PHILADELPHIA — A U.S. court says a kindergartner's mother cannot read Scripture during show and tell, even if the Bible is the boy's favorite book.
"Parents of public school kindergarten students may reasonably expect their children will not become captive audiences to an adults reading of religious texts," Chief Judge Anthony J. Scirica of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in the split 2-1 opinion, which upheld a lower court decision.
Donna Kay Busch v. Marple Newton School District, June 2009
Socialism is a word generally applied to economics as a 'theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor'. Hm mm, the complete reconstruction of a society; how does that work and who gets to decide what is more 'just and equitable'?
The United States government now largely controls General Motors, the infamous Fannie and Freddie, AIG, and many of our mid-sized to large banking and lending institutions. Obama makes no secret of the fact that he supports redistribution of wealth and nationalized health care. Clearly this level of government control and socialist tenets should be sufficient to edge our nation away from its evil capitalist ways, but...
In order to socialize a culture (which by the way, the Marx-Lenin theory calls a stepping stone between capitalism and communism), and move it toward a more homogeneous, privatized, "nation of citizens", Obama, Pelosi, Frank, Reid, et al in our current administrations cadre of lock-stepped demagogues must necessarily influence our children. They, after all, are much more compliant than their recalcitrant parents.
In an outstanding article at Citizenlink.org (the action wing of Focus on the Family), Candi Cushman says this;
"After all, they know if they can capture the hearts and minds of the young, they can permanently change the culture."
The remainder of the article by the way is a must read for parents. http://www.citizenlink.org/clcommentary/A000010153.cfm
Why the children?; It takes too long to change adult behavior. American parents in general and American Christian parents in particular are sleeping at the wheel as our government is rebuilding our core values and beliefs through the indoctrination of our children to 'alternative' points of view and lifestyles. By creating a pluralistic society where all points of view are valid, our leaders are in a better position to secularize America and wrest control of all affairs economic and personal for selfish gain; power and money.
Wait a minute, what does influencing our children's view of homosexuality, gay marriage, green technology, the Nation of Islam, tolerance, and 'all ideas are good ideas' have to do with socialism anyway? Glad you asked. Let me explain:
Have you noticed that as our children accept government and media hyperbole, so do the parents? Kids are believing more and more that gay is OK, that absolute truth is not a valid position in most matters, that abortion is a foregone conclusion and that if we don't work hard to save our planet, the evil parents will destroy it.
Here is another excerpt from Cushmans article;
Take, for instance, what’s happening to parents in Alameda, Calif. Despite the fact that the state’s highest court upheld Prop. 8 — a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman — the school board brazenly mandated a pro-gay curriculum for elementary kids. It told parents they cannot opt their kids out of this teaching — even if it contradicts their most deeply held religious convictions. Or even if they happen to think their kids are too young to psychologically handle sexual topics.
With malleable minds at stake, the government is increasingly unwilling to allow radical Christian parents a voice in the teaching their children receive. The socialistic leaders of 2009 need our children to be a significant voting block in only 10 to 15 years from now. If Christians are permitted to teach their own children and voice religious principles publicly for example, kids will actually continue to think that their destinies are matter for God to decide instead of a matter for the state control.
On the other hand, if Bibles are entirely removed from the public square and curricula are based on open acceptance of alternative and un-Scriptural thinking, the state can decide 'what is best' for the common good of all concerned. With that power firmly in hand, politics then rules the day and economics (power and wealth) reside in the hands of our government with little resistance from those that the state has nurtured into un-Godly thinking.
Think of it like this, you and I will die sooner than later. Looking at the thinking of the young people in your life, ask this question; Seeing what I see and considering the kids I know, will the generation after me be more or less Godly and grounded in character?
Christian men; Read, learn and apply. Read articles like Cushmans and follow the links to places where your voice can be heard. Find one or two solid websites like 'Focus on the Family' or 'Called2Action.org' and check them regularly for ways in which you can engage our culture with letter writing and contacting your representatives.
Ask your pastors about opportunities for the church to get involved in local politics (don't bother thinking the church isn't allowed to do that... YES, it is!). Read up on the 'Johnson Amendment' of 1954 and ask your church leaders to help you understand it.
If the "Voting Place" were really the place to make a difference as so many seem to think, would we not have made that difference by now? The voting place is manipulated and your choices there are very narrow.
The place to make a difference is in the public square so that the choices we have for whom to vote is broadened. By speaking out and challenging contemporary issues in a Biblical, Christ-centered way, perhaps we can more greatly influence the people who are actually chosen to represent us. Think about it; were Obama and McCain the best we could do in the last election?
Perhaps with enough positive and influential Christian activity today --particularly from our men--, we will have real choices for elected leaders tomorrow. If it remains as it is now, the polling place in the next election will be little more than an exercise in futility.
As always, that's just what I think... what about you?
