As most of you know here (from my posts of late) I have been focusing on the FLDS Raid in El Dorado Texas 2+ weeks ago. This story and incident has elicited a lot from the passionate side of me. There are so many things that can and need to be said about all of this, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I have set up a website at FLDS.ws. The sites title states, “Promoting Due Process, Religious Liberty, Human Rights, Constitutional Rights, and Freedom for the FLDS Community and All Of Us!” I truly believe that I am promoting the protection of MY rights as a citizen of these United States of America just as much as I’m promoting the protection of THEIRS. Because if you think that the State won’t come after you, you’re living on another planet.
If you have any interest in keeping up with it, please head on over there. I don’t really plan to post anymore about it here, unless it’s isolated posts about key events as it goes along.
Thanks for listening, and I hope you can learn a lot from reading…
Can we say NO??? How much more ridiculous can we get people?
MIAMI — Florida drivers can order more than 100 specialty license plates celebrating everything from manatees to the Miami Heat, but one now under consideration would be the first in the nation to explicitly promote a specific religion.
This is SOO wrong. There is no freaking way that this should be allowable by law. Normally the proceeds of these plates go to individual charities, so are we going to give government money to Churches?
The Florida Legislature is considering a specialty plate with a design that includes a Christian cross, a stained-glass window and the words “I Believe.”
Rep. Edward Bullard, the plate’s sponsor, said people who “believe in their college or university” or “believe in their football team” already have license plates they can buy. The new design is a chance for others to put a tag on their cars with “something they believe in,” he said.
If the plate is approved, Florida would become the first state to have a license plate featuring a religious symbol that’s not part of a college logo. Approval would almost certainly face a court challenge.
Darn tootin’ you’ll see a court challenge and I sure as heck hope that the judge that oversees the case summarily throws this cocked idea out on it’s butt…
The problem with the state manufacturing the plate is that it “sends a message that Florida is essentially a Christian state” and, second, gives the “appearance that the state is endorsing a particular religious preference,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
The “I Believe” license plate still has a way to go before it reaches the roads. The proposal is part of a package of license plates being debated in the Senate and ready for a floor vote. In the House, the bill that would authorize the plate has passed one committee 8-2. The Legislature’s annual session ends May 2.
Some lawmakers say the state should be careful. Rep. Kelly Skidmore said she is a Roman Catholic and goes to Mass on Sundays, but she believes the “I Believe” plate is inappropriate for the government to produce.
“It’s not a road I want to go down. I don’t want to see the Star of David next. I don’t want to see a Torah next. None of that stuff is appropriate to me,” said Skidmore, a Democrat who voted against the plate in committee. “I just believe that.”
Rep. Skidmore is spot on here. There is no reason for the Government to be sponsoring religion of any sort. This idea is just WRONG!
Florida’s specialty license plates require the payment of additional fees, some of which go to causes the plates endorse.
One plate approved in 2004, displaying the motto “Family First,” funds Sheridan House, which provides family programs but also sees its purpose as “sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Bible” and “information about the Christian faith.”
This one should have never gotten approval and they should stop making this plate period. There is no reason for this type of plate to exist.
The bill creating the “I Believe” plate would also create an “In God We Trust” plate to benefit the children of soldiers and law enforcement officers whose parents have died. It also could face opposition as a violation of the separation of church and state.
You have got to love that, mix religion into it, and throw some veterans stuff in to come up with a way to try and make it “kosher”. Why not a simple plate that says, “We Honor Our Troops”.
A “Trust God” license plate was proposed in Florida in 2003. It would have given money to Christian radio stations and charities, but was never produced.
Very good…
Earlier this year, a legislative committee was shown an image of a “Trinity” plate that showed a Christlike figure with his arms outstretched. It and two other plates were voted down.
The group asking for the “I Believe” plate, the Orlando-based nonprofit Faith in Teaching Inc., supports faith-based schools activities. The plate would cost drivers an extra $25 annual fee.
Approving the plate could open the state to legal challenges, according to Josie Brown, who teaches constitutional law at the University of South Carolina. And it’s not certain who would win.
“It would be an interesting close call,” Brown said.
Simon, of the ACLU, said approval of the plate could prompt many other groups to seek their own designs, and they could claim discrimination if their plans were rejected. That could even allow the Ku Klux Klan to get a plate, Simon said.
Bullard, the plate’s sponsor, isn’t sure all groups should be able to express their preference. If atheists came up with an “I Don’t Believe” plate, for example, he would probably oppose it.
I’ve got an idea, let’s leave the religion to individuals, and leave the government out of it?
I’m going to give you two choices…
This:
or
This:
FLDS: Pain, yearning for peace imbues ranch.
The state of Texas is looking more and more like Nazi’s every day.
I don’t have time to go through it line by line, but it’s a very enlightening read.
Hope you all have a very nice day, say a prayer for all of these people…They certainly need it!
I’ve been reading this blog for quite some time now, and I’m just thoroughly impressed with his stuff. I make sure and check it once a day at least to see if he has new stuff up. He’s been especially SPOT ON when it comes to the whole FLDS travesty. I’d say my only complaint about the site is that he doesn’t have enough “stuff” to keep my insatiable appetite full. Patience Ann, Patience!
Here’s A Story On It from the Kansas City Star. I was woke up at 4:35AM, and my dresser moved. At first I thought our cat had jumped up on it because it was like a bang noise and then I saw it rattling. It also woke up my (dead sleeper) son. What a freaky experience.
Photo Credit: Trent Nelson - Photojournalist Salt Lake Tribune
I am absolutely astonished at how things work in this country. I’d like to see CPS abolished. More bad happens in CPS than in the so called “abusive” families. Also, to all citizens, politicians, etc. in Texas I’d like to tell you that you’ve impacted your own economy with this. I’d like to see a “Texas Size” (got it Freedom Lovers???) boycott of the state. I’ve decided I will NEVER EVER set foot in your state again. I’ll never give to your economy, or support anything in your state. You think you’re the biggest bullies. Don’t mess with Texas is your slogan. Woo Hoo, you’re such toughies, you can make women in prairie dresses (that ironically not too many years ago all women in Texas wore) cry. You can intimidate them. I guess your jollies wore off after the torching of the Branch Davidian Complex. I bet you’re just so saddened by the fact that these people didn’t put up a fight and cared enough about their children to protect them from people with guns and tanks.
Please go here to support the FLDS - Free the Innocent FLDS
Congrats Texas I hope you pay for time and all eternity!
I pray to our Heavenly Father above that he correct this injustice, and to watch over all involved in this tragedy.
I have no need to spell it out in my own words, this post pretty much sums it up for me…
Up until now I’ve had this opinion that I was for restricting 2nd Amendment rights. After this denial of constitutional rights though, I plan to become the BIGGEST supporter of the 2nd Amendment that you’ll ever find on the face on the earth. This country is going to the crapper, and most people are just standing idly by and letting it happen.
You can Read All About It Here.
As stated in the article he was out on a date with his wife Frances. How exciting it must’ve been to be in that arena, I know I would have been on cloud nine.
Is that George W. Bush should be at the very least boycotting the opening ceremonies at the Beijing Olympics, and I’m strongly leaning toward our boycotting of the event altogether.
I also believe that the country should be stripped of it’s “Most Favored Nation” trade status as well. They aren’t any better, if not worse than say a country like Cuba and we have an all out trade embargo against them.
I am so sick of this country getting away with all their human rights abuses, not to mention the consumer nightmares from the recalled toys to the recalled pet food that killed so many of our pets. I applaud all of those trying to disrupt the torch relays.
That’s it, carry on and have a great Tuesday!
The Newly Called LDS YW Presidency
The newest member of the Presidency is President Thomas S. Monson’s Daughter Ann M. Dibb
Photo Credit: LDS.org
Wow,
I’m just about speechless. What a wonderful conference. It was such a special experience to sustain such a humble man of God in President Thomas S. Monson, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. This was the first Solemn Assembly that I’d witnessed given that I’d joined The Church a couple months before President Hinckley became Prophet. I was preparing to get married during the last one.
I’d have to say that thing that stood out the most in my mind though was President Uchtdorf. Wow, what an awe inspiring man. His English skills as the Solemn Assembly was taking place, and as he called other General Authorities and Auxilaries of The Church. He just rolled those names off his tongue without much difficulty. I really love to hear him speak.
The other talks were great too, and I was so glad to hear Elder Scott tackle an issue that definitely needs to be discussed.
What things stood out to you?
Here are some quotes from the talk:
To abusers: “You likely have deceived yourself in the false, temporary security that you have successfully hidden your transgression from the civil or church authorities. But know that the Lord Jesus Christ is completely aware of your sins. Know that sometime, some way, your abusive actions will be made public.”
He urged those who have abused others to “recognize that you need help with your addiction or it will destroy you. You will not overcome it by yourself. You likely need specialized professional help. I plead with you to be rescued now,” he said, with a recognition that forgiveness is possible with complete repentance through Christ’s atonement.
Apostle Richard G. Scott tackled the day’s most sensitive topic: sexual abuse.
Though this “vicious, abominable sin” is pervasive in the world, Scott said, “faith in Jesus Christ and in his power to heal provides the abused with the means to overcome the terrible consequences of another’s unrighteous acts.”
Healing may begin with a “thoughtful bishop or stake president or a wise professional counselor,” Scott said. “You should leave punishment for diabolic acts of abuse to civil and church authorities.”
He had harsh words for perpetrators, saying that they could conceal their actions from some people but not from God, who sees all.
Read More at the Following Source:
Mormon Times
Don’t get me wrong…I am not a big fan of the F “LDS” by any stretch of the imagination, but this crap that’s going on at their compound is making me sick to my stomach. Yes, I realize that abuse has been alleged (and should be checked out). I am not saying a thing about that, but to take ALL 167 children from the compound? Every single child? Was this REALLY necessary? I also question the use of Baptist Church buses as the mode of transportation to get them out. Were school buses just not available? Also, I’ve heard that they are housing some of the children AT a Baptist Church. What’s up with that? Man, I can not tell you how terrible I feel for those kids who’ll now get to be around a bunch of fundamentalist Christians. Talk about Culture shock.
Doesn’t this all remind you of another “wac(k)o” situation (remember Janet Reno???) We know how that one turned out.
Anyway, that’s just my two cents…
I also highly question this raid happening during The REAL LDS Church’s General Conference. Argh…:(
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