In Ringgold, Ga., a new display featuring the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and an empty picture frame has gone up in city hall. City Councilman Bill McMillon said the empty frame is "for those who believe in nothing."

     Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, participated in a prayer at a middle school on Oct. 18 and then promised to promote the issue of school prayer during his next election campaign.

     In South Carolina, legislators are looking to change the mandatory moment of silence in schools into a "moment of silent prayer."

     Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla., said Americans' renewed interest in faith after Sept. 11 has encouraged him to introduce, for a third time,  the "Religious Speech Amendment."   The aim is to allow more religious expression in the classroom
Wisconsin representative James Sensenbrenner has been a co-sponsor of this amendment since June, 1997.

     The proposed text of the amendment reads:  "To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: Neither the United States nor any State shall establish official religion, but the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, or tradition on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. Neither the United States nor any state shall require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, or prescribe school prayers."

     And there's now a bill pending in Congress to officially declare the Irving Berlin standard, God Bless America, as the national hymn.

     In the most recent education bill, U.S. Congressional conferees agreed to deny all federal education dollars to local school districts that prevent or deny students from engaging in constitutionally protected school prayer. Defining what is constitutionally protected school prayer would be left to the U.S. Department of Education, according to a spokesman for the House education committee.

     Conferees also agreed to deny federal funds to public schools or agencies that discriminate against, or deny equal access to, any group affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. The agreement also covers other youth groups "classified as patriotic societies under U.S. law."

     These are but a few examples of the push toward establishing religion while denying the act of doing so.  Tim LaHay's end-times book Desecration was just released, and his video series and 8-week study program that blames the "secular humanist" conspiracy continues to be held in many churches.

     On top of this, the real anthrax terrorism has sparked a flood of threat-filled hoax letters  being sent to over 250 abortion clinics and other feminist groups from the "Army of God," the militant anti-abortion group

     The news is grimmer than ever, but let us not retreat!

     Sarah Ovenall has written the following quiz to test your ability to distinguish the rhetoric of Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Usama bin Laden. You can take the quiz online at: funnystrange.com (or manually here). 

     Below are 20 statements made by these individuals.  See if you can identify who made each statement.  Record your answers! 

1. "In today's wars, there are no morals, and it is clear that mankind has descended to the lowest degrees of decadence and oppression."

2. "America is polluting the whole world."

3. "The government is com- mitted to supporting God's religion, the country  remains a strong bulwark for religion, and the people are among the  most protective of God's religion, and the keenest to fulfill His laws."

4. "One-world opinion is tak- ing the side of the Palestinians, not the side of  Israel."

5. "There will never be world peace until God's house and God's people are  given their rightful place of leadership at the top of the world."

6. "The government does not cease to cry over matters affecting religion,  without making any serious effort to serve the interests of the religious  community."

7. "We are on the brink of our destruction, and if we do not awaken now, it  will be too late. We have been victimized by traitorous behavior on the  part of our leaders."

8. "The media strives to keep the people occupied with minor matters, and  to stir their emotions and desires until corruption becomes widespread  among believers."

9. "There is no way that a United Nations, treaties, or any other human  instrument can bring about peace. Such things mean nothing when one  nation desires the land and resources of another."

10. "We have allowed ram- pant secularism.... We have insulted God at the  highest levels of government."

11. "One particular report described the gaps and the shortcoming in the  philosophy of the government, the situation of the law within the country  and the arbitrary declaration of what is lawful and unlawful regardless of  divine law as instituted by God."

12. "Priorities of spiritual work are lost while blasphemy and polytheism  continue its grip and control. We should be alert to these atrocious plans  carried out by the government."

13. "America is in imminent peril... rotting from within."

14. "The American people have put themselves at the mercy of a disloyal  government, and this is most evident in Clinton's administration. The  American government is leading the country towards hell."

15. "The termites are in charge now, and that is not the way it ought to be, and  the time has arrived for a godly fumigation."

16. "If America is not suffer- ing the irrevocable judgment of God, she is  dangerously close.

17. "Americans have com- mitted unprecedented stupidity. We anticipate a  black future for America.

18. "If the judges appointed by man will not deal with those who take innocent  human life, then God is going to enter in and bring justice. And when that  happens many of the innocent will suffer along with the guilty."

19. "All these crimes and sins committed by Americans are a clear  declaration of war on God."

20. "A condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It'll  bring about terrorist bombs; it'll bring earthquakes, tornadoes and  possibly a meteor."

1. Usama bin Laden   "In today's wars, there are no morals, and it is clear that mankind has descended to  the lowest degrees of decadence and oppression. They rip us of our wealth and of  our resources and of our oil. Our religion is under attack. They kill and murder our  brothers. They compromise our honor and our dignity and dare we utter a single  word of protest against the injustice, we are called terrorists." May 1998 interview, Frontline.

2. Pat Robertson   "God in his great mercy has blessed America, and made this a haven for Christians and Jews alike. But we've gone away from our Christian heritage. And God has little obligation at the present time to spare America, because we are polluting the world with our television programs, our movies and so forth, our books. We are polluting the whole world. We've made the world drunk, if you will, with the wine of our fornication. The whole world has been affected by Hollywood." The 700 Club, December 7, 1995

3. Usama bin Laden   "All gratitude to Allah, our relationship with our brother Mujahideen in Afghanistan is a deep and broad relationship where blood and sweat have mixed as have the links over long years of struggle against the Soviets, it is not a passing relationship, nor one based on personal interests. They are committed to support the religion approved by Allah, and that country remains as the Muslims have known it, a strong bulwark for Islam, and its people are among the most protective of the religion approved by Allah, and the keenest to fulfil His laws and to establish an Islamic state." November 1996 interview, Nida'ul Islam

4. Jerry Falwell   "Since the Anti-Christ will not be revealed before Jesus comes, I believe conditions are falling in place, i.e., one-world government, so he can rule the world after Jesus comes. But we're moving toward a one-world government through the United Nations, through the world court and a growing world opinion. The problem is that the one-world opinion is taking the side of the Palestinians, not the side of Israel." "What is Next in the End-Time Drama," 9/9/01.

5.  Pat Robertson   "There will never be world peace until God's house and God's people are given their rightful place of leadership at the top of the world. How can there be peace when drunkards, drug dealers, communists, atheists, New Age worshipers of Satan, secular humanists, oppressive dictators, greedy moneychangers, revolutionary assassins, adulterers, and homosexuals are on top?" The New World Order.

6. Usama bin Laden   "The external policy of the Saud regime towards Islamic issues is a policy which is tied to the British outlook from the establishment of Saudi Arabia until 1364 AH (1945 CE), then it became attached to the American outlook after America gained prominence as a major power in the world after the Second World War.  It is well known that the policies of these two countries bear the greatest enmity towards the Islamic world.... The regime does not cease to cry in the open over matters affecting the Muslims without making any serious effort to serve the interests of the Muslim community apart from small efforts in order to confuse people and throw some dust into their eyes." November 1996 interview, Nida'ul Islam.

7. Jerry Falwell   "In spite of all these outward worldly signs of our national success, we are actually on the brink of our destruction, and if we do not awaken now, it will be too late. We have never been so prosperous. Yet, we have never been so secular and pagan. We are becoming both amoral and immoral. We are making secularism our national religion. The government and the courts have become, not neutral to religion as the Founders intended, but openly hostile to Christianity.    And, as we look with sadness at our internal demise, we cannot any longer ignore that external enemies are growing. This administration has given our military and nuclear secrets to the Chinese and they to other American foes. We have been victimized by traitorous behavior on the part of our leaders." "A National Rebirth Needed," 8/6/00.

8. Usama bin Laden   "It is not a concealed fact that the police states in the Arab world rely on some foundations in order to protect themselves. Among these organizations is the security organization as they spend generously on it, and its foremost mission is to spy on its own people in order to protect the person of the ruler....   The media sector is in the same category as it strives to beatify the persons of the leaders, to drowse the community, and to fulfill the plans of the enemies through keeping the people occupied with the minor matters, and to stir their emotions and desires until corruption becomes widespread among believers. " November 1996 interview, Nida'ul Islam.

9. Pat Robertson   "There is no way that a United Nations, a League of Nations, peace treaties, disarmament treaties, or any other human instrument can bring about peace. Such things mean nothing when one nation desires the land and resources of another. A lasting peace will never be built upon man's efforts, because man is sinful, vicious, and wicked. Until men are changed and Satan's power is removed, there will not be peace on earth." Answers to 200 of Life's Most Probing Questions.

10.  Pat Robertson   [on the September 11 terrorist attacks] "We have allowed rampant secularism and occult, etc. to be broadcast on television. We have permitted somewhere in the neighborhood of 35 to 40 million unborn babies to be slaughtered in our society. We have a court that has essentially stuck its finger in God's eye and said we're going to legislate you out of the schools. We're going to take your commandments from off the courthouse steps in various states. We're not going to let little children read the commandments of God. We're not going to let the Bible be read, no prayer in our schools. We have insulted God at the highest levels of our government. And, then we say 'why does this happen?' It is happening because God Almighty is lifting His protection from us." The 700 Club, 9/13/01.

 11. Usama bin Laden   "One particular report, the glorious Memorandum Of Advice, ... described the gaps and the shortcoming in the philosophy of the regime and suggested the required course of action and remedy. The report gave a description of .... the situation of the law within the country and the arbitrary declaration of what is Halal and Haram (lawful and unlawful) regardless of the Shari'ah as instituted by Allah." The Ladenese Epistle: Declaration of War, Dec 1996.

 12. Usama bin Laden   "In the shadow of these discussions and arguments truthfulness is covered by the falsehood, and personal feuds and partisanship created among the people increasing the division and the weakness of the Ummah; priorities of the Islamic work are lost while the blasphemy and polytheism continue its grip and control over the Ummah. We should be alert to these atrocious plans carried out by the Ministry of Interior."  The Ladenese Epistle: Declaration of War, Dec 1996

 13. Jerry Falwell   "I do not believe the Republicans or the Democrats have the solution to America's moral and spiritual dilemma. Only a pervasive and national spiritual awakening can prevent us entering the post-Christian era as we go simultaneously into the 21st century. I believe America is in imminent peril. We are rotting from within." "Rebuilding America's Walls," 7/6/97.

 14. Usama bin Laden   "I say to [the American people] that they have put themselves at the mercy of a disloyal government, and this is most evident in Clinton's administration ... . We believe that this administration represents Israel inside America. Take the sensitive ministries such as the Ministry of Exterior and the Ministry of Defense and the CIA, you will find that the Jews have the upper hand in them. They make use of America to further their plans for the world, especially the Islamic world....   The American govern- ment is leading the country towards hell. ... We say to the Americans as people and to American mothers, if they cherish their lives and if they cherish their sons, they must elect an American patriotic government that caters to their interests not the interests of the Jews." May 1998 interview, Frontline.

 15. Pat Robertson   "It is interesting, that termites don't build things, and the great builders of our nation almost to a man have been Christians, because Christians have the desire to build something. He is motivated by love of man and God, so he builds. The people who have come into (our) institutions (today) are primarily termites. They are into destroying institutions that have been built by Christians, whether it is universities, governments, our own traditions, that we have.... The termites are in charge now, and that is not the way it ought to be, and the time has arrived for a godly fumigation." York Magazine, August 18, 1986.

 16. Jerry Falwell   "America is living by a standard of relative morality. Young people who do not know what is right will follow their animal nature. If young people do not believe in absolute truth and absolute morality, they will fornicate, rob and indulge their selfish pleasures. Absolute truth and absolute morality are the basis of the Declaration of Independence. These are self- evident truths and inalienable rights.   If America is not suffering the irrevocable judgment of God because she has broken her covenant with God, then I believe she is dangerously close."  "America Made a Deal with God," 7/6/97.

 17. Usama bin Laden   "We are certain - with the grace of Allah - that we shall prevail over the Jews and over those fighting with them. Today however, our battle against the Americans is far greater than our battle was against the Russians. Americans have committed unprecedented stupidity. They have attacked Islam and its most significant sacrosanct symbols.... We anticipate a black future for America. Instead of remaining United States, it shall end up separated states and shall have to carry the bodies of its sons back to America." May 1998 interview, Frontline.

 18. Pat Robertson   [on abortion providers]  "The word I got is that if the judges appointed by man will not deal with those who take innocent human life, then the Lord is going to enter in and bring justice. And when that happens many of the innocent will suffer along with the guilty." The 700 Club, January 1, 1996.

 19. Usama bin Laden   "All these crimes and sins committed by the Americans are a clear declaration of war on God, his messenger, and Muslims. And ulema have throughout Islamic history unanimously agreed that the jihad is an individual duty if the enemy destroys the Muslim countries.... On that basis, and in compliance with God's order, we issue the following fatwa to all Muslims: The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies -- civilians and military -- is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim."  "Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders," February 23, 1998.

 20. Pat Robertson  [on Gay Day at Disney World] "I would warn Orlando that you're right in the way of some serious hurricanes and I don't think I'd be waving those flags in God's face if I were you, This is not a message of hate; this is a message of redemption. But a condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It'll bring about terrorist bombs; it'll bring earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor."  The 700 Club June 6, 1998.

    As reported in our last issue, the Madison School Board became the center of controversy after they ruled to play an instrumental version of "The Star Spangled Banner" to comply with a new law inserted without debate into the state budget bill. 

     The media, including the National School Board Association, characterized the decision as "banning the Pledge of Allegiance," though the board had actually only opted for a neutral solution to the mandate.  The school board voted to reverse their decision after receiving thousands of complaints and an open public forum on Oct. 16 that lasted over nine hours.

      Some AAW members attended the forum Every speaker was allotted three minutes.  About one-third supported the board, while two- thirds opposed the original decision.  AAW members Laura Brown, Dennis Coyier and Jim Dew spoke.  Laura's comments were picked up and circulated by the national media.  What  follows is Laura's husband (and AAW's secretary) Mark Shahan's comments. 

      My first experience with controversy over the Pledge of Allegiance occurred when I was a 6th grader in small-town Iowa. One girl in my class refused to stand and recite the pledge with the class  because she was a Jehovah's Witness.  At one recess, my best friend viciously harassed this girl, repeatedly calling her "a commie."  At the time, I did not know how to respond so I did not respond at all.  Now I will.

     The crux of this debate, it seems to me is what does it mean to be "patriotic?"  Are saying the Pledge or singing the Star Spangled Banner the only ways we can express patriotism?  I could just as easily make a case that people who don't vote and don't inform themselves so they can vote, are unpatriotic.  Why not recite the preamble to the Constitution, the Gettysburg Address, or the First Amendment to the Constitution?  My suspicion is that what it means to be patriotic is as varied as there are people in this room and, if given a chance, the different ways of expressing patriotism are just as varied.

     But instead of building on this variety, the State Legislature has seen fit to restrict it by deeming appropriate only two ways for public school children each day to express their patriotism.  This was done deliberately to be divisive, to create a wedge of allegiance with which to smear as unpatriotic or un-American political opponents who might object. It is ironic that the State Legislators pushing this are the same ones pushing local control on other issues and complaining about one size fits all.  This is a two size fits all solution usurping the most local of control -- that of one's conscience.

     But why should some expressions of patriotism be promoted or endorsed but not others?  If this debate is about freedom of expression, why is only the majority's expression the only one acceptable. Furthermore, what makes such expressions meaningful is that it is freely given without coercion.  When such expressions become mundane rituals, they loose some of their meaning precisely because they loose their spontaneity. And when subtly or overtly coerced on others, such expressions not only do not engender patriotism they breed resentment and hostility.

     So what should the Madison School District's policy be?  It should be a policy grounded on freedom of expression by the STUDENTS.  There are two ways this can be done.  The first way is the policy the School Board enacted at last Monday's meeting and that has been misinterpreted as "a ban on the pledge."  This policy allows students to practice what beliefs they choose but keeps school officials from dictating those expressions.  This is similar to how individual religious expressions are currently handled nation wide in public schools.

     The second way to do this is more expression, not less.  There would still be a time set aside for patriotism but one day it might be the Pledge; another day it might be a students poem; on yet another it might be a reading of the First Amendment to the Constitution.  Some might say this violates the current State law that started this furor.  But it does not have to if each class agrees to let each student take a turn leading the moment of patriotism.  This is the same compromise that was made on the Dane County Board of Supervisors.  This allows all views to be expressed -- majority and minority.  It allows students to learn more about one another and, if guided by a teacher, to learn about the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. In short, more expression leads to education insuring that this expression of patriotism is not all form and no substance.

      Three best selling books have been inspired by Jabez (JAY- bez), a Biblical character whose life entails a 48-word passage from First Chronicles in the Old Testament.  "His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.'" 

      The movement, begun by evangelist Bruce Wilkinson, has led to Jabez backpacks, Christmas ornaments, candles, mouse pads, a purple bear, coffee mugs, bath gels, neckties, and even a framed artist¹s conception of Jabez himself. A proposal for Jabez candy bars was rejected. "We want to be careful about not over­commercializing this," said Leslie Nunn Reed, the licensing agent.

      Curious about this, I did an image search for "Jabez."  Below is a photo, Jabez.jpg, I found: