Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Rusting Car Bumper · 09-26-2002, 11:30 AM

I just got this message from an e-mail list I'm on. I don;t know if the facts alleged in the e-mail occurred. However, it is true that this is a Christian group that is being invited into public schools.

Quote:

Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 8:18 PM
Subject: Army commandos invade school with religious bull****

Need some help!! I'm a 12 year old boy from Austin,Tx. I attend Westview
Middle School(A public school), and am an athiest, like my mom (this is her
e-mail). Today a group dressed in army uniforms, calling themselves the
'Commandos', came to my school for an assembly. They said some things that
really upset me. They kept quoting the Bible ['The Bible says this, the
Bible says that']. The entire earsore of an assembly took place when my
Language Arts class would've taken place. This frustrated me even more. The
show was a waste of my education. "You are the future of America", they
would say. That being true, you'd think that they'd let us go to class. The
assembly went on and on. It ended taking up a total of 73 minutes out of my
class time! Everything that wasn't about 'not defying your elders', how
much they can benchpress, ripping up phonebooks and shredding soda cans was
very religious and very opposing to the seperation of Church and State rule.
For an assembly that was supposed to be about respect, it sure wasn't being
very respectful to athiests(Or anyone with seperate religious beliefs than
Christianity, for that matter). I felt that this was in no way appropriate
for school, where I'm supposed to be getting an education, not a
brainwashing session. it really was quite similar to brainwashing. They
would try to make you like them by performing what they called 'Outrageous
Stunts', then preaching about how, as a child, we have no say in anything in
the world, and that we should do exactly what adults tell us to do. This was
followed up on some information on the idiocy of the Bible, and exactly what
it says about what. This was followed up by breaking a sign that read
'Rebellion' with thier fists. That part told me a lot about them: how they
were listened to simply because of thier strength, and not because they
actually had some valid points. The very action of breaking a piece of wood
that reads 'Rebellion', is rebelling against rebellion. I hope you
understand what I mean. Please tell me what I should do. I've considered
trying to start an athiest club at school. I was also thinking of just
punching the hungry lion in the face and wearing a very anti-religion
Marilyn Manson t-shirt, which my mom frowns upon. If you have any ideas,
please let me know A.S.A.P.

thanks,

upset kid

Their website is:

<a href="http://www.commandosusa.com" target="_blank">Commandos USA</a>

DC

ybnormal · 09-26-2002, 11:44 AM

<a href="http://www.academicentertainment.com/commandosusa.htm" target="_blank">http://www.academicentertainment.com/commandosusa.htm</a>

Buffman · 09-26-2002, 11:59 AM

This exposes it all.

<a href="http://www.commandosusa.com/churches/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.commandosusa.com/churches/index.htm</a>

galiel · 09-26-2002, 12:09 PM

This is a clear violation of federal law. Pretty clear-cut violation of the Establishment Clause. The fact that the "academic education" link hides the ministry makes it even more of a problem. This is no different than "Narconon", which infiltrates schools under the guise of an anti-drug program, but is, in fact, a front for Scientology. I exposed Narconon locally, and they are no longer invited to schools in the district.

You should recommend to the poster that they contact the nearest branch of the ACLU. THey don't even have to have their name involved with the investigation. The ACLU will gladly look into this and may resolve it with a simple letter to the school Superintendent, since the district would not like to ahve a lawsuit on their hands, particularly in such a clear-cut case of preaching to a captive public school audience during regular school hours.

Most schools invite these kind of groups in with the best "character building" intent. Rather than attack the school, I would expose the Commando scam.

I am going to look into this personally, to see if these shysters have tried anything like this in my area. Thanks for the tip.

theyeti · 09-26-2002, 01:13 PM

Gee, as if the tendancy for religious dogma to come across as corecive, militaristic, and nutty wasn't already firmly implanted in our psyche, now they go and adopt this rather overt symbolism. Big muscled guys dressed in special-ops fatigues with an attack helicopter in the background ripping shit to pieces. I don't think they could have made it any more obvious. Well, it certainly looks just like how the humble, pacifist Jesus wanted things to be. That guy was no rebel, no sir. He ripped phone books to pieces to let you know what happens when you disobey. <this will be you -- rrrrrip!>

theyeti

Buffman · 09-26-2002, 01:15 PM

You've got your work cut out for you.

<a href="http://www.fca.org/" target="_blank">http://www.fca.org/</a>

<a href="http://www.crosssearch.com/Recreation/Sports/" target="_blank">http://www.crosssearch.com/Recreation/Sports/</a>

hezekiah jones · 09-26-2002, 01:20 PM

"This in turn, will produce in them, obvious Christian fruitfulness."

Yes, these two characters are quite obviously a couple of fruits.

galiel · 09-26-2002, 01:42 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Buffman:
[QB]You've got your work cut out for you.

I don't see where either of these organizations are conducting mandatory classes in public schools during regular school hours, much less hiding their Christian connections. I may have missed the internal links, but this doesn't seem to be the same Establishment Clause issue.

beejay · 09-26-2002, 01:57 PM

Commandos!USA were exhibitors at the 2002 conference of Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association.

What is it with Texas?

Will someone call the ACLU and let us know what happens next?

Buffman · 09-26-2002, 02:07 PM

galiel

Sorry! I wasn't inferring that they were violating any C-SS ruling. I was talking about that huge list of Christian Athletic Organizations only in the sense that they are part and parcel of the drive to capture/condition the minds of youth. So are the ones listed to the left on this "Let's make money by selling Jesus" URL:

<a href="http://www.uthstuph.com/youth_ministry_links.htm" target="_blank">http://www.uthstuph.com/youth_ministry_links.htm</a>

Note that "The Commandos" are listed there...though the hyperlink did not function. The point being that they "were" listed as a Christian Youth Ministry.

Not too many months ago, there was about a six man Christian "muscle" team (body-builders) that was touring the schools in this area putting on "power" demonstrations.

PS: That "Uth Stuph" outfit is just over in Orlando, FL. It started with two fellows. Checkout how quickly it has grown. Nothing wrong with good old capitalism for God. More "power" to them...about a "gigavolt."

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09-26-2002, 11:44 AM	#2
ybnormal Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 430	<a href="http://www.academicentertainment.com/commandosusa.htm" target="_blank">http://www.academicentertainment.com/commandosusa.htm</a>

09-26-2002, 11:59 AM	#3
Buffman Beloved Deceased Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: central Florida Posts: 3,546	This exposes it all. <a href="http://www.commandosusa.com/churches/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.commandosusa.com/churches/index.htm</a>

09-26-2002, 12:09 PM	#4
galiel Banned Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Eastern Massachusetts Posts: 1,677	This is a clear violation of federal law. Pretty clear-cut violation of the Establishment Clause. The fact that the "academic education" link hides the ministry makes it even more of a problem. This is no different than "Narconon", which infiltrates schools under the guise of an anti-drug program, but is, in fact, a front for Scientology. I exposed Narconon locally, and they are no longer invited to schools in the district. You should recommend to the poster that they contact the nearest branch of the ACLU. THey don't even have to have their name involved with the investigation. The ACLU will gladly look into this and may resolve it with a simple letter to the school Superintendent, since the district would not like to ahve a lawsuit on their hands, particularly in such a clear-cut case of preaching to a captive public school audience during regular school hours. Most schools invite these kind of groups in with the best "character building" intent. Rather than attack the school, I would expose the Commando scam. I am going to look into this personally, to see if these shysters have tried anything like this in my area. Thanks for the tip.

09-26-2002, 01:13 PM	#5
theyeti Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Denver, CO, USA Posts: 9,747	Gee, as if the tendancy for religious dogma to come across as corecive, militaristic, and nutty wasn't already firmly implanted in our psyche, now they go and adopt this rather overt symbolism. Big muscled guys dressed in special-ops fatigues with an attack helicopter in the background ripping shit to pieces. I don't think they could have made it any more obvious. Well, it certainly looks just like how the humble, pacifist Jesus wanted things to be. That guy was no rebel, no sir. He ripped phone books to pieces to let you know what happens when you disobey. <this will be you -- rrrrrip!> theyeti

09-26-2002, 01:15 PM	#6
Buffman Beloved Deceased Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: central Florida Posts: 3,546	You've got your work cut out for you. <a href="http://www.fca.org/" target="_blank">http://www.fca.org/</a> <a href="http://www.crosssearch.com/Recreation/Sports/" target="_blank">http://www.crosssearch.com/Recreation/Sports/</a>

09-26-2002, 01:20 PM	#7
hezekiah jones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: WI Posts: 4,357	"This in turn, will produce in them, obvious Christian fruitfulness." Yes, these two characters are quite obviously a couple of fruits.

09-26-2002, 01:42 PM	#8
galiel Banned Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Eastern Massachusetts Posts: 1,677	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Buffman: [QB]You've got your work cut out for you. I don't see where either of these organizations are conducting mandatory classes in public schools during regular school hours, much less hiding their Christian connections. I may have missed the internal links, but this doesn't seem to be the same Establishment Clause issue.

09-26-2002, 01:57 PM	#9
beejay Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Richmond IN Posts: 375	Commandos!USA were exhibitors at the 2002 conference of Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association. What is it with Texas? Will someone call the ACLU and let us know what happens next?

09-26-2002, 02:07 PM	#10
Buffman Beloved Deceased Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: central Florida Posts: 3,546	galiel Sorry! I wasn't inferring that they were violating any C-SS ruling. I was talking about that huge list of Christian Athletic Organizations only in the sense that they are part and parcel of the drive to capture/condition the minds of youth. So are the ones listed to the left on this "Let's make money by selling Jesus" URL: <a href="http://www.uthstuph.com/youth_ministry_links.htm" target="_blank">http://www.uthstuph.com/youth_ministry_links.htm</a> Note that "The Commandos" are listed there...though the hyperlink did not function. The point being that they "were" listed as a Christian Youth Ministry. Not too many months ago, there was about a six man Christian "muscle" team (body-builders) that was touring the schools in this area putting on "power" demonstrations. PS: That "Uth Stuph" outfit is just over in Orlando, FL. It started with two fellows. Checkout how quickly it has grown. Nothing wrong with good old capitalism for God. More "power" to them...about a "gigavolt."

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