The ACLU: Do-Gooders in Action

[Zeno]

The ACLU is always sending me letters. Since I belong to this organization, I obviously should expect it but I still find it loathsome to see their latest letter barking about some crusade to save the U.S. from threat X, Y, or Z or panting about the latest mischievous doings of President Bush, and his leagues of minions, that are supposedly shredding the constitution and acting improperly in so many deplorable ways. I pay $20 a year for this trash. And of course, I am asked to donate additional money to save the U.S. from impending Armageddon. The hoopla is crouched in the most pleasent and pedestrian propagandist language.

An example of the most recent hooey:

“They want to turn America into a country governed by their interpretation of the Bible, serviced by faith-based, taxpayer-funded institutions and guided by Christian doctrine against which neither citizens nor judges should dare to speak up. “


‘They’? Ever since I was about three years old I have continuously heard about that all powerful and ubiquitous, but somehow shadowy, group called ‘They’. ‘They’ is always conjured up from the nether regions of hell by the paranoia-minded parasites out to bilk more bucks from the unwary, the scared, and the credulous.

Time to stock up on ammo and purchase that new rifle I’ve been wanting. ‘They’ are obviously after me too. The ACLU told me so.

Le Misanthrope

[MMMMMM]

[ QUOTE ]
“They want to turn America into a country governed by their interpretation of the Bible, serviced by faith-based, taxpayer-funded institutions and guided by Christian doctrine against which neither citizens nor judges should dare to speak up. “

[/ QUOTE ]

This is retarded.

Did Dean write it, by any chance?

[ACPlayer]

[ QUOTE ]
‘They’ is always conjured up from the nether regions of hell by the paranoia-minded parasites out to bilk more bucks from the unwary, the scared, and the credulous.

[/ QUOTE ]

So, how much did they get you for?
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[superleeds]

[ QUOTE ]
I pay $20 a year for this trash

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm pretty sure you can stop if you want.

[MMMMMM]

$20 is pretty cheap for a year's worth of entertainment

[superleeds]

true

[ACPlayer]

I trust you are getting your cheap entertaiment. If not, you too can: ACLU website.

I have frequently had to give you poker lessons and how they apply in real life. So here is another:

Right now democracy, religious freedoms, and secular thinking has a big lead in the poker game of American politics. However, giving free cards can be very dangerous. A small blocking bet by giving to the ACLU can help prevent a catastrophic card coming off, and America ending up in the trash heap of a Christian (or other) theocracy. Do you understand poker? If so, make the blocking bet.

[MMMMMM]

I have no problem with blocking bets, but they just sounded retarded in that ad piece.

And I do have a problem with hyperbole and exaggeration.

[Zeno]

[ QUOTE ]
And I do have a problem with hyperbole and exaggeration.

[/ QUOTE ]

If 'they' (the ACLU) wish to elevate the organization they can solicit funds in a more civil way, and do so without resorting to the same bombastic tactics of, say, John Kerry, Otto Von Bismarck, or Mussolini. I really don't expect the ACLU, or anyone else for that matter, to take this approach but it would be interesting to see if it could occur at least once.

It illustrates that one must not only shout but needs to scream apocalyptic consequences in order to be heard above the din of noise that permeates almost all media. All reasonableness and civility is cast aside in the name of securing or progressing 'your agenda' or ‘your cause’ or whatever particular brand of snake oil is presently being spooned to the public by organizations out to save humanity from X, Y, or Z.


Le Misanthrope

[Zeno]

To be serious, in my opinion, the ACLU probably does more good than harm. Which is not bad for a Do-Gooder organization. But ACLU letters, pamphlets, and other literature are woefully put together and full of such exaggerated hooey, scare tactics, and stretches of logic that I find it insulting. It is on the same level with Republican or Democratic political party propaganda, or just about any other organization of whatever persuasion, that is out to either save the world or get your money – usually both.

The antics of the ACLU are at the same juvenile level as the people they are ‘fighting against’ or in disagreement with. It is all geared and ratcheted up (actually down, in my opinion) depending on how dire the cause is or how little time there is to right all the wrongs or rectified all the draconian agendas of the ‘enemy’. At least on face value, this reeks of hypocrisy.

It is very interesting reading all the political, social/moral, or environmental solicitations I receive. As far as I can recall, I have yet to receive one that presented facts undistorted or in a straightforward manner with reasonable and logical arguments without resorting to ballyhoo, half-truths, exaggeration, scare tactics and other propagandist buffoonery.

If the ACLU wants some of my money, why don’t they try the high road instead of the same low road as ‘the enemy’?

But I don’t expect them to; that would be too civil and liberal minded.

Le Misanthrope