Comments for: “Lessons From Lauren: What I Learned In My Tenure At Americans United”

Lauren, Good luck in law school, thanks for all your hard work, keep fighting for what you know to be right and true. Many Blessings!

Lauren, knock ‘em dead, break a leg or whatever the correct wish is for law school. I have heard people define the rights that AU protects as “parchment” rights, just nothing more esoteric legal concepts that really have no practical importance in our daily affairs. Those who don’t see the importance now would learn just how critical these protections are if they ever vanished. I hope that you can continue to work in this area when you finish law school, maybe sue Dobson, et al or even better, not need to.

Best of good fortune, and I’m betting when you get your LLB or JD or whatever, you will continue to be a sterling advocate for TRUE freedom and equality — try not to be depressed or discouraged by the size of the task. Realize that those sending hateful messages are just revealing what terrified, frightened little children they truly are. Hang in there. I offer you 76 years worth of advice: PAIN IS INEVITABLE, MISERY IS OPTIONAL. Mostly, have fun! May God bless you — I know She will.

Lauren,

I wish you the best in law school. You’ve receive invaluable “pre-law” training at Americans United. I take that back, you’ve received superb real-law training at AU as I have the utmost respect for the organization and its legal and communication teams.

The more I hear that the phrase “separation of church and state” isn’t in the Constitution, I might just tell the next Christian Right fanatic that YES it is and I am sorry that they are having such a difficult time reading the Constitution (and offer to lend them my reading glasses).

I was pleasure reading your blogs and meeting you earlier this year.

Hope you’ll rejoin the church-state team upon completion of law school.

Lauren
Best wishes on your future career. You’ve learned what the dark side is like, now stick it to ‘em. Imagine all those nasty comments coming from so-called Christians! Shame on them.

Lauren, good luck in law school. Whatever you choose to do, you can leave AU knowing that you’ve made a valuable contribution toward protecting the rights of your fellow citizens.

Thank you for this final article. It’s been a pleasure learning those lessons along side of you.

Best of luck, thanks for fighting the good fight.

Good luck. You’ve been a great contributor. I’m sure you will do many more excellent things.

Best of luck, and thanks again!

Also not in the Constitution: The United States Air Force, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard; the document only refers to the President as “Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.” Are we to regard these other branches of our Armed Forces as unconstitutional because there were, for example, no such things as airplanes or guided missiles in 1787? Perhaps they should have used the generic term “Armed Forces of the United States” instead of Army or Navy.

”True, it mentions a creator, but do they know the original text was edited because it sounded too religious? Jefferson’s first draft of the Declaration said: “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable…,” but Ben Franklin suggested the more secular sounding “self-evident” we have today.”

If you want to accept that this means they wanted to godlessize the DOI, then how about the parallel (of what they ‘wanted’) of eliminating entirely one of the complaints against George III; specifically the slave trade and holding him (as the personification of Britain) responsible for it? If the response is that the DOI is not the foundational document by which we are governed, then what is the relevance of discussing anything that was debated or changed? [Of course Jefferson’s own hypocrisy on slavery need not be mentioned, even though I hereby mention it.]

”“Go away. Real Americans don’t want or need you.””

This one, at least, must be true. Or are you going away when you ARE needed?
Don’t be upset; this is just levity. And in spite of how differently I approach the church/state topic than you, I wish you good fortune in your academic and professional endeavors.

Lauren, the very best of luck! Law school is a great idea - you’ve payed your dues like no other student.

Maybe you will be able to clerk for the SCOTUS and maybe even become a justice someday - what a great day for our country that would be!

Best wishes again, Lauren. And again, thank you for answering my e-mails when my posts didn’t go through, and taking care of the matter.

I admire you for having the grace to handle the people who sent you nasty e-mails and communications. You seem to be able to do that much better than I ever could.

Best wishes in your studies, and in your future career. I am taking some classes myself at my local community college, both for personal interest, and possibly to help me in finding a new job. I am a computer programmer, or software engineer. This is one field in which skills can become obsolete quickly.

Lauren, I want to add that it is especially upsetting when someone who is nasty is someone who is supposed to be a Christian, i.e. someone who is supposed to be a follower of one who taught us to love our enemies, and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. At least it is certainly upsetting to me.

(I myself am not a Christian any more, but I greatly respect Christians whose lives and example reflect the best of the teachings of Christ).

“Religious liberty is, at its heart, about equality – and we’re not there yet.”

But if you believe that YOUR religion is the RIGHT religion, then how can other’s be equal? See the problem.

The problem with religion is too much FACT and not enough FAITH. Replace FACTS with FAITH and no one would have a problem with religious equality. Nor would they insist that the Government support their faith over their neighbors.

“Religious liberty is, at its heart, about equality…”

That is the basic theme of a good book I am now reading, Liberty of Conscience by Martha C. Nussbaum.

Bart, you might want to check this out.

It has a good deal of history and law, but what I like is that she is a very competent philosopher. Of course that won’t help if you have cast out the demon of philosophy!”

http://www.rollingstone.com/po.....puke/print

Alan, library called yesterday to tell me my reserved copy was in. Looking forward to it.

Alan, the Rolling Stone article is something else, worth the time to read for certain. Thanks for the link.

Lauren said: “[w]hen the power [and] prestige…of government is placed behind a particular religious belief, the indirect coercive pressure upon religious minorities to conform to the prevailing officially approved religion is plain.” Justice Black.

Lauren, Justice Black has done a fine job of interpreting the words of the framers of the Constitution, in the constitution, in statutes, acts, and remonstrances, and in their letters of clarification and interpretation to people of the times.

Thank you for your time here. I agree with the others. The experience here has been invaluable, and your contributions have been appreciated. I hope AU will be able to fill your shoes while you pursue your studies of law. Mazol tov, buena suerte, veel geluk, and good luck.

Hey, Lauren !

What a great piece as your farewell post.

It has been a distinct pleasure working with you and having you as a colleague. I know you will do well in law school and return even better armed to join the fight once again.

Hopefully, we’ll see you again in D.C. at the November annual meeting.

Best always,

Barry

Sky says: “Alan, the Rolling Stone article is something else, worth the time to read for certain. Thanks for the link.”

Ditto.

Alan, I also thank you for the link. I had no idea that astrology, handwriting analysis and the intellect were demonic!

Elizabeth D. wrote- “Alan, I also thank you for the link. I had no idea that astrology, handwriting analysis and the intellect were demonic!”

Guess which one of those three are to be considered scientific, if ID is also to be considered scientific, by none other than Disco Institute bigwig Michael Behe?

Good luck in the future, Lauren!

Rick R, excellent point about Michael Behe’s questionable definition of science!

RE: Rolling Stone Link

Credit for the link goes to Dave C, who posted it in another discussion.

lauren; best to you. i’m new here but from what little i’ve seen of your work i feel a personal lose at your leaving. however i’m encouraged that the combination of your obvious intelligence and your pending legal education will be out there working toward our common goal.

off subject;
“The Russian Orthodox Church has noted its increasingly close relationship with the Russian military, including the Strategic Rocket Forces, which have been reported to control 503 operational missile systems of four types that can carry 1853 nuclear warheads”

putin’s got religion. i found this on google by searching “ putin/religion“. the above is a quote from a christian blog there that of course totally approves. scares the bejeepers out of me. anyone know when or if the russians are schedualed for new elections?? i spose this effectively removes my previous option of “moving back to Russia” if i don’t like living in a christian nation…….darn.

Lauren, I would hope you might come back and comment here on your own.

You all are too kind.

MikeH- I will of course try to find time to read and comment on AU’s blog. It has a special place in my heart. I’ll also be as active as possible in AU’s Michigan chapter, led by the great Hal Downs.

Barry- I enjoyed working with you, too. AU is lucky to have such an articulate advocate on the ground. Unfortunately, I won’t see you in Nov., but I plan to return to DC’s public-interest scene after law school. I’ll see you around.

Keep writing,
Lauren

Lauren,

I would also like to wish you well in your studies. I am sorry that so many claiming the banner of Christ have so besmirched His name by their correspondence.
Thanks for your patience and diligence.
Thanks for your thought and debate provoking posts.

Dear J: What exactly is a “real” American, in your definition? Lauren, who seems to be dedicating her life to Constitutional principles, seems to have the advantage over you here.

In your definition, “real” Americans don’t need or want the Constitution and its principles?

Lauren, best of luck. You are going to an excellent school in my area! GO BLUE!