Anti ACLU e-mail

I received this e-mail from a friend of mine. I have been receiving a lot of anti-ACLU mail forwards lately. From the headers and footers, this one had been forwarded several times, with copies to hundreds of people. Below the original e-mail is my hurried response



AGREE OR DELETE


This is by a daughter of a murdered couple in Raytown , MO ,
who had a Bible and Bookstore on 63rd street ..

When I had to testify at the murder trial of my parents a week ago, I was asked to raise my right hand... The bailiff started out "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"

I stood there and waited but she said nothing. She said "Do you?"

I was so stunned I blurted out "What happened to "so help me God'?"
She came back with "Do you?" I replied yes, but I was perplexed.

Then the judge said . "You can say that if you want to."

I stopped, raised my right hand, and finished with "So help me God!"

I told my son and daughter that when it came time for them to testify, they should do the same.

I don't know what can be done about it, but it's time for us to step up and DO something.

NBC this morning had a poll on this question.. They had the highest number of responses that they have ever had for one of their polls, and the percentage was the same as this:

86% to keep the words, 14% against.. That is a pretty 'commanding' public response.

I was asked to send this on if I agreed or delete if I didn't.

Now it is your turn.. It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.

Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having

"In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Why is the world catering to this 14%?

If you agree, pass this on, if not, simply delete....
In God We Trust
If You Choose To Delete
Perhaps Then You Are Part Of The Problem
Me? I'm Passing It On.
It seems to get worse daily.



Dear friend. Thank you for your e-mail. I will delete it after I respond. I will respond as a friend, as someone who respects your intellect and your sincerity. But frequently people pass on and forward mail because it strikes a “bumper sticker” chord, but they don’t stop to think what it really says about them that they forward it. So here is my response:




If you were in Turkey as a tourist, and were assaulted, when it came to trial, would you be willing to say "In Allah's name?"

If you were in India would you be willing to swear by Vishnu?

Would you be willing to ask Buddha to judge your truthfulness in Tibet?

In Africa, would you raise your hand to the spirits of the ancestors surrounding you in the court room?

Closer to home: in Lockport, NY would you swear to the Great Spirit of the Forest and testify to the Tortoise who bears up the world?

How can we, a country formed out of many nations, a country which depends on the equality of all individuals and pledges to support the rights of everyone, citizen or alien, force someone else to swear to our personal interpretation of God? Or require that they do so in order to receive justice? What kind of America would that be?

How can you, as a Christian, whose God tells you to honor and respect the alien resident within your walls turn around and get insistent that the court clerk say exactly what you want and how you want it? Whether or not it disrespects and denies the alien in your presence?

I cannot judge you. Judge yourself, as you know you will be judged. And God bless that woman whose parents were murdered. I hope and pray her grief does not damage her soul.