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A (Facebook) Christmas StoryAs an employee of the ACLU, you come to realize quickly that Christmas is a time for correcting misguided assumptions on the work of our organization. Before my time here, family and friends sent the chain email that pleads with people to send ACLU Christmas cards and to make sure to write "Merry Christmas!" Further, I've overheard the conversations that ACLU is creating a "war on Christmas." Since beginning my work here, most family and friends have respected me and my job enough to learn more about ACLU and correct made-up notions of what we do here. However, even though many people will take the time to study and learn about ACLU and the U.S. Constitution, I had a Facebook friend recently attack our work via a Facebook note. Without bothering to check facts and the law, the Facebook friend asked me why ACLU of Pennsylvania would require a courthouse to remove a crèche and menorah from the front lawn. She ended her attack by saying, "This is why I don't like the ACLU." At first, I was going to ignore such a blatant disregard for me and my work, but I realized confronting her with the facts could turn this negative situation into a very positive one. I could inform the Facebook masses about our work and create a positive conversation about the work that the ACLU does. Taking the time to respond to a criticism of the ACLU, allowed me to further understand why the work we do is so important and why I am so passionate about our work. As a religious person, I treasure the work that the ACLU does to keep government out of religion. Religious expression - during the holidays and throughout the year - is a valued part of the First Amendment rights guaranteed all citizens. But government should never be in the business of endorsing things like religious displays. Religion is best served when the government plays no role in promoting any particular holiday or any individual religious tradition. That job is best suited for individuals, families and religious communities. For when that decision is left in the hands of individuals and kept out of the hands of the government, those who decide to are truly free to celebrate the religious holiday of their choice. That is why the ACLU works to ensure that government is neutral when it comes to religion, and opposes any government endorsement of any religious display. As an American, I treasure the U.S. Constitution. Under the law of this country, the government is prohibited from endorsing religion - any religion - because to do so is to say that religion is good, and that those endorsed are better than others. A crèche and a menorah together send the message that people should believe in one or the other, without recognizing that millions of Americans subscribe to other religious traditions or to none at all. The Constitution and Supreme Court rulings are very clear that government may not favor religion over no religion or one faith over others. I love this time of year at the ACLU of Louisiana. It is a time for me to appreciate the 1st amendment and all the rights it affords me to practice a religion of my choice, and it is a time for me to correct and answer misguided notions about our work-a work which I fiercely and irrevocably believe is important! Learn more about the ACLU's Freedom of Religion & Belief Project >> [Correction: The Facebook user was originally quoted as saying, "This is why I hate the ACLU." It was corrected at the user's request.]
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Dec 23rd, 2009 at 1:10pm
Usually corrections are noted in the body of the message by an * with a corresponding * next to the correction at the bottom with an apology for the misquote. Good journalism and all that, and yes blogs are a recognized form of journalism.
Dec 23rd, 2009 at 4:04pm
I know that someone is going to comment "Merry Christmas to the ACLU" on this article.
Can someone please explain why that's being posted on all of these articles?
Dec 24th, 2009 at 12:00am
The government is not prohibited from "endorsing" religion, it is prohibited from promoting religion. Is smugness a prerequisite for working for the ACLU?
Dec 25th, 2009 at 1:09pm
What ever makes you feel good! God is the being you are going to have to try your explanation on. You better hope it's the right one.
Dec 26th, 2009 at 2:46am
When Christ returns, there will be NO ACLU, there will be No diversity, only He shall rule and with a rod of iron
Dec 26th, 2009 at 11:32am
This country was founded by people who believed in God. Most were Christians, who would be ashamed of some of the things that are happening in our country. It is wrong to have the ten commandments removed from any government building. It is also wrong to prevent Christmas pagents and displays in public places. My country was founded on freedom of religion, not freedom "from" religion.
Dec 26th, 2009 at 5:10pm
Rodger Baldwin was quoted as saying "...communism is the goal" He also despised private-property rights, which is also constitutionally protected. What is shouted in public and what is whispered in the private offices of the ACLU are two different things
Dec 27th, 2009 at 4:41pm
I fail to see how "congress made a law respecting an establishment of religion" by a religious display simply being located on public (not government) land, but I certainly see how the ACLU "prohibits the free exercise thereof"
Dec 28th, 2009 at 2:41pm
Christmas? Isn't that a violation of church and state clause? Why celebrate Christmas when this organization has practically inundated itself in religious speak? This is insulting as an atheist American and I demand them to not encourage this type of behavior or else I will threaten to rescind my donations.
Dec 29th, 2009 at 11:31am
Our dollar says IN GOD WE TRUST. Our founding fathers build this country to be a christian nation. Eph 2:8: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
Dec 30th, 2009 at 3:41pm
I really wish that the right wingers would stop slandering God as if she were an ignorant bigot who loves war and hates diversity.
IN GOD WE TRUST,ALL OTHERS PAY CASH.
Jan 2nd, 2010 at 2:24pm
Another reason the ACLU is trival to the average American.
Jan 3rd, 2010 at 12:31pm
Most of these comments make me lose faith in humanity.
"Lighthouses are more helpful than churches." - Benjamin Franklin
"Question with boldness even the existence of a god." - Thomas Jefferson
"As the Government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion..." - John Adams