Proof

[ck4829]

Proof that 'christian' Right groups are trying to create a theocracy and that they will use lies and violence to make sure that it happens.

"In November 2004 the ADF (Alliance Defense Fund, one of the most powerful groups in the 'christian' Right) sponsored a lawsuit of a Cupertino, California elementary school teacher against his school principal and school board members. On Wednesday November 24, the day before Thanksgiving, the ADF issued a press release entitled "Declaration of Independence Banned from Classroom", a title which caused considerable controversy, and some outrage, among listeners to various news outlets, predominently broadcast by ones right-of-center in United States politics..

In fact, the ADF lawsuit (Williams vs. Vidmar) in no way mentioned the Declaration of Independence, and no materials were "banned" from any classroom, as all parties, including the plaintiff, later agreed.

The inflammatory and inaccurate wording of the press release, including a text which asserted the school district sought to "erase God" from the classroom, generated a runaway firestorm in the conservative media over the holiday weekend. The story was picked up by Reuters and Fox News which rebroadcast the alarming news of a ban on at least seven occasions and dispatched the Hannity and Colmes show to Cupertino for a special episode featuring the teacher. Bloggers, pundits, and especially talk radio shows across the nation could not resist the story, especially as it broke over the Thansgiving holiday, a time traditionally associated with Pilgrims and patriotism. The timing of the press release had also ensured, intentionally or not, that the school district would be unable to respond for at least four days as it was shut down for the holiday.

The ADF made no effort to counter the alarming story. Threats against the elementary school and its principal caused the sheriff's department to put extra patrols on duty and the school had to hire additional security personnel for the remainder of the year.

In August 2005 Williams and the ADF dropped the lawsuit, choosing to settle out of court.

Several days later Williams resigned from the school district and left the state.

Patricia Vidmar, a target in the original suit, continued in her position as Principal of Stevens Creek Elementary with strong support of parents, teachers, and the local community.

50,000 of local taxpayers money was wasted and the suit proved meritless.

A parents organization for the school area questioned ADF's motives:

"The ADF is morally obligated to be proactive when issuing a correction of the record and they must give it the same wide publicity to ensure the same coverage given the original, factually inaccurate and devastating press release. Otherwise, they’re just paying lip service to their claim of concern for the safety of our children." "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_Defense_Fund#ADF_ethics_questioned

This so-called 'persecution of Christians', this 'war on Christmas', and other things aren't just Propaganda, the 'christian' Right groups are trying to goad their followers to finish what started with the Bush Coup that took the White House in 2000.

[Joanne98]

1. I hate their guts.

[Cobalt-60]

2. Religious fanatics

A theocracy could be a real problem.
Particularly if it's a sham used by big business to hold us down.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Reminds me

of last year, when there was an interfaith conference in Dallas, TX. Wasn't all that well publicized, because DUers here didn't know about it until I alerted them. Anyway, it was publicized enough that the participants received death threats and had to have police protection. According to a participant, the threats came from the religious rw Christians, who objected to it because it involved Christians, Muslims, Jews, Pagans, Wiccans, and other faiths. And this was a conference promoting PEACE.

[smacky44]

4. How much would it take to educate these brain-dead people?

Has anyone ever had any success with informing these fanatics about reality?

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Frivolous lawsuit.

1. The school system should never have settled.
2. The school system should have had the suit dismissed.
3. The school system should have countersued, alleging frivolous lawsuit, asked for treble damages for bringing a meritless, factless lawsuit that the plaintiffs and their attorney knew did not belong in the courts, and asked for the $50,000 attorneys fees be paid by the plaintiffs. THAT would have cleared the record.