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. Jessica will graduate, and half the audience at her graduation will boo. The other half will give her a standing ovation.
The second half are in the right.
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
Are designed to cull donations
From the homophobic bigots who’ve been keeping us amused
And whose wallets and whose purses
Offer dollars up with curses
And who never seem to notice that they’re mostly being used
And a liberal agenda
Needs supporters who can spend a
Lot of money, so the issue is plus for them as well—
Every time some bishop hollers
The reaction raises dollars
So the left has every reason to just let the bigots yell
Don’t expect it to be ending—
Not since politics means spending
And the money flows when angry mobs hurl epithets and names
In the fight for same-sex spouses
It’s a plague a’ both your houses
When it comes to rights and freedoms, then enough with playing games!
Rant follows: [Read more…]
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Is Jessica’s outdated view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 prayer;
Instead of wanting mother healed
You want, instead, the girl to yield
To love, which was in Christ revealed—
He taught us all to care.
You saw this as the saddest part
You felt it, deep within your heart—
I urge you, sir; I urge you, start
To simply look around
The Cranston Christians also prayed
The lawsuit would be turned, or stayed,
That Jessie’s feelings would be swayed
And compromise be found
And finding none, with no regrets
Began to issue taunts and threats,
And urged themselves to action: “Let’s
Make Jessica regret!
We pray that God His will compel,
We’ll use the press to mock as well,
And hope she wants to burn in hell
Cos that is what she’ll get!”
God will not bend to our request
It is enough that we are blessed
Through us, God’s love may be expressed;
It is a Christian’s job!
If Christ is, as you say, enough—
There is no need to ask for stuff—
Then, Mr. Murray, please rebuff
The Cranston Christian mob!
Bit of a rant, after the jump: [Read more…]
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 a child, but she’s fair game for the decision
She’s the reason that we must
Pay the lawyers or go bust
So that’s why her name’s discussed with such derision
Yes, the truth is, it’s our fault;
We’re the ones on the assault
We’d pay nothing, had we halted our transgression
But we had to roll the dice
So we get to pay the price
Maybe next time, we’ll think twice about oppression
Rant, following: [Read more…]
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 cause of the problem. They are “School Prayer,” “Our Heavenly Father” and “Amen.” Take them out. The text can then read, with slight modification:
“May we each day desire to do our best, to grow mentally and morally as well as physically, to be kind and helpful to our classmates and teachers, to be honest with ourselves as well as with others. May we be good sports and smile when we lose as well as when we win. May we value true friendship and always conduct ourselves so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West.”
Who could possibly object to that?
(name withheld, out of pity–you can see if you like)
Were it not for the phrases that make it a prayer
It wasn’t a prayer at all!
So how could a reasonable person object
To a banner that’s hung on a wall?
Were it not for the fact that it’s labeled a “Prayer”,
Says “Our Heavenly Father”… “Amen”
Why, the banner the judge said was going too far
Would be nothing at all—and what then?
If it hadn’t been phrased as a prayer (which it was)
Who could ask—or demand—its removal?
There are only six words—only six!—and that’s all—
That prohibit the banner’s approval!
It’s outrageous the judge’s decision I read
Says the horrible things that it does!
Cos the only thing making the banner a crime…
Is the curious fact that… it was.
Yeah,yeah, after the jump… [Read more…]
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 hateful and unchristian thing to say
I’m not seeing what you see, cos it doesn’t bother me
You should turn around and look the other way”
Look (look the other way), the other way (look the other way)
And the problem will appear to go away (look the other way)
If you shut your eyes and ears, then the problem disappears
It’s so simple when you look the other way (the other way)
“We should keep it in plain sight, cos the banner is our right
We have earned it with the taxes that we pay
There’s no need to take it down, we’re good Christians in this town
You should turn your head and look the other way”
Look (look the other way), the other way (look the other way)
And the problem will appear to go away (look the other way)
If you shut your eyes and ears, then the problem disappears
It’s so simple when you look the other way (the other way)
“It’s been hanging there so long, it can’t possibly be wrong
It’s a message that we need to see each day
For a Muslim or a Jew, or an atheist like you,
You can turn around and look the other way”
Look (look the other way), the other way (look the other way)
And the problem will appear to go away (look the other way)
If you shut your eyes and ears, then the problem disappears
It’s so simple when you look the other way (the other way)
“If we want the banner there, there’s no reason you should care
And the wants of the majority hold sway
If you see us breaking laws, just take a breath and pause
Then turn around and look the other way”
Look (look the other way), the other way (look the other way)
And the problem will appear to go away (look the other way)
If you shut your eyes and ears, then the problem disappears
It’s so simple when you look the other way (the other way)
“Should you win the case in court, we have one more last resort
We can threaten you and force you to obey
If you make us take it down, you’re the bully in this town
You should turn your head and look the other way”
Look (look the other way), the other way (look the other way)
And the problem will appear to go away (look the other way)
If you shut your eyes and ears, then the problem disappears
It’s so simple when you look the other way (the other way)
I don’t really need to provide context, do I? Every discussion thread that ever touched on an establishment clause case, that’s your context.
Feel free to add verses–this one practically writes itself.
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 dried; why would any religious believer want to side with the notion of “yes, the government can choose which religion to promote.” Seriously, Jessica is fighting for their rights, even as they (figuratively, I hope) spit on her.
Cuttledaughter has been following Jessica’s story; it’s too late to hope she grows up to be like Jessica, but it is not too late to be proud that she takes Jessica’s side.
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 start the persecution
And we’ll all* stay free!
Praise the Lord, protect our institution
Praise the Lord, and find us a solution
Praise the Lord, and down with evolution
Cos the Lord made me!
Yes, the Cranston people yelled it
The learned judge beheld it
He saw what he was not supposed to see!
Praise the Lord, let’s start a revolution
All aboard, and fuck the constitution
Praise the Lord, we’re after restitution
So we all* stay free
Praise the Lord, and start the persecution
Praise the Lord, and start the persecution
(Can’t afford, without your contribution
Cos it’s far from free!)
*all Christians, that is.
My version is based on the original Frank Loesser song, but I couldn’t find a video that contained it. Video, for those who don’t know the song, after the jump: [Read more…]
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.
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 costs, but I haven’t been able to confirm it.