Happy Birthday to us! (Now, where's the cake?)
Yep, it was one year ago yesterday that Speaking Freely officially launched to coincide with the start of the Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover trial challenging the Dover Area School Board's decision to insert a statement about intelligent design into its 9th grade biology curriculum. Some highlights from the year that was:
Unfortunately, there were some lowlights.
There are probably highlights and lowlights I'm forgetting, so feel free to post your own. It is an honor and a privilege that you read this blog, and we appreciate the opportunity to bring forward this important information about freedom in America. I look at SF as a laboratory for working through our public message, and it provides me with an opportunity to really think through what we're saying and how we're saying it. Thanks.
Now go grab some cake. Jessica and Lisa are on the turn-table.
Andy in Harrisburg
- We Won! Judge Jones decided in favor of the plaintiffs in Kitzmiller.
- Senate stops Patriot Act. A filibuster stopped (at the moment) the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act.
- Governor Rendell vetoes the No Voting Rights Act. The gov demonstrates his belief in expanding the vote, rather than suppressing it.
- The Marriage Protection (From What?) Amendment dies at the state capitol. This was one election year ploy that didn't fly.
- Voting Rights Act renewed. Protect the vote!
- SCOTUS rules for the rule of law in Hamdan.
- George Will taps ACLU talking points, comes out of the closet for checks and balances. Just another flaming liberal.
- National ACLU honors Speaking Freely with Impact! Awards. Surprising, humbling, and a true honor, in light of all of the great work that is being done by ACLU affiliates around the country.
Unfortunately, there were some lowlights.
- Congress and prez renew PATRIOT Act.
- NY Times reveals warrantless surveillance by the National Security Agency, which we actually didn't post about when it was first revealed because we were so wrapped up in the PATRIOT Act and Dover.
- Rape victim denied emergency contraception at Lebanon hospital.
- City of Hazleton approves anti-immigrant ordinance.
There are probably highlights and lowlights I'm forgetting, so feel free to post your own. It is an honor and a privilege that you read this blog, and we appreciate the opportunity to bring forward this important information about freedom in America. I look at SF as a laboratory for working through our public message, and it provides me with an opportunity to really think through what we're saying and how we're saying it. Thanks.
Now go grab some cake. Jessica and Lisa are on the turn-table.
Andy in Harrisburg
posted by ACLU of Pennsylvania at 9/27/2006 08:39:00 AM
5 Comments:
Congratulations and thank you! I visit daily through the week expecting to keep abreast of current issues on civil liberty. I've not been disappointed. I'm much suprised that the national ACLU hasn't launched something similar. But then given the current tussle over internal polcy there (I've signed the petition), maybe the current national management doesn't want to encourage dissent.
Thanks, keanus and rp. Keanus' comment reminded me of something fun to share. Here's a little insight in the internal workings of the organization. As you can probably guess, there was some discussion about whether or not to have a comments section on the blog, knowing full well that we would get some haters from time-to-time. Obviously, we came down on the side of free speech, and I, for one, am glad we did. I really appreciate seeing the feedback from those who are reading (even the haters).
There are a few other ACLU blogs out there:
National: http://blog.aclu.org/
Patriot Act-specific, which ended when the Patriot Act was renewed:
http://blog.reformthepatriotact.org/
And the ACLU of Texas:
http://www.aclutx.org/libertyblog.php
There may be other state affiliates that have started blogging, but I'm not sure who at this point.
Andy
Happy belated birthday to y'all.
I started checking y'all out during the hilarious Dover Inept Design trial, reading every document and commentary with wrapt attention, and have been reading it ever since.
I really appreciate the comments section, the comments regulars, your comments on our comments, and your continuous striving to take the moral high ground. It is very refreshing.
I'm amazed that we (although it's your blog, I do feel part of it) don't get more illiterate rants. It feels good, though, that the few we do receive are treated with respect. Try and find that elsewhere.
Cheers, Neil.
Picking up on the madscotsman's comment about the absence of "illiterate rants," I think that arises from the double meaning of the word civil in the name of the ACLU: By that I mean the concern of the ACLU for civil liberties, the sine qua non of civilized societies (something George Bush apparently never learned in college), and how the organization, staff, and members conduct themselves—very civilly.
Your words expressly give a vent to viable things, which would rather impress the perspective of every man.
All in all, that's nice!!
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