You're so right DotJo and this proves it!  Jinnye  Turn Your Face Toward the Sun And The Shadows Will Fall Behind You! --- On Wed, 2/25/09, Dorothy Bowles <dotjo1@suddenlink.net> wrote: From: Dorothy Bowles <dotjo1@suddenlink.net> Subject: [DOWN-HOME-CHATTER] Fw: Victory: Unanimous Supreme Court Decision! To: down-home-chatter@rootsweb.com Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 3:38 PM ACLJDON'T TELL ME THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN INPUT IN WHAT HAPPENS. YOU JUST HAVE TO SPEAK YOUR MIND TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. SO PEOPLE START SPEAKING UP FOR WHAT YOU WANT. I HAVE SIGNED THESE PETITIONS EVERY TIME AFA SENT ME ONE. DOT JO ONE SMALL VOICE AMONGST MILLIONS. ----- Original Message ----- From: Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel To: Dorothy Bowles Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 2:29 PM Subject: Victory: Unanimous Supreme Court Decision! WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2009 Dear Dorothy, Your ACLJ membership made a significant difference! In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of the United States today issued a landmark First Amendment ruling clearing the way for governments to accept permanent monuments of their choosing in public parks. The decision comes in the case of Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, a critical First Amendment case in which the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) represented the Utah city in a challenge to a display of the Ten Commandments in a city park. This decision represents a resounding victory for government speech. The decision gives government the right to speak for itself and the ability to communicate on behalf of its citizens. It's a significant decision that clears the way for government to express its views and its history through the selection of monuments - including religious monuments and displays. This decision also puts a bookend on the litigation surrounding the display of the Ten Commandments that's been taking place for years across the country. The critical question before the Court was, ''Can a city decide which permanent, unattended monuments, if any, to install on city property?'' Without dissent, the Court said ''Yes.'' We're delighted that the Court upheld the important distinction between government speech and private speech. The ACLJ asked the high court to overturn a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit that ordered Pleasant Grove City, UT, to accept and display a monument from a self-described church called Summum because the city displays a Ten Commandments monument donated by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In a 9-0 decision announced by Justice Samuel Alito, the Supreme Court concluded: ''In sum, we hold that the City's decision to accept certain privately donated monuments while rejecting respondent's is best viewed as a form of government speech. As a result, the City's decision is not subject to the Free Speech Clause, and the Court of Appeals erred in holding otherwise. We therefore reverse.'' The high court concluded that the government has the right to speak for itself without violating the Constitution. ''The Free Speech Clause restricts government regulation of private speech; it does not regulate government speech ... A government entity has the right to 'speak for itself'.... it is not easy to imagine how government could function if it lacked this freedom ... A government entity may exercise this same freedom to express its views when it receives assistance from private sources for the purpose of delivering a government-controlled message.'' The Court's opinion is located here. The ACLJ contended that the Tenth Circuit made a serious error confusing government speech with private speech. In its briefs, the ACLJ argues that ''a city's selection of which items to display in a park - like its selection of decorations for government buildings - is government speech, and no private entity can claim a 'Me too!' right of access for its own preferred displays.'' Let me express my thanks to you - as a vital member of the ACLJ - for your financial and prayerful support for this Supreme Court case - this is your victory! This decision represents a resounding victory for government speech. -Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel, ACLJ To ensure that you continue to receive e-mails from the ACLJ, please add jsekulow@aclj.org to your address book. American Center for Law and Justice P.O. Box 90555, Washington, D.C. 20090-0555 Phone: (800) 296-4529 Copyright©2009, ACLJ | Privacy & Security Policy | Registration | Unsubscribe The ACLJ is an organization dedicated to the defense of constitutional liberties secured by law. American Center for Law and Justice is a d/b/a for Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism, Inc., a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, religious corporation as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and freedom of speech are inalienable, God-given rights. The Center's purpose is to educate, promulgate, conciliate, and where necessary, litigate, to ensure that those rights are protected under the law. The organization has participated in numerous cases before the Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals, Federal District Courts, and various state courts regarding freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Your gift is very much appreciated and fully deductible as a charitable contribution. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtain ed by writing to us at P.O. Box 450349, Atlanta, GA 31145-0349. As always, let us know of threats to freedom in your area by calling (757) 226-2489. And tune in to our daily radio program, "Jay Sekulow Live!" For technical problems of any type, contact the tech support staff by visiting www.aclj.org/help . Please provide all the information requested. Please do not use this for general correspondence as it goes to a technical support area. How do I discontinue my membership/subscription to this e-mail list? Do not respond to this e-mail for any reason. To discontinue your membership automatically, please follow the link below. You joined this list as Dorothy Bowles at the following e-mail address: dotjo1@suddenlink.net. You must use the correct e-mail address to discontinue your membership. If you experience any technical problems and/or do not receive confirmation that your request has been completed online, please postal mail, phone, or fax your request using the contact information listed above. Your request will be processed within 10 days of the receipt of your request. 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