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Teen behind religious banner lawsuit awarded large scholarship; class and style pay off
Topic Started: Feb 21 2012, 01:59 AM (612 Views)
Pat
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I applaud the young lady for being true to her belief and for challenging the school district to honor our Constitution. I see the school district abandoned it's challenge of the judicial findings. They too should be recognized for not wasting anymore taxpayer money in this case. Just pull the banner down and life will go on.




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/18/jessica-ahlquist-atheist-_n_1286875.html

CRANSTON, R.I. -- A national association that says there's no proof for the existence of God is managing a scholarship fund set up for a teenage atheist at the center of a dispute over a prayer banner at a Rhode Island school.

The American Humanist Association says 16-year-old Jessica Ahlquist was targeted with online threats after she challenged the constitutionality of the display at Cranston High School West. It says she stood up against her critics "with class and style."

A federal judge last month ordered the banner removed. A school committee on Thursday decided not to appeal.

Blogger Hemant Mehta started a campaign at the Friendly Atheist website to raise money for Ahlquist.

The Friendly Atheist says the fund has brought in more than $40,000. The fundraiser runs through the end of February.
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Jim Miller
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Yeah. Tyranny of the minority is always a good thing, eh?
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colo_crawdad
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Yeah, Jim, the Constitution's protection of all, which includes the minority from mistreatment by the majority is such a horrible thing. Damned tyranny of the U.S. Constitution. :spinning: :sarcasim:

BTW, Jim, I just bet if a majority in this country wanted to outlaw the private ownership of handguns, you would sure favor what you call "the tyranny of the minority."
Edited by colo_crawdad, Feb 21 2012, 05:13 AM.
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Jim Miller
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I agree with you, Lowell. Tyranny is a great thing.
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Pat
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Jim Miller
Feb 21 2012, 04:49 AM
Yeah. Tyranny of the minority is always a good thing, eh?
I suppose that is one way to look at this Jim. I prefer viewing this girls quest as one that our founding fathers considered when penning the constitution and Bill of Rights. Religion and it's trappings are not allowed in government institutions, a fear and view strongly held by the founding fathers, since they had lived in a time where the church of England was run by King and everyone from witches to Jews in the world had been persecuted by states for their religious or non religious views.

The girl believed the banner was a form of coercion and it made her feel uncomfortable. She doesn't believe in religion and didn't believe the school had a right allowing a religious tainted banner to hang in open where she viewed it daily. Christian sects and cults are the majority in America, so if that is your bag, you apparently believe you and others similar to you should be able to coerce this girl. I disagree.

The girl calmly and rationally went about defending her rights as allowed, and has gained the respect from many. The same Constitution and Bill of Rights will protect you if the need arises, so I wonder why you would embrace an idea that the majority has a right to deny this girl and you use the term tyrant to describe her. Believing as you do is OK, but I find it strange coming from one who posts like you do here.
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campingken
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It's tyranny only when you disagree..
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colo_crawdad
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Jim Miller
Feb 21 2012, 06:00 AM
I agree with you, Lowell. Tyranny is a great thing.
Even better is the fact that our Constitution as applied by our Supreme Court prohibits tyrannies in this country. Don't you agree, Jim?
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Jim Miller
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Pat
Feb 21 2012, 06:07 AM
Jim Miller
Feb 21 2012, 04:49 AM
Yeah. Tyranny of the minority is always a good thing, eh?
I suppose that is one way to look at this Jim. I prefer viewing this girls quest as one that our founding fathers considered when penning the constitution and Bill of Rights. Religion and it's trappings are not allowed in government institutions, a fear and view strongly held by the founding fathers, since they had lived in a time where the church of England was run by King and everyone from witches to Jews in the world had been persecuted by states for their religious or non religious views.

The girl believed the banner was a form of coercion and it made her feel uncomfortable. She doesn't believe in religion and didn't believe the school had a right allowing a religious tainted banner to hang in open where she viewed it daily. Christian sects and cults are the majority in America, so if that is your bag, you apparently believe you and others similar to you should be able to coerce this girl. I disagree.

The girl calmly and rationally went about defending her rights as allowed, and has gained the respect from many. The same Constitution and Bill of Rights will protect you if the need arises, so I wonder why you would embrace an idea that the majority has a right to deny this girl and you use the term tyrant to describe her. Believing as you do is OK, but I find it strange coming from one who posts like you do here.
Shouldn't she have to demonstrate harm? Or is it just because she is the minority that makes everyone kiss her ass?
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Jim Miller
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colo_crawdad
Feb 21 2012, 06:20 AM
Jim Miller
Feb 21 2012, 06:00 AM
I agree with you, Lowell. Tyranny is a great thing.
Even better is the fact that our Constitution as applied by our Supreme Court prohibits tyrannies in this country. Don't you agree, Jim?
Obviously that is not true, Lowell.
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colo_crawdad
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Jim,

If a majority of Americans wanted all guns registered with the government, and the ACLU went to court and got such action prohibited because it is unconstitutional, would that be properly described as "tyranny of the minority?"
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