From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4_at_msn.com)
Date: Fri Sep 16 2005 - 20:11:29 UTC
>From: "What's New" <whatsnew_at_BOBPARK.ORG>
>Reply-To: whatsnew_at_BOBPARK.ORG
>To: BOBPARKS-WHATSNEW_at_LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
>Subject: [BOBPARKS-WHATSNEW] What's New Friday September 16, 2005
>Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2005 15:39:56 -0400
>
>WHAT'S NEW Robert L. Park Friday, 16 Sep 05 Washington, DC
>
> Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
> of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
> The "Establishment Clause" of the
> First Amendment to The United States Constitution
>
>1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: McCARTHY ERA CHANGE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
>A federal judge in Sacramento ruled Wednesday that reciting the
>Pledge in public schools is an unconstitutional endorsement of
>religion. The ruling was immediately denounced by conservative
>religious groups, and is certain to be appealed. U.S. Attorney
>General Alberto Gonzales vowed that the Justice Department will
>fight to overturn the ruling. As a substantive issue, the Pledge
>ranks right up there with flag burning. Congress added the words
>"under God" in 1954 at the suggestion of President Eisenhower.
>This was at the height of the communist witch hunt, at which time
>the public equated communism with atheism. A half-century later,
>we might note, the chief enemies of freedom are far from Godless.
>
>2. PLEDGE OF RESTORATION: COST OF KATRINA RECOVERY MAY TOP $200B.
>President Bush last night began by declaring "a faith in God no
>storm can take away." He told the nation "We will do what it
>takes, we will stay as long as it takes," to rebuild. That was
>the right thing to say, but after the Iraq screw-up, the Katrina
>screw-up, and the tax-cut screw-up we're in for hard times.
>
>3. INTELLIGENT DESIGN: DOVER SCHOOL BOARD UNABLE TO STOP TRIAL.
>On Tuesday, a federal judge in Harrisburg, PA denied the Dover
>Area School Board request for a summary judgement. The trial
>will begin as scheduled on September 26. The legal team that
>represents the 11 parents who filed the lawsuit welcomed the
>decision. The lawsuit challenges a decision by the Board to
>require biology teachers to present "intelligent design" as an
>alternative to the scientific theory of evolution. The lawsuit
>alleges that "intelligent design" is a religious theory that lies
>far outside mainstream science. Who is the "intelligent
>designer"? The answer makes it clear that this is just religion.
>
>4. THE POISON PILL: NASA UNVEILS PLANS TO VISIT THE MOON IN 2018.
>2018? In 1961 John Kennedy promised the Moon "before this decade
>is out." From a standing start, America was on the moon in seven
>years. Now, after 44 years of "space progress," it's gonna take
>twice as long? What are we looking for? NASA says they'll find
>water, hydrogen and "valuable commodities." On the Moon? Go on!
>Maybe someone takes that seriously, but he's not writing this
>column. We've got robots on Mars right now. Put a few of them
>on the moon. They don't break for lunch, or complain about the
>cold nights, and they live on sunshine. Space exploration with
>humans is about over. The bills won't come due until Bush is
>safely out of office. Stick the next administration with an
>impossibly expensive and pointless program and let them take the
>blame for ending human space exploration. This is a poison pill.
>
>THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
>Opinions are the author's and not necessarily shared by the
>University of Maryland, but they should be.
>---
>Archives of What's New can be found at http://www.bobpark.org
>What's New is moving to a different listserver and our
>subscription process has changed. To change your subscription
>status please visit this link:
>http://listserv.umd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=bobparks-whatsnew&A=1
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.6 : Fri Sep 16 2005 - 20:13:40 UTC