement. To endorse is necessarily to recognize, but the converse does not follow.”
[More at URL]
----- 5 -----
Petitioning for the unborn
Focus on the Family Canada
December 21, 2006
http://www.fotf.ca/tfn/life/stories/122105.html
An Edmonton woman has launched a petition calling on Parliament to pass a law that would ensure that the alleged murderers of pregnant women would be charged with two counts of homicide – one for the woman herself and the second for her unborn child.
As the Edmonton Sun reported last week, Tammy Brownlee began her campaign after 19-year-old Olivia Talbot was shot to death in her home on November 24. She was 27 weeks’ pregnant at the time. Brownlee is the sister of Lane Griffiths, the baby’s father.
Brownlee says that so far, she has collected more than 1,000 signatures from people across Canada. Her goal is to gather 10,000 signatures, as well as to make it an issue in the federal election campaign.
[More at URL]
