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AFA ActivismAction Alert - 10/17/01ACLU Challenging 'God Bless America'American Family Association encourages you to contact Superintendent Brown and commend him for standing firm for America's children against the un-American ACLU.
Since Sept. 11, the words "God Bless America" have been seen and heard everywhere. But the ACLU wants it stopped. According to Fox News, The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday gave its blessing to "God Bless America," urging public schools to display the expression as a show of support for the nation. The nonbinding House resolution, passed 404-0, responds to several cases around the country where the ACLU has objected to displaying the words at schools, saying that religion and patriotism should not be intermixed. The measure's sponsor, freshman Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., recalled standing on the steps of the evacuated Capitol building on the evening of Sept. 11, joining other lawmakers in singing "God Bless America." "To threaten a public school for showing the same type of patriotism that we all showed on the Capitol steps is the opposite of what this country is all about," he said. Brown mentioned a dispute in Rocklin, Calif., northeast of Sacramento, where the northern California chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, on behalf of the parent of a student, asked an elementary school to substitute the American flag for a sign saying "God Bless America." The Rocklin school district refused the request, citing a California Supreme Court decision that found the phrase to be a traditional, patriotic phrase that did not violate constitutional separations of church and state. Members of Congress felt free to sing it on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. President Bush shouted it to New York rescue workers over a bullhorn. But when schools started putting up banners and signs reading "God Bless America," the ACLU stepped in. In a letter to a Breen Elementary School in Rocklin, Calif., for example, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called it "a hurtful, divisive message" in "violation" of the Constitution. It demanded that the sign "be replaced immediately." Read the hateful ACLU letter of intimidation sent to Rocklin Elementary School. The Rocklin's School District’s position is that the placing of the phrase and song title "God Bless America" on the Breen Elementary School marquee is a non-religious, patriotic statement which was intended to, and has, brought the school community together during a very difficult time. As part of its response to the horrific events of September 11, the school community initiated a fund-raising campaign to support the widows and children of fallen New York police officers. This commendable act of patriotism and generosity culminated in a ceremony in which the school community held a rally around the school’s flag pole and sang "God Bless America," which is also the theme of the campaign. The money raised (about $4000) was then presented to the local Police Chief and the Commander of the Placer County division of the California Highway Patrol. According to Rocklin Unified District Superintendent of Education Kevin Brown: The events of the past week have been somewhat surreal. As a school district, we find ourselves at the center of both a local and national media frenzy as a result of displaying "God Bless America" on the marquee at Breen Elementary. Last Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sent a letter to us demanding that this message be removed immediately. Their point was that "the government may not exhibit preference for religion, may not support religion and may not teach religion in the public schools." While we have no disagreement with this statement, it is our position that "God Bless America" is a patriotic expression and the title of a song that all Breen students learned as part of their civic activities while raising funds for the September 11 relief efforts. In a letter I sent to the ACLU we refused to take the message down unless so ordered by a court of law. Our attorneys have cited several court cases that support our position and believe the ACLU’s interpretation of the separation of church and state doctrine does not apply in this situation. Once the local media picked up the story the national media followed. We have been interviewed on numerous radio networks, FOX Cable News, Time Magazine, Associated Press, and the list goes on and on. People from all over the country have been sending faxes, emails and calling in support of our stance. Presently, we do not know if the ACLU will seek court action against us. Their recent press release stated they were not filing "at this time," but that we were in violation of the constitution and should change the message to some other patriotic phrase. Our response stands firm. This is not negotiable. The message will continue to be displayed until the end of the month when it was planned to be changed. I regret that this issue has distracted all of us from our educational focus and disappointed that such a commendable act of patriotism and generosity by the Breen Elementary community has been tainted and portrayed to be something entirely different. We will continue to stand behind the staff and see this through to its end. As more information becomes available, I will keep you informed. ACTION NEEDEDAmerican Family Association encourages you to contact Superintendent Brown and commend him for standing firm for America's children against the un-American ACLU.Mr. Kevin Brown Office of the Superintendent Rocklin Unified School District 5035 Meyers Street Rocklin, California 95677 Phone: (916) 624-2428
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