A friend of mine, Hal Shurtleff, director of Camp Constitution, a constitutionalist summer camp that our nephew attended for a couple of summers in a row, just won his case that was heard in the Supreme Court. The City of Boston had a policy of flying various flags from city hall, including the LGBTQ Rainbow Flag, the Black Lives Matter flag, a Juneteenth Flag, and so on, so he approached the city about flying the Christian Flag. The city refused, so he sued. Lower courts ruled in favor of the city, so it proceeded to the Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously in his favor. Hal has been a friend for several years. He's been to our house a few times, and we regularly meet him at restaurants when he comes to Maine a few times a year. He was the New England representative for the John Birch Society for several years, but he left the JBS a few years ago to run Camp Constitution after the JBS withdrew its support for the camp. -- National Catholic Register
What's amazing is that he received a 9-0 ruling. I cannot recall the last time I saw that. The transgression must have been blatant. Have you seen this story on your news up north?
I'm not sure how I feel about the ACLU being on the side of this one, nor does that 9-0 ruling restore my faith. I have trust issues.
If you look at the Camp Constitution page that I linked to, he includes pretty much everything associated with the suit, which is interesting. Usually, we just get the synopsis of it in whatever way the media wants it to be seen.
Yeh, I was looking at the detailed blow-by-blow, but I've only skimmed it. I can only imagine what your nephew took away from his experiences at camp.
Did this case going clear up to the supremes make anybody wonder if there really is a war again Christians in this country?
They flew the flags of several Islamic nations, with Islamic symbols on them, but they refused to fly the Vatican flag, although the Vatican is considered an independent city-state so, yes, it seems that their problem was with Christianity.
I've been following the story with interest too Ken, and to no surprise a Satanic Club has responded to the Court ruling by submitting an application to fly their own flag. The Supreme Court's ruling was right since it was clear discrimination against Christianity. Unfortunately, the Court's other rulings against America's Christian heritage and values negates their ability now to deny equal support for evil causes. Up to the mid 20th century, a community could and would reject public displays of Godlessness, but now it's mostly just Godliness that's being rejected.
There’s a caveat. The city of Boston is reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision and if all else fails they could reconsider the use of the third pole altogether making it unavailable to ALL groups no matter what the cause or promotion might be. Of course, prior to the Court’s decision, one extreme interview I listened to insisted that if the pole is to remain open for any group that wants their symbol flown then it would also have to allow the Swastika should the American Nazi’s wish to have an event at the plaza. Apparently that person didn’t have a clue as to what the entire suit was about.
I would have no problem with the city allowing all flags or none at all, but they should not be able to selectively exclude those associated with Christianity.
I suspect they will go the "none at all" route. Otherwise someone will insist they fly a New York Yankee pennant!