Not to be mistaken for something that actually qualifies as the protection of our civil liberties is the new battlefield conjured up by the ACLU in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The three crosses adorning the city logo is a point of pride and history for the residents there but for the ACLU, they have given cause for it to rear its head and wield the battle axe. It has resulted in making “what ever happened to common sense” being the most oft used phrase in internet blogging history. But wait, it doesn’t stop there.

The latest fit the ACLU has begun; concerns prayer offered by the U.S. military’s chaplains. In short the ACLU thinks it should be stopped. Whew! That’s good thinking. I don’t know about you but the last thing I would want to have happen to me just before I went to battle for my country is to have my country tell me I couldn’t go to God in prayer. In particular they are trying to stop chaplains from praying in the name of Jesus Christ. In a volunteer force made up of mostly Christian men and women isn’t that an infringement of their religious freedom? In fact it is more than that.

The constitution says “Congress shall make no laws touching religion, or to infringe the rights of conscience.” What genius does it take to see that the ACLU is actually crying “unconstitutional” while they are proposing laws that are clearly unconstitutional? Don’t want to be crass but perhaps the ACLU lawyers and aides should all take a day off to watch Forrest Gump together. If I remember correctly the most often repeated line in that movie is, “stupid is, as stupid does”

Diametrically opposite the ACLU is the newly formed but no less formidable, ACLJ. The American Center for Law and Justice founded in 1990 is headed by Jay Sekulow who is the ACLJ’s Chief Counsel. He is a well respected advocate for constitutional freedoms and has argued many cases before the U.S, Supreme Court.

The Center for Law and Justice has successfully argued cases and supported positions in other cases which resulted in an impressive list of good common sense decisions and rulings. A short list of the accomplishments of the ACLJ is as follows.

• A guarantee for minors who want to be involved in the political process by protecting their free speech rights in political affairs.

• Rulings to protect the constitutional rights of religious groups to obtain equal access to public facilities.

• Protection for the free speech rights of pro-life demonstrators

• The right for public school students to form and participate in religious organizations such as Bible clubs.

The ACLJ is currently on the radio waves daily soliciting signatures for a petition to stop the ban on prayer by the military chaplains. The response is said to be very powerful at the least. Upwards of ten thousand people a day are asking to have their names added to the petitions.

It is shameful that Americans must pound away to ward off organizations like the ACLU whose agenda looks like it originated in la-la land. The constitution is under attack by those who feign that they are working to protect it. After all this is America and they have a constitutional right to mess with the constitution. Let’s not mess with their right to do that, but lets hope and pray (if they don’t stop us) that they don’t prevail.

The Bible tells the believer to respect the rulings and laws provided by the secular rulers because the powers that be, are all ordained of God. Romans 13:1. Almost all bible believing Christians take this mandate seriously and endeavor to be law abiding citizens. You would think that this respect for secular law would hold things in balance between those who believe in the Bible and revere the constitution and groups like the ACLU, but it does not. The ACLU seems bent on removing all reference and allusion to God on any level. What would the result be if they were successful in this plight? I choose to let the Bible answer that question.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Romans 1:28

Rev Bresciani is the author of two Christian books. He has authored many articles both online and in print. Visit the website at www.americanprophet.org

Vivek Kundra, Federal CIO

From cloud computing first steps to holding government contractors accountable for the services they furnish, Vivek Kundra works to make smart use of the IT budget he contains. He knows that rendering the precise Information Technology selections that embrace new platforms and advances in technology will contribute to streamlined operations in government agencies. His goal is an IT infrastructure that functions within budget parameters while redeeming tremendous value to U.S. citizens.

Vivek Kundra applies his Information Technology expertise to superintend U.S. government funded technology investments. Before being appointed the first of the United States Government back in March 2009, Vivek Kundra was CTO for Washington D.C. and Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Technology for Virginia. He is well on the path to changing the national, and possibly international, perspective of how government collaborates with its citizens.

Forty two-year old Furnioes Giddings Parker of Duncanville, Texas, a former restaurant personnel and a dietitian’s aide, was given a 38-year jail sentence for stealing thousands of dollars using other people’s names in anexplosive pretexting case. Did she deserve such penalty? One might think that such punishment may be harsh considering her age, but then, one look at her criminal records definitely justifies the conviction.

Convicted of stealing 26 identities in 1994 and released on probation, Parker got another 180 days in jail after violating the terms of her release a couple of years later. The law on identity theft and pretexting was toothless back then and this drove Parker to do more shopping and stacking credits using other people’s names. But a revision of the law elevated fraud into a first-degree felony if the violator used more than 50 identities.

Last year, Parker stole at least 78 names. Ask anyone of those 78 people whether or not Parker deserve such punishment, the answer would be a unanimous, resounding yes. And who could blame them? It’s not just the huge numbers on their bills for things they have not even bought, but the emotional trauma she has caused her victims; very damaging to say the least.

There are still identity thieves out there, but with a harsher law on pretexting, they should definitely think twice before they steal another name again.

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