Flag desecreation conduct, not speech

The Idaho Affiliate of the American Family Association

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Friday, August 22, 2008

Bryan Fischer, Executive Director

FLAG DESECRATION LAWS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ONLY IN MINDS OF ACTIVIST JUDGES

A judge, predictably and sadly, has dismissed a flag desecration charge against a Minico High School teacher who stormed into his principal’s office, grabbed an American flag – someone else’s property, you will note –, threw it on the floor and stomped on it.

The judge dismissed the suit on First Amendment “freedom of speech” grounds. But this is clearly ridiculous. Stomping on someone else’s property is not “speech” – it is action, it is conduct, and has no constitutional protection.

So apparently it’s okay to physically damage someone else’s property on First Amendment grounds – as long as it’s an American flag.

This illustrates two things: the kind of constitutional chaos that results when “freedom of expression” is substituted for “freedom of speech” – words have meaning – and the intrusion of the federal government into state sovereignty. Idaho state law prohibits the desecration of the American flag. So much for the 9^th and 10^th Amendments.

Judge dismisses flag desecration charge in Idaho | Houston Chronicle

FLAGGING ECONOMY HURTS PRIVATE EDUCATION

Private schools in the Moscow area are reporting enrollment drops of up to 20% because of the slowdown in the economy. Private school tuition creates an artificial hardship on Idaho families, who h

ave to pay twice for education: once in property taxes for other families to send their children to government schools, and a second time to scrounge for the resources necessary to send their own children to the school of their choice.

If Idaho’s education policy were fair and equitable, education money would simply follow the child to the school of the parents’ choice, private, public or home. But fairness is blocked in Idaho by our constitution’s notorious anti-Catholic Blaine Amendment, which blocks families from being able to spend their own tax monies at private schools of their choosing.

You are invited to a free public screening of a new documentary, “Flunked,” next Tuesday night at the Northgate Reel Theater in Boise (corner of Glenwood and State). “Flunked” describes the deplorable condition of government education in America and profiles some innovative alternatives to government-monopolized schools.

The screening will take place at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Moscow private schools report enrollment drops | Idaho Statesman

SECOND AMENDMENT HELPS DEFUSE TABLE ROCK SHOWDOWN

The benefits provided to ordinary Idahoans by the Second Amendment, which protects an individual’s God-given right to self-defense, was illustrated yesterday by a showdown at Table Rock when a man with a concealed carry permit was able to disarm a man in a drunken stupor who was threatening others with what turned out to be a pellet gun.

The 18-year-old man kept his wits about him, and was able to use his weapon to disarm the perpetrator, after which he called 9/11, which in turn led to his arrest by law enforcement officials.

Gun standoff at Table Rock ends in Boise man's arrest | Idaho Statesman

IVA IN THE NEWS: ON HALLMARK DECISION TO OFFER GAY MARRIAGE CARDS

As the Idaho Press-Tribune story below illustrates, the Idaho Values Alliance once again was the lone voice to stand up for our values in the face of Hallmark’s promotion of the radical homosexual agenda.

The executive director of the Idaho chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and the executive director of the Idaho Interfaith Alliance both praised Hallmark, while the IVA was the solitary public voice defending natural marriage.

Please consider a gift today to the work of the IVA as we continue to defend our values in the public arena. Don’t forget, your gift will double in value during the month of August, thanks to a matching-funds offer from a generous donor.

From the Idaho Press-Tribune:

But Bryan Fischer, executive director of the Idaho Values Alliance, blasted the cards: “Hallmark is doing what 48 states and the federal government have refused to do, and that is to recognize homosexual marriage.”

Fischer called for local Hallmark stores to decline the cards.

“... It’s simply inexcusable and irresponsible for Hallmark to glorify a lifestyle which has so many health risks,” he said.

From The Idaho Statesman:

The Idaho Values Alliance Thursday called on the owners of the seven Treasure Valley Hallmark stores, which all go by the name “Jordan’s Hallmark,” to decline to stock the new line.

Bryan Fischer, IVA executive director, said Hallmark’s decision is an implicit recognition of gay marriage, which is not recognized by most states and the federal government.

Idaho Press-Tribune: Hallmark's same-sex cards stir debate

Idaho Statesman, August 22, 2008, Business section, p. 4

MORE INDICATION OF TROUBLE AT THE IDAHO STATESMAN

Readers are continuing to flee old media newspapers for the internet, and the Idaho Statesman continues to suffer as a result. KTVB reports that the Statesman’s parent company, McClatchy Co., reported another devastating 16.4% drop in revenue in July. Ad revenue is off a precipitous 19.3% compared to a year ago. McClatchy stock closed yesterday at $4.01, down from its 52-week high of $24.05.

Classified trouble causes revenue plunge for Statesman owner | KTVB.COM

A generous donor has offered $5,000 in matching funds for every gift given in the month of August. Here’s a chance to double the value of your contribution! For every August donation of $100 or more, the IVA will send a complimentary copy of a powerful documentary which supports Intelligent Design theory, “Unlocking the Mystery of Life.” Information on how to donate, including online, may be found here. Together we can make Idaho the friendliest place in the world to raise a family! Thank you!

BONUS BYTES

In good news for religious liberty and for the return of the Episcopal Church to its biblical moorings, the Diocese of Virginia has been handed its third consecutive courtroom defeat in its efforts to retain church property held by 11 breakaway congregations who are leaving the liberal denomination in the wake of its affirmation of homosexual clergy. A Civil War era statute allows the majority of a breakaway church to retain church property, which has left denominational authorities to sputter in rage as they face the loss of historic real estate worth $30 million to $40 million. The left-leaning Episcopal Church may wind up with a secular fundamentalist theology and no place to preach it.(Judge rules in favor of breakaway groups)

In a setback for religious liberty, something which smacks of life in Saudi Arabia, the city of Portland, Maine has ordered a Jewish rabbi to stop holding weekly prayer meetings with 15-20 individuals in his own home. The ACLU, which will defend religious liberty for everybody but conservative Christians, is thinking of weighing in on this rabbi’s behalf. Said the ACLU’s legal director for its Maine chapter, “This is matter of fundamental religious liberty.” The early Christian church used private homes as its churches for the first three centuries of its existence, and the evangelical church has seen a resurgence in the number of house churches in the last decade.(Rabbi fights order to halt home prayer meetings)

In great news for freedom of conscience, the Bush administration is proposing a rule that will protect health care providers from punishment for refusing to participate in abortions. Abortion rights supporters are so blindly committed to the destruction of innocent human life that they naturally object. The president of Planned Parenthood wants doctors to be forced to kill babies in the womb whether it violates their consciences and deeply held convictions or not. Even our military provides Conscientious Objector status for citizens who do not want to kill enemy combatants. If Americans can conscientiously object to killing sworn enemies of the United States, they certainly should be able to conscientiously object to killing unborn babies. Planned Parenthood’s vigorous objection is a further sign of desperation. Abortion providers are widely despised in the medical community as bottom feeders, and PP is naturally concerned that, unless they can force doctors to perform them, abortions may decline simply because fewer medical professionals will be found who are willing to perform them. (Washington Times - Rule backs doctors opposed to abortion)

The Alliance Defense Fund is going to bat for three Christians in Elmira, NY, whom police threatened to arrest for sharing a biblical message about homosexuality during a gay pride event at a – note the word – public park. One man was forced to take off a T-shirt which said, “Liberated from sin by the blood of Jesus,” because he was told it would make others uncomfortable. A woman was prevented from passing out a Christian newsletter at the event, being told it contained obscene and illegal material. And a third man on a public sidewalk was told to stop holding a sign which said, “Thousands of ex-homosexuals have experienced the life-changing love of Jesus Christ” and was ordered not to talk to anyone at the event about the Bible. Said ADF’s senior counsel, “Police cannot threaten to arrest Christians at a city park for sharing their viewpoint at an event open to the general public. Respecting their free speech rights is not optional.” (Cops kill free speech at 'gay' event)

Great news on the stem cell front. Ethically benign stem cell research has now been shown to develop into tissues that match those in the heart, lung, liver, pancreas, blood vessels, brain, muscle, bone and fat. Adult stem cells have been used to regenerate failed blood vessels, allowing a restoration of health in limbs which once would have been amputated. And Japanese scientists reported today that they have derived stem cells from wisdom teeth, a discovery that may in time lead to treatments for congenital bone disease. (Scientific breakthrough! No embryonic stem cells needed;Japanese create stem cells from wisdom teeth)

Additional problems for Barack Obama on the campaign trail. A prominent young evangelical has pulled out of offering the invocation on the opening night of the DNC national convention, fearful that his appearance would be the equivalent of an endorsement of Obama. Concerns are now being raised that foreigners are contributing to Obama’s presidential campaign, in violation of federal law. Obama’s official website trumpeted a “Nigeria for Obama” fundraiser, which raised $840,000. According to the Obama website, “The funds raised will be sent to the OBAMA campaign office as our own way of showing support for OBAMA since we are not eligible to vote as we are Nigerians based in Nigeria and not in America.” And a Harvard Law Review article written by Obama in 1990 surfaced this week, in which Obama says that the government may have more important concerns than “ensuring that any particular fetus is born.”(Washington Times - Young evangelical backs out of convention prayer;Barack Obama | Event | NIGERIA FOR OBAMA;Exclusive: Obama's lost law review article - Ben Smith and Jeffrey Ressner - Politico.com)