http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Chris/979 This is the ACLU's own description of itself.&nbsp; Granted they have championed ideas I don't agree with, but evidently our constitution gave some individuals the right to believe&nbsp;those ways&nbsp;and these people at the ACLU are just trying to protect the rights of those individuals to think that way.&nbsp;Despite what the majority thinks. I give thanks daily that I still have the freedom to think what I want.&nbsp; But evidently by the ostracism of the Dixie Chick's over their words shows we really don't understand what freedoms we are allegedly fighting&nbsp;for in Iraq and it's usually best to keep your mouth shut. .&nbsp; I was raised by parents who spoke the words ACLU as a disgusting taste in their mouth.&nbsp; They were also openly prejudiced against&nbsp;anyone who wasn't just like them.&nbsp; I'm sick of bigotry.&nbsp; Give it the weight in your mind that you wish.&nbsp; From their home page:&nbsp; &quot;The American system of government is founded on two counterbalancing principles: that the majority of the people governs, through democratically elected representatives; and that the power even of a democratic majority must be limited, to ensure individual rights. Majority power is limited by the Constitution's Bill of Rights, which consists of the original ten amendments ratified in 1791, plus the three post-Civil War amendments (the 13th, 14th and 15th) and the 19th Amendment (women's suffrage), adopted in 1920. The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees: Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state. Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin. Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake. Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs. We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor. If the rights of society's most vulnerable members are denied, everybody's rights are imperiled. The ACLU was founded by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, Albert DeSilver and others in 1920. We are nonprofit and nonpartisan and have grown from a roomful of civil liberties activists to an organization of more than 500,000 members and supporters. We handle nearly 6,000 court cases annually from our offices in almost every state. The ACLU has maintained the position that civil liberties must be respected, even in times of national emergency. The ACLU is supported by annual dues and contributions from its members, plus grants from private foundations and individuals. We do not receive any government funding.&nbsp; Learn more about joining the ACLU.&quot; from ttp://www.aclu.org/about/index.html . &nbsp; This is the ACLU's own description of itself.&nbsp; Granted they have championed ideas I don't agree with, but evidently our constitution gave some individuals the right to believe&nbsp;those ways&nbsp;and these people at the ACLU are just trying to protect the rights of those individuals to think that way.&nbsp;Despite what the majority thinks. I give thanks daily that I still have the freedom to think what I want.&nbsp; But evidently by the ostracism of the Dixie Chick's over their words shows we really don't understand what freedoms we are allegedly fighting&nbsp;for in Iraq and it's usually best to keep your mouth shut. .&nbsp; I was raised by parents who spoke the words ACLU as a disgusting taste in their mouth.&nbsp; They were also openly prejudiced against&nbsp;anyone who wasn't just like them.&nbsp; I'm sick of bigotry.&nbsp; Give it the weight in your mind that you wish.&nbsp; From their home page:&nbsp; &quot;The American system of government is founded on two counterbalancing principles: that the majority of the people governs, through democratically elected representatives; and that the power even of a democratic majority must be limited, to ensure individual rights. Majority power is limited by the Constitution's Bill of Rights, which consists of the original ten amendments ratified in 1791, plus the three post-Civil War amendments (the 13th, 14th and 15th) and the 19th Amendment (women's suffrage), adopted in 1920. The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees: Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state. Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin. Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake. Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs. We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor. If the rights of society's most vulnerable members are denied, everybody's rights are imperiled. The ACLU was founded by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, Albert DeSilver and others in 1920. We are nonprofit and nonpartisan and have grown from a roomful of civil liberties activists to an organization of more than 500,000 members and supporters. We handle nearly 6,000 court cases annually from our offices in almost every state. The ACLU has maintained the position that civil liberties must be respected, even in times of national emergency. The ACLU is supported by annual dues and contributions from its members, plus grants from private foundations and individuals. We do not receive any government funding.&nbsp; Learn more about joining the ACLU.&quot; from ttp://www.aclu.org/about/index.html . &nbsp; en-us aerospace, absolutely.&nbsp; The pendulum always swings too far.&nbsp; I'm looking forward to the day when it hangs still at the center. People should be free to do what they want up to the point where it hurts others and the acts you mentioned do have victims and are indefensible.&nbsp; .&nbsp; http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Chris/979/#c_8982 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Chris/979/#c_8982 aerospace, absolutely.&nbsp; The pendulum always swings too far.&nbsp; I'm looking forward to the day when it hangs still at the center. People should be free to do what they want up to the point where it hurts others and the acts you mentioned do have victims and are indefensible.&nbsp; .&nbsp; ACLU a joke, democrats a joke, republican even a bigger joke, the entire system is a huge joke on the middle class people.  The middle class will not exists after another 20 years it will be the rich and poor just like most third world countries.  The only difference is that in America the poor will constantly be consumed by infighting among themselves.  This infighting is apparent today with the media and the right wing so called "Christians" blaming all the countries problems on illegal immigration.  Can you believe the first illegal immigrants are blaming the very people who build our houses, work in all our services industries, and feed us by working the fields for all our problems get real.   At least the ACLU sees the minute men for the raciest idiots they really are.  So while all the rich monopolies of the modern era people are sitting back spending your tax money on projects to get even richer keep working and fighting among yourselves so you wont realize your getting the royal American screw.  http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Chris/979/#c_9055 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Chris/979/#c_9055 ACLU a joke, democrats a joke, republican even a bigger joke, the entire system is a huge joke on the middle class people.  The middle class will not exists after another 20 years it will be the rich and poor just like most third world countries.  The only difference is that in America the poor will constantly be consumed by infighting among themselves.  This infighting is apparent today with the media and the right wing so called "Christians" blaming all the countries problems on illegal immigration.  Can you believe the first illegal immigrants are blaming the very people who build our houses, work in all our services industries, and feed us by working the fields for all our problems get real.   At least the ACLU sees the minute men for the raciest idiots they really are.  So while all the rich monopolies of the modern era people are sitting back spending your tax money on projects to get even richer keep working and fighting among yourselves so you wont realize your getting the royal American screw.  <p>Your right, I just cant believe most people like arguing about which party is better when they both are horrible for common people.&nbsp; They say they are different parties but their loyalties are only to private money interests which remain the same no matter who is in power.&nbsp; If you make less than 3 million a year guess what your all in the get screwed party.&nbsp;&nbsp;You&nbsp;have no true power to make change other than your one pathetic vote which can be overruled by our electoral college and crazy court system of idiotic judges.&nbsp;Out of 28million&nbsp;Californians only about 150,000 voted for the governers race.&nbsp; Dont you think this is a sign people realize it just doesnt matter.&nbsp; &nbsp;Everyone needs to wake up and realize the American Dream is just that a dream.&nbsp; All those taxes your paying are just lining the pockets of friends and special interests of politicians in power and they think its their money for the taking.&nbsp; You see this locally with the City of Tehachapi making crazy development fees and enforcing fines on your private property just like its theirs.&nbsp; They take and take give it to friends (nepotism) and don't care what you think about it.&nbsp; </p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Chris/979/#c_9071 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Chris/979/#c_9071 <p>Your right, I just cant believe most people like arguing about which party is better when they both are horrible for common people.&nbsp; They say they are different parties but their loyalties are only to private money interests which remain the same no matter who is in power.&nbsp; If you make less than 3 million a year guess what your all in the get screwed party.&nbsp;&nbsp;You&nbsp;have no true power to make change other than your one pathetic vote which can be overruled by our electoral college and crazy court system of idiotic judges.&nbsp;Out of 28million&nbsp;Californians only about 150,000 voted for the governers race.&nbsp; Dont you think this is a sign people realize it just doesnt matter.&nbsp; &nbsp;Everyone needs to wake up and realize the American Dream is just that a dream.&nbsp; All those taxes your paying are just lining the pockets of friends and special interests of politicians in power and they think its their money for the taking.&nbsp; You see this locally with the City of Tehachapi making crazy development fees and enforcing fines on your private property just like its theirs.&nbsp; They take and take give it to friends (nepotism) and don't care what you think about it.&nbsp; </p> Sol2Ride you have a good point. Both parties pretty much suck. I am a Republican because I can identify with more of what they stand for than I do Democrats. But to be honest with you, I end up voting <strong>against</strong> a candidate instead of for one. Reagan is the last president I voted for that I really wanted to be in office. All the rest of the times I voted for somebody I really didn't like just because I thought the other guy was worse. I actually voted for John McCain in the primaries. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Chris/979/#c_9302 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Chris/979/#c_9302 Sol2Ride you have a good point. Both parties pretty much suck. I am a Republican because I can identify with more of what they stand for than I do Democrats. But to be honest with you, I end up voting <strong>against</strong> a candidate instead of for one. Reagan is the last president I voted for that I really wanted to be in office. All the rest of the times I voted for somebody I really didn't like just because I thought the other guy was worse. I actually voted for John McCain in the primaries.