Our Family & Social Values
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Empowering Ordinary People To Defend Our Family & Social Values |
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Friday, August 29, 2008 | |
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C2ActionGram Final Pledge Push Friends,
After 17 months of work on the Pledge of Allegiance bill, it's fate will be decided over the next few days. The Legislature will adjourn by next Friday or Saturday and if the Pledge bill doesn't pass by then, it's dead until 2007.
What began as a great question from a 15-year old Apex High School student (Julian Quesada asked his Principal why they never say the Pledge - his answer? Not enough time for it.) has come to a point where it might become a state law. This really is a great story and one worthy of telling...
Thanks to your efforts, we still have a chance to see victory...but we must all do our part in these final days, and ultimately trust in the divine will of God. Here is a brief overview of where we stand, and what we must do:
The House & Senate have both passed Pledge of Allegiance bills that accomplish the same thing - offering a daily opportunity to say the Pledge in all grades, displaying the US and NC flags when available, and "providing age-appropriate instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance". Neither bill compels a student to comply.
State leaders such as Basnight, Rand and Black have been distributing inaccurate information about the differences between the two versions. Both versions do what is stated in the previous paragraph.
An overwhelming majority of our state representatives have voted for the Pledge initiative: 155 to 1.
Senator Rand is feeling some "hometown heat" this weekend due to a Fayetteville Observer article that is running today. Reporter Don Worthington was kind enough to take my call yesterday and do a good job reporting on this story. You can view it here.
The final solution is quite simple, but it will require humility and the desire to do the "right thing" on the part of one of these men: Senator Tony Rand, Senator Marc Basnight or Representative Jim Black.
Speaker Black could simply allow the first version, S1096, to come to the floor of the House for a vote next week where it would pass and then go to the Governor's desk for his signature. The reason why he didn't do this in the first place is purely political, but not relevant in these final days. What is relevant is the simplicity of this solution.
Senators Rand and Basnight could simply allow the newest "version" of this bill, S700, to come to the floor of the Senate for a vote next week where it would pass and then go to the Governor's desk for his signature. The reason why they haven't done this is purely political, but not relevant in these final days. What is relevant is the simplicity of this solution.
Our final message to these men is just as simple:
Please sir, if you truly care about this Pledge of Allegiance initiative, which has the overwhelming support of your fellow legislators, then work it out and get it passed next week. Your actions will speak louder than your words.
Call them, email them and fax them this message. Do it as often as you can starting today, and pray that God would soften their hearts and give them the wisdom to simply do what is so obviously right.
Senator Tony Rand
legislature: (919)733-9892 & (919)715-8346 fax tonyr@ncleg.net
residence: (910)864-0550 tonyrand@aol.com
Senator Marc Basnight
legislature: (919)733-6854 & (919)733-8740 fax Marcb@ncleg.net
Representative Jim Black
legislature: (919)733-3451 & (919)715-0772 fax JimB@ncleg.net
residence: (704)847-9938 blackjb@bellsouth.net
Don't get into an argument over the details. Keep the plea simple: you can fix this and get it passed - please do so!
As always, thank you for your continued prayers and support.
In His Service,
Steve Noble
Chairman
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