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American Remembrance

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The Pilgrims tried a form of communism? And if so did it work for them?

The first college on the American continent founded by the Pilgrims only 16 years after landing in America 372 years ago!!!

Exactly 388 years ago to date the Pilgrims sign the Mayflower Compact.

The first sea-fasts ever held in the world? November 9th, 1620. 388 years ago.

Quotes taken from The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States 1863.

December 22, 1620 Providence would have it....

"On the 22d of December, 1620, the Puritans, one hundred and one in number, landed from the Mayflower, and planted their feet on the Rock of Plymouth, and began a new era in the history of the world. The day and the rock became canonized in American history, and emblems of the grandest Christian ideas and associations. The first act of the Puritans, after landing, was to kneel down and offer their thanksgiving to God, and by a solemn act of prayer, and in the name and for the sake of Christ, to take possession of the continent. They thus repeated the Christian consecration which Columbus, more than a century before, had given to the New World, and so twice in the most formal and solemn manner was it devoted to Christ and Christian civilization. The seed thus planted bore an abundant harvest of Christian fruits, which have blessed the nation and enriched the world. How significant and sublime the lessons that gather round and flow from Plymouth Rock! How does it speak for God and of God! How grandly does it proclaim the Christian faith and fruits of those great and good men who, in prayer and faith, planted a Christian empire in the New World, and started a Christian nation on a noble career of progress and greatness!"

"This description, in substance, corresponds with what the New England Puritans say of themselves. “We give ourselves,” say they, “to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the word of his grace, for the teaching, ruling, and sanctifying of us, in matters of worship and conversation; resolving to cleave unto him alone for life and glory, and to reject all contrary ways, canons, and constitutions of men in his worship.”"

“Our fathers,” says Webster, “had that religious sentiment, that trust in Providence, that determination to do right, and to seek, through every degree of toil and suffering, the honor of God, and the preservation of their liberties, which we shall do well to cherish, to imitate, to equal, to the utmost of our ability.”

"The wheels of providence are not turned about by blind chance..."-George Bancroft 1800-1891 (American Historian and statesman who the Bancroft Treaties were named after)

A Review of a Ridiculing Non-Review of Ben Stein’s Expelled-"It may at first seem like a tardy review for film critic Roger Ebert, considering that Expelled was released back in April; however, Ebert clarifies that he has been “accused of refusing to review” Expelled “because of my belief in the theory of evolution.” So that prompted his late review, posted on his Chicago Sun-Times blog....Ebert opens his non-review “response” thusly: instead of levying a single valid criticism against either Stein or Expelled, he creates a ridiculous scenario to attack Stein’s character and intelligence, then stretches and twists quotations from two Expelled backers. His primary goal seems to be to portray Stein as far less than the Ivy League-educated economist, lawyer, presidential speechwriter, actor, and author he is, and assume we’ll fall for the delusion and forget about wanting any legitimate criticism of Expelled. Is this the best Ebert’s got?...Ebert writes, “As Stein goes to interview [Dawkins], we see a makeup artist carefully patting on rouge and dusting Dawkins’ face. After he is prepared and composed, after the shine has been taken off his nose, here comes plain, down-to-earth, workaday Ben Stein. So we get the vain Dawkins with his effete makeup, talking to the ordinary Joe.”.....Yet the makeup “tactic” (if it indeed is one) was earlier used in the film Fahrenheit 9/11 (by left-wing filmmaker Michael Moore), which Ebert reviewed positively and insisted was a “compelling, persuasive film.”...The only fair-handed, scientific criticism Ebert raises against Expelled concerns the likelihood of life’s spontaneous generation of earth...in the one legitimate scientific criticism Ebert makes of Expelled, he (and a reader) commit no small oversight while falling for presupposed evolutionary propaganda....Those inconsiderate and thoughtless words—not an actual response to the documented connection between Darwinian theory and Nazism—close Ebert’s non-review of Expelled....I don’t mean to be overly harsh on Ebert, since his views on Expelled are expressed more humanely than those of some others. The film’s thesis is quite upsetting to the scientific establishment, since it not only questions Darwinian orthodoxy, but accuses the establishment of censorship, bullying, unscientific behavior, and the like. No wonder evolutionist Ebert (who admits he has twice debated a creationist at the Conference on World Affairs) joins the many others who scoff at Stein.
Our suggestion is that you watch the film for yourself and decide what’s more likely: are its claims and tactics so odious, or is it just that Darwinists downright refuse to let anyone think for themselves?"

I saw this film and it is excellent but I will let you decide for yourself. Take care all....

Morning Bell: A Legacy That Matters-"The Bush administration is hopping mad at the New York Times for a story the Gray Lady published Sunday, “White House Philosophy Stoked Mortgage Bonfire.” The White House will have to defend itself on this one, but we are concerned that the Times, in its partisan desire to tarnish President Bush, provides far too narrow a focus on the government’s central role in creating the current crisis. By pretending troublesome government policies that contributed to the housing bubble began with Bush, the Times makes it easier for those inclined to make the same policy mistakes again.
Government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are at the core of the current housing crisis. Fannie and Freddie make no actual loans; instead they buy loans from banks, and then bundle and repackage them as securities. For years Fannie and Freddie leveraged their government-sponsored advantages — including exemptions from state and federal taxes, lower capital requirements, and the ability to borrow at rates well below those paid by private companies — to create a co-monopoly in the housing finance sector.
Fannie and Freddie partnered with lenders to expand the subprime market. With Fannie and Freddie’s help, subprime giant Countrywide Financial grew from a tiny institution to the largest mortgage lender in the country. At the height of the boom, Fannie and Freddie bought 44% of the entire subprime market. Long before Bush took office, Heritage warned about the systemic risk Fannie and Freddie posed to the American taxpayer. In 1991, following the Savings and Loan disaster, Heritage pushed for the full privatization of Fannie and Freddie, predicting that “maintaining secondary mortgage firms in a twilight zone between the public and private sectors … may be a recipe for an eventual taxpayer bailout.” No one listened.
Even the New York Times noticed the risks posed by Fannie and Freddie in September 1999, a full 16 months before Bush took office. The Times reported:
In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders. …
"Fannie Mae, the nation’s biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits. …
In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980’s."
The debate over Fannie and Freddie is much more important than Bush’s legacy. Fannie and Freddie existed before Bush came to office, they were instrumental in worsening the housing bubble, and now some want to make sure they continue to exist long after Bush leaves. Who on earth would want Fannie and Freddie to continue to exist in their current form? Senate Banking Chairman Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)? That’s who."

A former congressman explains the mortgage crisis and bubble in 8 minutes Actually he takes longer I believe but this gives you an interesting history behind the mortgage bubble at http://www.wallbuilderslive.com/listen.asp?cs=high&mf=wma&fileName=WBLive12-12-08.

To get the first 3 parts of this discussion see http://www.wallbuilderslive.com/archives.asp and scroll down to 12-09-08 to 12-12-2008 actually here they are:

http://www.wallbuilderslive.com/listen.asp?cs=high&mf=wma&fileName=WBLive12-09-08

http://www.wallbuilderslive.com/listen.asp?cs=high&mf=wma&fileName=WBLive12-10-08

http://www.wallbuilderslive.com/listen.asp?cs=high&mf=mp3&fileName=WBLive12-11-08

Excellent articulation of a conservative economic and reasons why conservatives have this view which are largely missed in Big Media.

I have been impressed with this radio program. Click here to subscribe to podcasts for many different formats including feeds.

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Palin church burning - 'hate crime' virtually ignored?-"A religion columnist and journalism professor says the mainstream media's coverage of the fire that gutted Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's home church has been thin, but it's hard to say exactly why it's been underplayed.

Investigators say the fire that destroyed Wasilla Bible Church in Alaska on December 12 was likely the work of an arsonist, but the mainstream news media, with the exception of The Associated Press, has largely ignored the story. Terry Mattingly is the editor of the website GetReligion.org, a Scripps Howard columnist, and director of the Washington Journalism Center. He says because the fire occurred in a remote area, major networks may not want to fly reporters in from Los Angeles, Washington, or New York. Mattingly believes a regional bias could be at play, but adds that he has no doubt that if a fire occurred at the church of a socially accepted victim group, the coverage would have been more extensive. "To give you an example: right now in a parallel case down in California, we have demonstrations and some vandalism and stuff at Mormon churches....We're beginning to see some coverage of that," he points out. "Yet I think that if you had some sort of corresponding mirror image situation, say, conservative crowds that were doing vandalism and picketing, say, a congregation in the gay-friendly Metropolitan Community Church, you'd be seeing that on page one of the Los Angeles Times."

Story continues below ...
Should the arsonists be caught, what are the chances
that 'hate crimes' charges will be brought in the burning
of Wasilla Bible Church? VOTE
Mattingly contends news outlets need to probe whether the fire at Palin's church was a hate crime, considering an Alaska statute "criminalizes destruction of real or personal property belonging to religious or charitable organizations."

AP's report says an accelerant -- possible gasoline -- was poured around the exterior of the church and the fire was set near the entrance. A small group of people, including two children, was inside. No one was injured in the blaze.

Illinois and Indiana

Illinois

What do Jill Stanek, Obama, Blagojevich, Rahm Emanuel, Arne Duncan, Planned Parenthood have in common?-"Illinois. It appears to me that Illinois is an abortionist stronghold politically...

Indiana

Providence or Coincidence: Planned Parenthood of Indiana, Christmas Gift Certificates, ABC News and the pro-life movement-"Christmas Gift Certificate this!!!! Providence says to Planned Parenthood of Indiana don't mess with the unborn and that Christmas is not the time for your agenda it is rather the time for His. Which is forgiveness of any sin, including abortion or supporting it or voting for it, by trusting in the Christ of Christmas who shed His blood on the cross even for those who support the shedding of innocent blood did He spill His own. Praise the Lord and Merry Christmas all!!!! May many find the real reason for the season......."

Pro-life video subpoenaed in Indiana as Providence unfolds this Christmas season...-"This Christmas season Planned Parenthood of Indiana of all the 50 possible states decided to give away gift certificates in Indiana for their services which includes abortion. Coincidentally or Providentially this story made it to even ABC World News which is a note to take note of.
Six months earlier http://www.liveactionfilms.org/ just so happen to start a sting operation video recording unlawful practices of Planned Parenthood of Indiana that have just this month been released to the public via YouTube by http://www.liveactionfilms.org/ a bit before ABC World News reported on the Christmas season gift certificate.

I have posted the videos in the below links with interesting comments from various well known pro-lifers.

And now the latest news is that the AG of Indiana is investigating and a grand jury is set and the videos released by http://www.liveactionfilms.org/ are being subpoenaed in their unedited version and the film maker said according to AP article below, "Rose said Thursday she would cooperate with investigators and urged the state attorney general also to examine Planned Parenthood's activities statewide..."

Bible Puzzles

How old was Azariah when he began to reign? 42 or 22 or both!!!!-"What age was Ahaziah when he began to reign? Does the bible contradict itself?"

Economy

Want to see Ford's Auto Worker's union contract. All 22 pounds of it, 9 inches thick and 2,215 pages full.-"And not one concession when asking for an auto bailout of billions!!!"..."Barack Obama is top recipient of cash from the UAW and Democrats heavily outweigh Republicans."

MIT published book says "minimum wages do not achieve the main goals set forth by their supporters."-"Based on their comprehensive reading of the evidence, Neumark and Wascher argue that minimum wages do not achieve the main goals set forth by their supporters. They reduce employment opportunities for less-skilled workers and tend to reduce their earnings; they are not an effective means of reducing poverty; and they appear to have adverse longer-term effects on wages and earnings, in part by reducing the acquisition of human capital..."

Don't bailout AIG just yet....-"Dr. Muhammed Imran Ashraf Usmani, the Pakistani member of that board, supports the belief that Muslims in Western countries have an obligation to wage violent jihad against their host country..."

Education

Teacher's Union part of the problem says some teachers and successful Charter bipartisan school system in Washington, DC.-"Twelve years ago a Republican Congress and a Democrat president came together in a bipartisan fashion and passed one of the nation’s strongest charter school laws for the Washington, D.C., school system....the charter schools are free from union contracts, so they have the freedom to decide who the hire and fire...Students in the District’s charter schools have opened a solid academic lead over those in its traditional public schools. … Charters have been particularly successful with low-income children, who make up two-thirds of D.C. public school students...The Heritage Foundation sincerely hopes he looks to the charter movement’s success in the District of Columbia as a guide for much-needed reform..."

Obama's choice of Secretary of Education not so impressive...-"In 2007, only 17 percent of eighth graders tested at or above grade level in reading in Chicago Public Schools – the school system administered by Arne Duncan since 2001..."-And it only gets worse!!!

American History

America's first national day of thanksgiving exactly 231 years ago...-"In light of America's current war in Iraq and ongoing war against terrorism, the actions of our Founding Fathers in times of war are instructive. This is the text of the first national day of thanksgiving in America (set for December 18, 1777), declared by the Continental Congress on November 1, 1777...."

Politics

Obama's birth certificate issue not going away...-"America Online is conducting a new poll asking readers whether they believe there is any merit to the controversy surrounding Barack Obama's citizenship – and most respondents say "yes."With nearly 77,000 national votes in the unscientific survery... private investigator has released to WND an affidavit that casts doubt on whether Barack Obama's family lived at the address listed in the published notice of his birth in 1961."

Obama suprises all with Rick Warren...-"My take is that this is a good thing and a possible in to the heart of Obama. You just never know what good can come out of this relationship. Keep it in prayer!!!As far as whether or not it is right of Warren to open with for such a president consider 1 Timothy 2:1-6.....God has enabled a good relationship between the two without compromise. This to me is a good thing and one of our best hopes into giving Obama a perspective of the evangelical community and who but knows that God will change Obama's heart on many of these social issues."

Global Warming

CNN Meteorologis says "the earth is presently entering a cooling cycle – a result of nature, not man."-see video comments of meteorologist who is "is a senior fellow and science director of The Heartland Institute, an organization that will be holding the 2009 International Conference on Climate Change in New York March 8-10."

Church Philanthropy

Church Philanthropy again. Documenting the benefit to society of the Church-"interesting study. Documents the differences in certain behaviors between kids that have an intact family and how often they go to church proving the benefit of the nuclear family and church attendance to society...Give a listen to November 18 broadcast of Wallbuilders live. Churches at times are discriminated against by the cities because when they apply for land the land isn't taxed so there is no revenue for the city when a church seeks land within a city to build their church. But who knows how much the city is being spared by having a church in their community!!! Especially in light of next story..."Youth-Reach Inc., a Christian-based nonprofit organization, brings in trained staff to supervise and teach boys 12 to 21 in the group foster home setting....He said about 30 area churches and other supporters raised more than $1 million in the last four years for the Summerdale project, which will have a $600,000 annual operating budget. No state or federal funds are involved.And there's no charge to the residents or their families."

Religious Freedom

Faith Based Initiative, Conscience rights and Faith Based views of marriage should not be left at the door says Obama....-"Secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square. Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, William Jennings Bryan, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King--indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history--were not only motivated by faith but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause."-said Obama!!!!

Sarah Palin's church severly damaged by arson.-"Palin told her pastor said she was sorry if the fire was connected to any "undeserved negative attention" during her vice-presidential campaign."..."The report also mentions that the church came under heavy criticism after promoting the “Love Won Out” conference sponsored by Focus on the Family which helps people struggling with homosexuality to overcome same-sex attractions..."

The Legacy of Bush revisited-"President Bush’s administration and a host of court rulings have indelibly altered the way that the federal government relates to religious charities, according to an analysis by experts on the subject...Now, eight years into this, it doesn’t seem like such a radical proposition...Tuttle said Bush’s effort to boost government funding of religious groups has been largely successful...Lupu noted that the incoming Obama administration could choose to reverse some of the Bush interpretations of such provisions in a couple of ways..."

Google acknowledges human intervention in search results and wants its own Fast Track on the Web...-"Google this week admitted that its staff will pick and choose what appears in its search results. It’s a historic statement - and nobody has yet grasped its significance . . . The celebrated openness of the Internet -- network providers are not supposed to give preferential treatment to any traffic -- is quietly losing powerful defenders."

UN Islamic 'Defamation' measure: "the number of countries supporting the resolution fell behind the number of those voting against or abstaining."-"Thursday’s vote passed by a margin of 86-53, with 42 countries abstaining. The result showed a significant erosion of support since a similar resolution passed in the General Assembly last December by a vote of 108-51, with 25 abstentions.For the first time, the number of countries supporting the resolution fell behind the number of those voting against or abstaining."

African American Pro-lifer threatened with 4 years in jail even though witness testified that no use of "force against them, threatened them, or.."-"3 more First Amendment Case victories which now totals 48 since 06/08 see trail of all cases starting here at 2 more First Amendment Case victories totalling 45 since 06/2008!!!See below that the ACLU is actually right for once and the personal story of pro-lifer that is going thru a free speech case right now in California below..."

Pro-Life

Planned Parenthood and other abortionists at it again...-"The boy and girl wanted to marry and have the child, but the mother of the 15-year-old's boyfriend insisted on an abortion, found a clinic that would do it, and sent them on their way...The girl arrived at the clinic with a faked consent note forged by the boyfriend's mother on the day of the abortion...The girl's parents knew nothing of the abortion until two weeks afterwards, and have now sued Northside Women's Clinic saying it broke Georgia law. Attorney Little sees some irony in the situation in that the girl's mother previously had taken her to have her ears pierced -- but was turned away...So you can get an abortion [without proof of parenthood], but you can't get your ears pierced"...""[S]he informs them that this little girl has been raped by the mother's boyfriend, and the mother wants to keep the boyfriend..."[T]his kind of stuff happens every day in Planned Parenthoods across the country -- every day," she argues. "They're covering for statutory rapists."

Danny Glover is caught on video not supporting the Civil Rights...-"I am praying this is not the end of the story for Mr Glover on this issue..."

Christmasophobia

The "all" inclusive all demanding secular one's are becoming more and more intolerant.... In the UK "But this year she was astonished when an employee of South Tyneside Homes called at her house and informed her that the decorations she was displaying might be offending her neighbours". In Spain "Argument over nativity scenes and church-state separation are not limited to the United States...it was taken down on orders of an official in the prosecutor's office". In Mississippi "In her email, she specifically stated: “He and another child did a poem about Christ. I know we can't discuss these type [sic] of things in school so I asked the two of them to do another poem of their choice.”

Christmasophobia: Christmas Grinches and Santa's Helpers part 1-"TOP Grinch-o-Meter Award: The 17 congressmen who supported a resolution recognizing Islam and Ramadan but voted “no” or “present”(that is, there but wouldn’t vote) on a similar resolution introduced byRep. Steve King (R-Iowa) recognizing Christianity and Christmas. Lawmakers who voted “no” for Christianity and “yes” for Islam are:....."

Christmasophobia: Christmas Grinches and Santa's Helpers part 2-"• The Wisconsin State Assembly voted to call the balsam fir in the Capitol a “Christmas tree.” The tree had been called a Christmas treefrom 1916 to 1985, according to Rep. Marlin Schneider (D), but hadbeen downgraded in recent years. In an interview with Fox News hesaid, “Political correctness took over and then we decided it wouldbecome a holiday tree. But what it really is, is a Christmas tree, andthere’s nothing really wrong with that.”

Christmasophobia: Christmas Grinches and Santa's Helpers part 3-"Dan Barker of the Freedom From Religion Foundation said during an appearance on the Dec. 4 "Fox & Friends" that the nativity scene represents "hate speech" and "a direct attack on good human values."-Did I just read that right??? Now in light of what this atheist said was "hate speech" check out his display which says, "There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."-Wow!!! A nativity is "hate speech" and this is not! If the nativity is indeed "hate speech" then the atheist speech must be murderous!! I have one word for this irrational behavior amd reasoning, "Christmasophobia"!!!

Christmasophobia: Christmas Grinches and Santa's Helpers part 4-"3. Federal Judge William Griesbach fought back against the Freedom from Religion Foundation’s legal intimidation in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The organization brought suit against Green Bay because the city’s 2007 Christmas display features a Nativity scene. Griesbach dismissed the case due to lack of standing. According to the Christian legal organization Liberty Counsel, Griesbach ruled the claims made by Freedom from Religion were "so fleeting and slight that they do not warrant pursuing in federal court."Standing up against the tyranny of the minority: 6 hearts.

Healthcare

Bush leaves a First Amendment rights legacy in the health profession and Illinois Supreme Court sides with pro-life health care pharmacists...-"Contrast between Bush and Obama on the issue of what Bush believes to be life and Obama believes to be above his paygrade or he just doesn't know..."The Family Research Council (FRC) praises President Bush and Secretary Leavitt for the Administration's issuance of regulations to enforce the Church, Coats, and Weldon Amendments that protect health care providers' right of conscience. These regulations will increase public awareness of, and ensure governmental enforcement of, these vital statutes." "This is a huge victory for religious freedom and the First Amendment"...For Contrast Obama..."Last week, the Obama-Biden Transition Project posted a report on its website that calls for dramatic policy reversals on abortion, including $1 billion in taxpayer money for international abortion groups like Planned Parenthood"

American Society of Reproductive Medicine Statement Confirms the Pill Causes Abortion/Birth defects 2 to 4 times more likely via in vitro-"Amidst an ongoing debate among prolife advocates about whether to classify the Pill as an abortifacient or a prophylactic, pro-abortion advocates have published an authoritative statement declaring that the Pill prevents implantation of embryos, thereby causing an abortion.."...."Babies conceived using in vitro fertilization are two to four times as likely to have certain birth defects than those conceived naturally, U.S. researchers said on Monday"...and more

Same Sex Marriage

Fannie and Freddie just months before they collapsed gave more the $30k to PFLAG...-"the Freddie Mac Foundation has given more than $125,000 to gay-activist groups since 2005. The Fannie Mae Foundation has donated about $80,000 to such groups over the last decade."

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Also, see In the name of inclusivity Christmas is being excluded around the world!!!

Top Grinches and Santa's Helpers from 2008 Part 3

2008 Worst Grinches When will they learn they can’t stop "Christmas from coming?"

2008 Santa's Helper list

1. JoEllen Murphy, a Washington, D.C., local, stood up against the AHA and raised nearly $9,000 to run counter ads that say, "Why Believe? Because I created you and I love you, for goodness’ sake. – God."
Daniel Zanzoza raised private funds to display a Nativity scene in the Illinois state Capitol Rotunda. Even the ACLU backed away from fighting this Christmas as no state funds were used for the display and a spokesman, Ed Yohnka noted, objectors "can engage in counter-speech by putting up their own display inside the Capitol Building.
Philip Butler, vice-president of Fireworks by Grucci, refused to participate in the Patchogue Boat Parade of Lights. Last year the company donated $5,000 to the event but dropped its sponsorship after the name was changed.
Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly used his show and influence and tenaciously refused to allow the governor of Washington to duck the issue of allowing an anti-Christmas message next to the Nativity scene in the statehouse.
4 5
Fighting to allow Christmas in the Public Square: 10 hearts, plus two.

2. Rev. Rick Warren published a new book, "The Purpose of Christmas." During his promotional interview on the Dec. 3 broadcast of "Today," Warren told Matt Lauer and viewers, "I think you have to understand that Jesus Christ came for your greatest benefit. It's like unwrapping the gift to him. The bottom line of Christmas is you matter to God. He made you, he loves you and he sent himself to earth so we can know what He's like."
Eleven million people tuned into ABC’s annual broadcast of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" aired on Dec. 8. The Christmas special in which Linus tells Charlie Brown "what Christmas is all about" was the number one TV program among kids aged 2-11 and second among adults aged 18-49.
Spreading the true message of Christmas: 10 hearts.

3. Federal Judge William Griesbach fought back against the Freedom from Religion Foundation’s legal intimidation in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The organization brought suit against Green Bay because the city’s 2007 Christmas display features a Nativity scene. Griesbach dismissed the case due to lack of standing. According to the Christian legal organization Liberty Counsel, Griesbach ruled the claims made by Freedom from Religion were "so fleeting and slight that they do not warrant pursuing in federal court."
Standing up against the tyranny of the minority: 6 hearts.

Dan Gainor is Vice-President for the Culture and Media Institute, a division of the Media Research Center. Colleen Raezler is a CMI research assistant.

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3 more First Amendment Case victories which now totals 48 since 06/08 see trail of all cases starting here at 2 more First Amendment Case victories totalling 45 since 06/2008!!!

See below that the ACLU is actually right for once and the personal story of pro-lifer that is going thru a free speech case right now in California below...

But first some good news two more First Amendment case victory

California

Judge Throws Out Defamation Claim by “Pledge” Challenger Michael Newdow-"Michael Newdow, who gained national attention for his near successful efforts to have the words “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance only to be thwarted by the Supreme Court on technical grounds, has suffered another court loss. This time a California state court dismissed Newdow’s defamation action against Reverend Austin Miles.
Newdow’s defamation lawsuit was based on an article Reverend Miles wrote, opining that Newdow had lied to the court by claiming his daughter was forced to recite the words “under God,” contained within the Pledge of Allegiance, at school. Reverend Miles noted that Newdow’s daughter was actually a Christian who willingly said the Pledge....Law Center attorney Brandon Bolling ultimately tried the case. After a lengthy trial, Judge Barbara Zuniga entered judgment in favor of Reverend Miles on November 20, 2008. Judge Zuniga declared that Newdow was not defamed, nor entitled to any damages, and dismissed the defamation claim against Reverend Miles with prejudice.
Bolling, commented, “We are pleased with the court’s decision. It was very clear from the start that Newdow’s claims against Reverend Miles had no merit.”

Washington

Washington State Appeals Court Upholds Teachers’ Right to Restitution for Dues Illegally Spent By WEA Union Officials-"A recent decision by a Washington State Court of Appeals, Division 2, has ruled union officials can be held liable for illegally spending teachers’ forced union dues under a now-effectively defunct campaign finance regulation.
The ruling means that thousands of Washington State teachers may receive restitution for the amount Washington Education Association (WEA) union officials illegally docked their paychecks to pay for union political expenditures...“Ultimately, Right to Work laws are the only way to protect workers from the misuse of their funds. By making membership and the payment of dues entirely voluntary, Right to Work laws allow employees to prevent the theft in the first place,” stated Gleason."

Illinois

Bush leaves a First Amendment rights legacy in the health profession and Illinois Supreme Court sides with pro-life health care pharmacists...-"The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled in Morr-Fitz, Inc. v. Blagojevich, No. 104692 (Ill. Dec. 18, 2008). The ACLU has issued this press release in connection with the ruling. ACLJ has issued this press release: ACLJ Applauds Decision by Illinois Supreme Court Backing Pro-Life Pharmacists in Battle with Gov. Blagojevich."

And in California ACLU is actually right for once

CA: Debate over student’s “Prop 8 Equals Hate” t-shirt-"The Contra Costa Times reports:
Big Bear High School student Mariah Jimenez should be allowed to wear the “Prop. 8 Equals Hate” T-shirt she was banned from wearing on campus, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The 16-year-old sophomore, who is her class president, wore the tie-dyed T-shirt to school on Nov. 3, the day before voters approved the constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage in California.
Mariah’s sixth-period teacher, Sue Reynolds, ordered her to remove the shirt during a meeting of the Associated Student Body.
ACLU of Southern California news release."-Even though I disagree strongly that those who believe traditional family values are haters I don't think this person should have to take off a shirt that expresses her viewpoint unless it was obscene in some way.
California (Some of the story of Walter Hoyle)



Where Free Speech Isn't Free, and How It Affects You-"He's been criminally charged by the District Attorney in Oakland, California. His crime? He holds a sign outside an abortion clinic that reads, "Jesus Loves You and Your Baby. Let Us Help." Terrible stuff, isn't it? What could drive a man to be so full of such unmitigated hatred? Sarcasm aside, clearly there is nothing about this man or his message that is hateful. And according to the Life Legal Defense Foundation, no clinic patient has filed any complaint with the police regarding Hoye. Still, the D.A. persists. More in a moment on how in Oakland, free speech isn't free.
I was curious to learn more about Mr. Hoye's personal story and why he is an active pro-lifer and I came across this short video on his organization's website."

I found this prayer on Walter Hoyle's about us section on his organizations web site-"O most loving Father, who willest us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of thee, and to cast all our care on thee, who carest for us; Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which thou hast manifested unto us in thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. — Amen."-Amen!!!

D.A. Conspires with City, Abortionists to Silence Pro-Lifer-"More details emerged Friday of the scheme by government officials and abortion providers to silence pro-life advocate Walter Hoye of Berkeley. At a pre-trial readiness hearing in Oakland Superior Court, the Alameda County district attorney demanded that Rev. Hoye plead guilty to one misdemeanor count and agree to stay-away from local abortion clinics for an unspecified period of time in exchange for dismissing three other bogus criminal charges against him. Rev. Hoye refused and will go to trial next week.
Rev. Hoye, who is African-American, feels a special calling to work for the end of the genocide-by-abortion taking place in the African-American community. As part of his efforts, he stands in front of an abortion clinic in Oakland with leaflets about abortion alternatives and a sign reading, "Jesus loves you and your baby. Let us help."

Rev. Hoye's peaceful witness enrages the all-white cadre of clinic "escorts," who surround him to impede his movement, block his sign with large sheets of blank cardboard, and make raucous noise to drown out his quiet offers of assistance.

As this interference did not deter Rev. Hoye, the clinic then worked with Oakland city council members to pass a "Mother May I" ordinance, prohibiting approaching within eight feet of women entering abortion clinics without their consent. The penalty for illegally approaching a person to talk or hand out a leaflet is one year in jail and/or a $2000 fine.

On May 13, 2008, Rev. Hoye was arrested for allegedly violating the ordinance. One of the witnesses against him was an Oakland city attorney who was secretly watching from a car. In an e-mail to the clinic director, the city attorney said the escorts' use of signs to block Rev. Hoye "was creative and seemed to be effective."

The district attorney then expanded the complaint to include four counts, two for "unlawful" approaches and two for allegedly using "force, threat of force, or physical obstruction" against two of the clinic escorts. At a pre-trial hearing in July, Rev. Hoye's attorneys cross-examined these "victims." The escorts admitted that Rev. Hoye never used force against them, threatened them, or blocked them. They proudly testified that they routinely block Rev. Hoye to prevent patients from seeing his sign. Nevertheless, the DA has not dismissed the charges against Rev. Hoye.

"The district attorney's office appears to be using these trumped-up charges as leverage to pressure Rev. Hoye into giving up his free speech rights," said Hoye's attorney Mike Millen. "The threat of four years in jail is a potent one, but my client is more interested in getting the truth out, both on the sidewalk and in the courtroom."

Rev. Hoye will be back in court on Friday, December 19, 2008, where a trial date will be set.

Life Legal Defense Foundation was established in 1989, and is a non-profit organization composed of attorneys and other concerned citizens, committed to the sanctity of human life. For more information, call Dana Cody at 916.727.4396."

Idaho

Students Challenge Boise State’s Discriminatory Policies for Funding Student Groups-"Boise State does provide student fee funding to the Secular Student Alliance but claims that the Idaho Constitution prohibits it from giving religious student groups equal treatment. Also, other state universities permit religious groups to receive student fee funding.
In addition to the exclusion of religious student groups, the complaint also alleges that Boise State’s policies permit discrimination against other student groups on the basis of their views.
Bruce Skaug of Goicoechea Law Offices in Nampa, Idaho also represents the Plaintiffs.
The Complaint and Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed in Cordova v. Laliberte with the Federal District Court for the District of Idaho, Boise Division can be viewed at http://www.clsnet.org/clrfPages/litigation/CordovaLaliberte.php.
The Center for Law & Religious Freedom is the litigation and public policy division of the Christian Legal Society, a 46 year-old nationwide association of Christian attorneys, law students, law professors, and judges. The Center is among the most respected voices in the religious liberty arena.
http://www.clsnet.org/"

Iraq

U.S. Turns 'Blind Eye' to Persecution of Christians in Iraq, Congressman Says-"The Bush administration has “turned a blind eye” to the plight of Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) said Tuesday at an event sponsored by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Wolf blamed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and even Christian churches in the United States for not coming to the aid of people in Iraq who are fleeing the country by the thousands to avoid torture and even death because of their allegiance to non-Muslim faiths. “We are spending billions of dollars and have shed the blood of some of this country’s finest, and the U.S. government has not done a darn thing to protect the freedom and safety – forget freedom – the safety of Christians in Iraq,” Wolf said. “Secretary Rice has failed when it comes to this point. “When I talk about it, I get mad,” Wolf said."-See Religious freedom issues in Iraq, India and Pakistan. and 4 more First Amendment victories in NM, AZ, CO and WV. Another employee fired over "homophebia" in the UK and 6 new cases!!! Talk about intolerance!!!.

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Also, see In the name of inclusivity Christmas is being excluded around the world!!!

Top Grinches and Santa's Helpers from 2008 Part 3

2008 Worst Grinches When will they learn they can’t stop "Christmas from coming?"

Grinch-o-Meter awards for 2008. Will be posting in part 4 2008 Santa Helpers list.

1. Playboy magazine made an unlikely entrance into the Christmas fray by depicting its December cover girl as the Virgin Mary in the Mexican version of the magazine. According to Reuters, the issue hit newsstands on Dec. 1, just in time for the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Predictably, Playboy issued a statement that said,
"Playboy Mexico never meant for the cover or images to offend anyone" and offered its "sincerest apologies."
Depicting the mother of Christ as a porn-star: 10 Grinches, plus two.

2. On the West coast, Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire allowed the Freedom From Religion Foundation to place a sign near a nativity display in the state capital building. "At this season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail," read the sign. "There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."
It took a blizzard of phone calls instigated by Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly for Gregoire’s office, in conjunction with Attorney General Rob McKenna’s office, to issue a statement that said in part, "the U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution's First Amendment, once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of nonbelievers."
Dan Barker of the Freedom From Religion Foundation said during an appearance on the Dec. 4 "Fox & Friends" that the nativity scene represents "hate speech" and "a direct attack on good human values."
The Freedom from Religion Foundation also placed billboards in Washington and Wisconsin that proclaimed, "Reason’s Greetings."
Allowing disrespectful signs to be placed near Christian displays and labeling the nativity scene "hate speech" are direct attacks against Christmas.
Calling the Nativity Scene "hate speech": 10 Grinches.
Gregoire hiding behind the First Amendment to allow attacks on Christmas: 9 Grinches.
2"

3. On November 18, the American Humanist Association, an organization that promotes "trying to behave decently without expectation of rewards or punishment after you are dead," started to run ads on Washington, D.C. Metro buses. The ads stated, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake."
AHA’s Editorial Director Fred Edwords defended the $40,000 ad campaign, telling the Associated Press, "Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion."
Edwords used the generic term "holidays" in his defense. But by quoting a line from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," the AHA is clearly targeting Christmas.
Using a beloved Christmas song in an ad attacking Christmas: 10 Grinches

4. While there’s some dispute about who was present at the birth of Christ, it’s reasonable to think president-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were probably not in attendance. That minor fact however, has not stopped Italian craftsmen from creating Nativity figurines in the Obamas’ likeness. ("What a great Grinchy trick!") Other figurines include politicians such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Depicting modern-day politicians as Nativity figures: 8 Grinches.

5. Then we have the politically correct Grinches. The town of Patchogue ("just North of Who-ville") on Long Island changed the name of the "Patchogue Christmas Boat Parade" to the "Patchogue Boat Parade of Lights" reportedly because one person complained about the use of "Christmas" in the event’s name. Reports also indicate that the Nov. 23 event drew less attendance than past events that used "Christmas" in the title.
Removal of Christmas and even "holiday" from an event name: 7 Grinches

6. Some Grinches were simply clueless. Viewers who tuned into NBC’s Christmas at Rockefeller Center saw pop star Britney ("Cindy-Lou Who") Spears wish everyone a "happy holidays" in her introduction – and this after she noted "Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year and before she reminded everyone, "it’s Christmas at Rockefeller Center." Disney pop
3
princess Miley Cyrus also wished the audience "happy holidays" after singing "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree."
Wishing audiences "Happy Holidays" during a Christmas event: 5 Grinches.

7. NBC’s Matt Lauer "puzzled three hours ‘til his puzzler was sore," but still joined the "clueless Grinch" ranks when he wished Rev. Rick Warren "happy holidays" during a Dec. 3 interview in which Warren promoted his new book, "The Purpose of Christmas." Lauer did note during the same interview that "it’s almost as if, at every cash register at every store across the country, you should have the title of your book that says, in question form, ‘What is the Purpose of Christmas?’ …before you’re allowed to charge something on a credit card."
Acknowledging that there is more to Christmas than the economy: 0 Grinches
Wishing a reverend "Happy Holidays:" 8 Grinches.
Combining the two in the same segment: 4 Grinches.

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UN Passes Islamic ‘Defamation’ Measure, But Critics Hail ‘Backlash’-"A “defamation” of religion resolution stating that “Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism” passed in the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday – but with fewer votes than in previous years.
Over the past year opponents ranging to media watchdogs and free speech advocates to Christian and humanist groups have stepped up lobbying against the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)-driven campaign.
Thursday’s vote passed by a margin of 86-53, with 42 countries abstaining. The result showed a significant erosion of support since a similar resolution passed in the General Assembly last December by a vote of 108-51, with 25 abstentions.
For the first time, the number of countries supporting the resolution fell behind the number of those voting against or abstaining.
“Although it is disappointing that religious freedom takes another step backwards today, we are extremely encouraged that the majority of countries in the world did not vote in favor of banning peaceful religious speech,” said Angela C. Wu, the international law director at The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
The Washington-based public interest law firm viewed the shift in support for the resolution among U.N. member states as “a significant backlash.”

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Church and Family Philanthropy

Also, see:

Church Philanthropy!!!

Get a sneak preview of what will be airing tonight on ABC World News right now!!!

National Survey of Children's Health Finds That Children and Parents of the Religious Intact Family Do Best on Child Development-Very interesting study. Documents the differences in certain behaviors between kids that have an intact family and how often they go to church proving the benefit of the nuclear family and church attendance to society. If this study is true then it makes you wonder how the church is saving society economically!!! This is interesting in light of this recent radio discussion involving churches and the city. Give a listen to November 18 broadcast of Wallbuilders live. Churches at times are discriminated against by the cities because when they apply for land the land isn't taxed so there is no revenue for the city when a church seeks land within a city to build their church. But who knows how much the city is being spared by having a church in their community!!! Especially in light of next story....

Church-based foster home opening in Baldwin County-"Alabama judges looking for some place to house troubled juvenile offenders have few options other than lockups.
Curt Williams has given them an alternative. The married father of seven has worked with area churches to locate a foster care group home in Baldwin County modeled on those he founded in Houston in 1984.
Williams, who grew up in Mobile before moving to Houston, said the Youth-Reach foster home in Baldiwn County will open Monday on 81 acres east of Summerdale, with other residences to follow on the property.
Youth-Reach Inc., a Christian-based nonprofit organization, brings in trained staff to supervise and teach boys 12 to 21 in the group foster home setting. The program, which has homes on about 15 acres in Houston, seeks to help the youths with emotional healing, character development and practical skills along with addressing educational and spiritual needs.
Williams, 48, who became a minister and founded the program after a personal struggle in his early 20s, said not every young arrival at the group foster home is sent there by a judge.
"Some are just kids who say, `I need help. I'm out of control,' but about 60 percent are court-ordered," Williams said by phone Thursday.
He said his help was requested several years ago by Gulf Shores police who were dealing with troubled youth.
"They began to send some kids to Houston," he said.
Williams said for the last four years, 60 percent of the beds in the Houston program have been taken by boys from Mobile and Baldwin counties, so he saw a need for the Alabama facility.
He said about 30 area churches and other supporters raised more than $1 million in the last four years for the Summerdale project, which will have a $600,000 annual operating budget. No state or federal funds are involved.
And there's no charge to the residents or their families.
The first home has nine beds. It was built and funded by Christian Life Church of Orange Beach. Williams said some of the first five boys moving in Monday have been in area jails.
A second home, built and funded by First Baptist Church of Gulf Shores, also will have nine beds. A member of the Gulf Shores church, Harold Crowley, 62, has helped lead a group of volunteers building the home.
"We felt this was really a worthwhile cause," he said.
As the site expands, Williams said he expects to have a similar home for girls.
On the Net: http://www.youth-reach.org/."

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CNN Meteorologist: Manmade Global Warming Theory 'Arrogant'-"Lehr is a senior fellow and science director of The Heartland Institute, an organization that will be holding the 2009 International Conference on Climate Change in New York March 8-10.

Another CNN meteorologist attacked the concept that man is somehow responsible for changes in climate last year. Rob Marciano charged Al Gore’s 2006 movie, “An Inconvenient Truth,” had some inaccuracies."-See video of his comments below. Only One minute and a half...

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Only 17% of 8th Graders Can Read at Grade Level in Chicago Schools Overseen by Obama Education Secretary-Designee-"In 2007, only 17 percent of eighth graders tested at or above grade level in reading in Chicago Public Schools – the school system administered by Arne Duncan since 2001. President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday tapped Duncan to become secretary of education in the upcoming administration. Duncan, hailed by Obama as a reformer....“I'm also eager to apply some of the lessons we have learned here in Chicago to help school districts all across our country," Duncan said.... According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report for 2007, Chicago public schools have consistently performed below the national average during Duncan’s tenure.....Students in eighth grade are those most likely to have been in the Chicago system for a majority of Duncan’s tenure. CNSNews.com used the scores for these students to best determine the results of Duncan’s administration. By 2007, only 17 percent of Chicago eighth graders were at or above grade level in reading. Thirteen percent scored at or above grade level in math. Twenty-three percent scored at or above grade level in writing. By 2005, the only year Chicago participated in the NEAP assessment program, 16 percent of eighth grade students were at or above grade level in science. Nationally, students did much better on average in reading, math, science, and writing. In 2007, 29 percent of eighth grade students scored at or above grade-level in reading, 31 percent in math, and 31 percent in writing. In 2005, 27 percent of eighth grade students were at or above grade level in science.....Its budget for 2007-2008 was $4.6 billion, according to information released by Chicago Public Schools.....During Duncan’s tenure, the Chicago district did not significantly increase its scores in reading, rising only one point on average from 2002 to 2007 – from 249 of a possible 500 in 2002, to 250 in 2007. The national average in 2007 was 263. Seventy-five percent of Chicago students scored less than 273 on the reading assessment. In math, Chicago Public Schools’ average score increased from 254 in 2003 to 260 in 2007. The national average for 2007 was 280. Seventy-five percent of Chicago students scored below 283 in the math assessment. In writing, the average score for students in Chicago Public Schools increased from 136 out of 300 in 2002 to 146 in 2007. The national average in 2007 was 154. Approximately 50 percent of Chicago students scored below 148 in the writing assessment. In science, the Chicago Public Schools average score was 124 out of 300; the national average was 147. Three-quarters of Chicago students scored below 146 on the science assessment."

Obama’s Choice for Education Secretary Approved Homosexual High School for Chicago -"Social Justice High School, Pride Campus was one of a number of projected public schools that Duncan approved for Chicago. The school was planned to open its doors to all students while offering support for homosexual and lesbian students and including notable gay and lesbian figures in its curriculum."

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Also, see In the name of inclusivity Christmas is being excluded around the world!!!

Top Grinches and Santa's Helpers from 2007 Part 2

Christmas Spirit Spreading, but Grinches Getting Grinchier

On an earlier post we had a list of 2007's Grinches. Now we have a list of Santa's Helpers. 2008 Grinches and Santa's Helpers tofollow in Part 3 and 4 to come.

• Chad Fradette, president of the Green Bay, Wisconsin city council,
paid for a nativity scene at City Hall after learning of an anti-religion
group’s protest of a nativity in a smaller town 40 miles away. “So now
the Freedom From Religion Foundation can pick on somebody a little
larger,” Fradette said.

• Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, donates 10,000
wreaths every year to place on the graves of soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The owner also covers the expenses for trucking the wreaths from Maine to Virginia. In 2006, the program was expanded to provide wreaths to 200 state and national veteran’s cemeteries. This year, the company will also send wreaths to 24 veteran’s cemeteries on foreign soil.

• The Wisconsin State Assembly voted to call the balsam fir in the
Capitol a “Christmas tree.” The tree had been called a Christmas tree
from 1916 to 1985, according to Rep. Marlin Schneider (D), but had
been downgraded in recent years. In an interview with Fox News he
said, “Political correctness took over and then we decided it would
become a holiday tree. But what it really is, is a Christmas tree, and
there’s nothing really wrong with that.”

• The U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program is doing yeoman’s work
again, this year sifting through donated toys to make sure children
don’t receive any toys recalled due to lead contamination.

• Ashley Tarter of James City County, Virginia, created a line of
buttons that say “Wish Me a Merry Christmas.” Tarter was so fed up
with store employees who would only say “Happy Holidays” that she
launched the button business in July. Her Website is
http://www.wmamc.com/

• Jim Ward of Westminster, Maryland, operates Operation Christmas
Tree. The program seeks to send Christmas trees to troops serving in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Operation Christmas Tree has shipped 5,000
trees this season. Ward was inspired by his daughter, an Army medic
who was deployed last Christmas. http://www.operationchristmastree.com/

• Thousands of individuals, like Linda Harvey of Mission: America,
take the time to write to companies to express her disgust when they
omit the word “Christmas” in their advertising. Harvey, based in
Columbus, Ohio, wrote to several, saying, “I will not be buying from
you this year. Your latest e-mail advertisement fails to mention the
actual name of the actual holiday for which we’re all supposed to spend
so much money. Until you actually mention Christmas, I can’t find
any reason for which to spend money with you.”

• Finally, we salute the anonymous author of the poem CMI
received last week:

‘Twas the month before Christmas when all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying, nor taking a stand.
Why the P.C. Policemen were taking away
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt someone’s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a “Holiday.”
And shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get It!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod.
Something was changing, something was quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken and Fonda.
As Best Buy was busy promoting their “WOW”
At Home Depot “Christmas” trees couldn’t be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
The hallowed word “Christmas” will ne’er grace your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
The terms that were used to intimidate me.
Now Edwards, Pelosi, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Barack , on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Christmas, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they muzzled our faith
Forbade us to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate “Winter Break” under your “Dream Tree”
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout “MERRY CHRISTMAS,” not “Happy Holiday.”

Kristen Fyfe is Senior Writer at the Culture and Media Institute, a division of
the Media Research Center.

This Christmas season Planned Parenthood of Indiana of all the 50 possible states decided to give away gift certificates in Indiana for their services which includes abortion. Coincidentally or Providentially this story made it to even ABC World News which is a note to take note of.

Six months earlier http://www.liveactionfilms.org/ just so happen to start a sting operation video recording unlawful practices of Planned Parenthood of Indiana that have just this month been released to the public via YouTube by http://www.liveactionfilms.org/ a bit before ABC World News reported on the Christmas season gift certificate.

I have posted the videos in the below links with interesting comments from various well known pro-lifers.

And now the latest news is that the AG if Indiana is investigating and a grand jury is set to and the videos released by http://www.liveactionfilms.org/ are being subpoenaed in their unedited version and the film maker said according to AP article below, "Rose said Thursday she would cooperate with investigators and urged the state attorney general also to examine Planned Parenthood's activities statewide...".

Hats off to ABC for taking on an issue that concerns pro-lifers with fair and balanced coverage..

Colmes defends Planned Parenthood on Hannity and Colmes

Providence or Coincidence: Planned Parenthood of Indiana, Christmas Gift Certificates, ABC News and the pro-life movement

New articles concerning Grand Jury and Subpoenaed vidoes

Indiana: Grand Jury to investigate Planned Parenthood, video subpoenaed-"The AP reports:
A grand jury will investigate whether an undercover video shot at an Indianapolis Planned Parenthood clinic shows any criminal violations, a prosecutor’s spokesman said Thursday . . .
The video released by the group Tuesday shows a counselor at the clinic and Rose, posing as a 13-year-old who says the man who impregnated her was 31. ‘I don’t care how old he is,’ the counselor said."

Here is the AP story in its entirety..

Authorities to subpoena Planned Parenthood video-"Prosecutors intend to subpoena the unedited video shot by Lila Rose of the anti-abortion group Live Action, said Mario V. Massillamany, spokesman for Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi. Prosecutors also want to talk with Rose, he said....Massillamany said the prosecutor's office was investigating the matter through the grand jury...Rose shot the video in June, along with a similar video from a Planned Parenthood clinic in Bloomington that was released earlier. Planned Parenthood has fired an aide at the Bloomington clinic, suspended the counselor in the Indianapolis video and said its staff has been retrained on reporting abuse....Rose said Thursday she would cooperate with investigators and urged the state attorney general also to examine Planned Parenthood's activities statewide. She urged Planned Parenthood to turn over statistics on how many girls younger than 13 they have treated in the past five years. "

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Illinois. It appears to me that Illinois is an abortionist stronghold politically, from Obama Illinois state senator, see New Documents Revealing Obama's cover up on Born Alive Infant Protection to now the Illinois state Governor. It seems we have more then just dirty politics but dirty anti-Life politics in Illinois and to think that Obama's chief of staff is from Illinois and his secretary of education is from Illinois. This should be at least somewhat concerning. Take note below that Planned Parenthood has a stronghold in Illinois. Take note that Jill Stanek of JillStanek.com is from Illinois. There is more to note. Just take a review below from a pro-life perspective.

From JillStanek.com

JillStanek.com is now in the top 5200 on Technorati. I have been reposting some of her reporting on a pro-life perspective on Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Breaking news: IL Supreme Court rules for pharmacists/against Blagojevich-"My column yesterday spotlighted 2005 executive order by IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich forcing taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research.
Blagojevich was busy wreaking havoc on life in 2005. He also signed an "emergency rule" that year forcing IL pharmacists and pharmacies to dispense the morning-after pill even if against their religious beliefs. The MAP can stop a young embryo from embedding into the wall of the uterus, i.e., cause an abortion. Of course, you wouldn't know any of this by the tricky wording of Blagojevich's statement (click to enlarge)..."-Click on link to see image again I remind you that Jill Stanek is well documented.
"At any rate, the IL Supreme Court ruled today against Blagojevich. Quoting the Chicago Tribune:
The IL Supreme Court has dealt a blow to a rule requiring pharmacies to dispense emergency contraception.
Lower courts had dismissed claims from pharmacists who object to emergency contraception on religious grounds. Thursday's ruling reverses the lower courts, sending the case back to the circuit court.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued the rule prohibiting pharmacies from turning away women seeking emergency contraception, sometimes called the morning-after pill.
Last week LifeSiteNews.com dug up quotes by Blagojevich at the time:
He boasted in a 2006 interview, "Rather than try to get the legislature to pass something - because we attempted to and they didn't do it - on my own, through executive order action, I forced these guys to fill prescriptions for birth control for women who come in with prescriptions from their doctors."
In 2006, after members of the legislature sought to overturn his executive order, he made known his intent to veto any bills that would have protected the conscience rights of doctors and pharmacists.
In a 2006 State of the State address, Blagojevich said, "Now, I understand that several bills have been introduced that would overturn my executive order to protect women's reproductive freedoms ... So let me make something else very clear -- if any of those bills reach my desk, they are dead on arrival."
Interesting verbiage."

I am going to repost what I posted at Abortionist of 11 abortion clinics pleads guilty on 9 felony counts thanks to pro-life organization that documented and exposed her!!! here to keep in good context of the anti-Life Illinois Governor.

Jill Stanek reports

12/09/2008 Breaking news: Blagojevich arrested-"Again, given what I'm hearing as to the breadth of Blagojevich's alleged corruption, I would bet Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry have schemed with Blagojevich at some point(s). I just hope, given the magnitude of these alleged crimes, PP et al aren't too small fish. Fitzgerald is calling this a "political corruption crime spree."

Why would she say this? What might she know of this?

12/11/2008 Breaking news: Judge upholds Scheidler libel charges against Planned Parenthood-"I reported in September 2007 that Eric and Joe Scheidler and the Pro-Life Action League were filing a $7.5 million lawsuit against Planned Parenthood of Chicago and its CEO Steve Trombley.
Attempting to change public opinion after they lied their way into Aurora with a mega-abortion mill, PP/Trombley placed an open letter in the Chicago Daily Herald on September 7, 2007, accusing anti-abortion activists opposing PP's mill of having a history of violent behavior...."

Now here is where it gets interesting!!! Lets move on...

"Yesterday, Circuit Court Judge Judy Brawka upheld 2 counts of slander and libel related to that ad."
Brawka had previously dismissed other counts based on a hastily passed bill in 2007 in the IL General Assembly called the Citizens Participation Act that was supposedly intended to protect citizens from frivolous lawsuits for exercising free speech.
Yet only one week after Gov. Blagojevich signed that bill into law PP/Trombley wrote the letter and then used CPA for the opposite reason intended. Here we had a billion dollar business attempting to trample the little guys by demanding not only that the suit be dismissed but that it be reimbursed over $300k in legal fees.
The bill sat on Gov. Blagojevich's desk for two months before he signed it. The timing is curious. Bearing in mind this week's revelations of Blagojevich's vast pay-to-play schemes, I would not be at all surprised to see here another example.
Tom Brejcha of the Thomas More Society filed the lawsuit against PP/Trombley. Brejcha previously won two Supreme Court decisions in the NOW vs. Scheidler case, of which PP was also a part.
Brejcha said in a statement yesterday he will "litigate the two counts that were sustained all the way to final judgment against PP" as well as appeal the dismissed charges."

09/24/2008 SCOOP: $7.5 mil libel lawsuit against Planned Parenthood/Steve Trombley to be filed Tuesday-"On behalf of a number of Aurora citizens who took part in the 40 day prayer vigil, Tom Brejcha of the Thomas More Society will file a $7.5 million lawsuit against Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area and its CEO Steve Trombley Tuesday.
The lawsuit is in response to Trombley's September 4 letter to Aurora aldermen, which he also sent to the Aurora Beacon....
In it he included "those who oppose" the PP Aurora facility in his false condemnation of Joe Scheidler and the Pro-Life Action League as having a "well-documented history of advocating violence against both persons and property."
Trombley further implicated Aurora protesters when he stated in that letter:
Does it truly come as a surprise, then, that as we complied with all legal and public disclosure requirements, we simultaneously sought to keep this private while the construction was proceeding because the zealots who have been opposing our new facility have a well-documented history of violence and criminal activity?
According to Brejcha in a phone interview this morning:
If you look at the letter to aldermen, Trombley included those in Aurora who oppose the clinic in his general smear. Whatever these people are, they are one removed from Scheidler and the League. And the answer on whether Scheidler and the League are violent was answered by the Supreme Court 8-1 and 8-0. Trombley took even that false assertion a step further.
The lawsuit will be filed in Kane County. The amount corresponds with PP's stated value of its Aurora mill.
On September 7, Brejcha sent Trombley a letter demanding he retract or face "legal redress."
Trombley/PP responded by placing a full page ad in the Beacon on September 10 making the same charges, complete with a photo of an arsoned MI Planned Parenthood building."

So this is where it all began. A 2007 40 days for life peaceful prayer vigil!!! But lets go back to...

12/12/2008 Breaking news: Blagojevich arrested-"I've been saying since this story broke I'm confident there's a pay to play connection between Rod Blagojevich and Planned Parenthood of Chicago and/or its CEO Steve Trombley. Bearing in mind Blagojevich apparently didn't do anything without getting his skids greased, recall this story..."-A story that Planned Parenthood was planning an unprecedented 1$ million television advertising blits for Bagojevich.
"Then I read this 2 days ago on Capitol Fax:
Blagojevich allegedly tried to use the prospect of an Illinois Finance Authority purchase of Wrigley Field to entice owner Sam Zell into firing John McCormick from the edit board.
(Or in the immortal words of Patti Blagojevich, "Hold up that f***ing Cubs sh**. F*** them.")...
By this we know Blagojevich held the strings of his IL Finance Authority puppet.
Then recall PP only last May got a $10 million nonprofit bond rating from the IL Finance Authority to build the Aurora mega-mill - being built as a for-profit venture by PP's false front Gemini Office Development corporation...My concern has been US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald would have many bigger fish to fry than PP. Will he pursue any possible pay to play connection between Blagojevich and PP?
I spoke with Tom Brejcha of the Thomas More Society yesterday, and he's on it. Since TMS is not only suing PP/Trombley for libel but also for zoning violations, he can and will do his own fishing by filing for discovery and requesting depositions with the IL Finance Authority. Stay tuned."

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Also, see In the name of inclusivity Christmas is being excluded around the world!!!

Top Grinches and Santa's Helpers from 2007 Part 1

Christmas Spirit Spreading, but Grinches Getting Grinchier

First the Grinch-o-Meter awards. Will be posting in following post's 2007 Santa Helpers list and 2008 Grinch-o-Meter awards and 2008 Santa's Helpers list.

"• TOP Grinch-o-Meter Award: The 17 congressmen who supported a
resolution recognizing Islam and Ramadan but voted “no” or “present”
(that is, there but wouldn’t vote) on a similar resolution introduced by
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) recognizing Christianity and Christmas.
Lawmakers who voted “no” for Christianity and “yes” for Islam are:
Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Diana DeGette
(D-CO), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Bobby Scott
(D-VA), Fortney Stark (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). Those who
voted “present” on Christianity and “yes” on Islam include: Reps. John
Conyers (D-MI), Barney Frank (D-MA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Donald
Payne (D-NJ), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA),
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Peter Welch (D-VT) and John
Yarmuth (D-KY). [Grinch-o-Meter: 10-Plus]

• Ft. Collins, Colorado – The city created a Holiday Display Task
Force, which recommended banning red and green lights and using
only white ones and only secular symbols. A local ACLU
representative was on the task force. Fox’s Bill O’Reilly reported on
November 27 that the task force’s recommendations were “rebuffed.”
The Council voted 6-1 to keep their Christmas decorations. [Task
Force gets a Grinch-o-Meter 10; Council scores a 2]

• Ridgeland Schools – The Oak Lawn, Illinois district was going to do
away with Christmas parties. But parents raised a fuss, so the school
board decided that rather than take Christmas parties off the agenda,
they would include celebrations of Ramadan and other Muslim
holidays. [Grinch-o-Meter initially registered a 10, but dialed
back to a 5]

• Companies that operate government-assisted housing for
senior citizens – In Plant City, Florida and Troy, Pennsylvania,
residents were told they cannot decorate common areas in their
buildings with religious symbols at Christmas. After being contacted
by Liberty Counsel these companies reversed their decisions. [Grincho-
Meter initially registered a 10, but dialed back to a 2]

• Spokane, Washington – The Associated Press reported that the
Spokane Public Schools sent home a calendar for elementary school
students with “important dates” for December. Hanukkah, Human
Rights Day, winter break, first day of winter, Kwanzaa and the Islamic
holy day of Eid-al-Adha were on the list, but one rather significant
holiday beginning with a “C” didn’t make the cut. A school
spokesperson said, “In our efforts to be inclusive we missed the
obvious.” The school corrected the omission in the online calendar.
[Grinch-o-Meter registered 10 initially but dialed back to 2]

�� Barbara Walters – During the December 13 episode of ABC’s The
View, Walters whined about the White House Christmas card because
it quotes the Bible’s book of Nehemiah. “Don’t you think it’s a little
interesting that the president of all the people is sending out a
religious Christmas card?” she asked her co-hosts. [Grinch-o-Meter:
9]

�� New York City officials – gave the Christian Defense Coalition a
Scrooge-like two-hour window to display a small nativity scene in
midtown Manhattan. The display is part of “The Nativity Project,” a
nationwide campaign to set up nativity scenes in well-traveled public
areas. [Grinch-o-Meter: 9]

�� Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – The airport made major
headlines last Christmas when it removed all of the Christmas trees
on display throughout the airport after being threatened with a
lawsuit if a menorah was not also included in the display. This year,
the airport convened a “holiday decorations advisory committee” which
determined that the airport would not use any decorations with
religious connotations. The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports this
year’s décor is a “grove of luminous birches up to 30 feet high and hung
with crystals and mirrors to reflect colored, low-energy lights.” Above
the trees will be a “spiraling flock of migrating birds cut out of foam.”
Wind chimes will occasionally ring as well. [Grinch-o-Meter: 9]

�� Chattanooga, Tennessee officials – For years the city has included
a live nativity scene in its public festivities. This year, after receiving
a complaint, the city decided to do away with the nativity scene. A
public backlash resulted in the nativity scene being moved to a local
church. [Grinch-o-Meter: 9]

�� Hollywood, California – For 75 years the city has sponsored a
Hollywood Christmas Parade, but it refused to sponsor the parade this
year. The Los Angeles City Council has taken over, and is changing the
name to the Hollywood Santa Parade. [Grinch-o-Meter: 8]

�� The Texas Gas Transmission Company – The company ended a
four-decade-long tradition in Owensburg, Kentucky of displaying a
large, lighted cross. The company’s president, H. Dean Jones II, said
the cross was a religious symbol and the company didn’t want to
alienate people of other faiths. [Grinch-o-Meter: 8]

�� Missouri State University – The college took down a Christmas tree
from an atrium in a campus building after a Jewish faculty member
said it “showed a lack of sensitivity” to people of other religions. After
the local press reported the story, the administration reconsidered and
put the tree back up. [Grinch-o-Meter registered 8 initially but
dialed back to 2]

�� Oberlin, Ohio artist Keith McGuckin – Last year it was
gingerbread Nazis with Swastika-labeled candles. This year,
McGuckin has created a murderous snow woman and a drug
smuggling elf. His art is on display at the Oberlin Public Library and
a local crafts store, according to WEWS in Cleveland. [Grinch-o-
Meter: 7]

�� The Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Bureaucrats
initially ordered all state parks to remove Nativity scenes because of
one complaint. After being contacted by Liberty Counsel, a Christian
legal defense organization, the ODNR changed its stance and decided
to continue “prior holiday traditions.” [Grinch-o-Meter: 6]

�� New Hyde Park, New York school officials – The district drew the
ire of more than 250 residents when it considered changing the name
of school Christmas Concerts to Holiday or Winter Concerts. The New
York Times reported the large crowd came out in August to demand to
keep “Christmas” in the Christmas concerts. The district reportedly
was considering the change based on a single complaint. [Grinch-o-
Meter: 5]