The school board in Cranston was feeling The pressure some locals were dealing: Some hated the manner They dealt with the banner— They were, we agree, unappealing. Headline: No appeal on Cranston prayer banner It’s over. With any luck, it will fade into the woodwork and a week from now no one will even remember. …
Category Archive: First Amendment
Feb 15 2012
Cash Cow Spotted In New Hampshire
NH Lawmakers Consider Rolling Back Gay Marriage It’s too tragic to be funny, But by following the money We can see the motivation for the movement to repeal See, despite the sponsors’ spinning They don’t really think they’re winning And that’s really not the reason they’ve been showing so much zeal All their proper protestations …
Feb 03 2012
The Saddest Thing About Cranston…
Dear Joseph G. Murray, I tell you, I worry; I think something’s wrong with your eyes. That you see what you see Is a marvel to me, And I write to express my surprise: The saddest part, it seems to you Is Jessica’s outdated view Of what a god’s supposed to do, Like answering one’s …
Feb 01 2012
Just Who Is At Fault Here?
Do you know how much it cost When I fought the law and lost? When the judge reviewed and tossed out my opinion? I’ll admit it gave me pause When he said I broke the laws Though I disagree, because it’s God’s dominion! Though I lost my legal claim I’ll hold Jessica to blame She’s …
Jan 31 2012
Counterfactual Thinking In The New York Times
From the NYT letters to the editor: Re “Student Faces Town’s Wrath in Protest Against a Prayer” (news article, Jan. 27), about a successful lawsuit brought by Jessica Ahlquist, a 16-year-old atheist in Cranston, R.I.: There are only six words in the text posted on the wall of Cranston High School West that are the …
Jan 31 2012
Look The Other Way
At our school board meeting hall, there’s a banner on the wall That says ,“Jesus is my savior and my lord” Though its stands against the rules to have prayer in public schools If it’s clear that it’s a message from the board When I started to complain, I was answered with disdain: “What a …
Jan 26 2012
NYTimes Article On Cranston
Nothing you haven’t heard before. But a lot of people who haven’t heard it before are going to hear it. (The link goes to the New York Times article on the Cranston banner.) I’ve been arguing with a few people, away from here, about this case. I don’t know–to me, it seems so cut and …
Jan 26 2012
Praise The Lord, And Start The Persecution
Down went the banner; the judge had sealed its fate Down went the banner; the protests were too late Up jumped the students, the godly, Christian squad And when they pledged allegiance, they shouted UNDER GOD!, saying Praise the Lord, and start the persecution Praise the Lord, and start the persecution Praise the Lord, and …
Jan 26 2012
The More Things Change…(Cranston Edition)
I am very much impressed by the Providence Journal videographer. Yesterday, it was a sympathetic portrait of the pro-banner side; today, footage from last night’s meeting, featuring Ellery Schempp, who fought essentially the same battle Jessica Ahlquist fought, but back in 1963.
Jan 25 2012
Cranston T-Shirt Video
No, not “Evil Little Thing”. This is the pro-banner T-shirt. It’s actually a nicely produced bit of video reporting from the Providence Journal, in my opinion–a low-key portrait of perfectly nice people who think their rights are being trampled on, because their privilege is being reeled in. I assume that proceeds are going toward court …
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