To ACLU or not to ACLU?

[wevets]

Dang. That sucks (if true).

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say: if we have to investigate the Quakers for terrorism, we’re in really bad shape… or at least, about to run out of oatmeal.

I’ve been wondering for some time whether or not I should donate regularly (or at all) to the ACLU.

When I see things like this, I really want to help provide a check on government abuses of power; but I still have reservations about the ACLU: is their method really the best way for an individual to do this?

So, what do you dopers think: to contribute to the ACLU or not? Why?
(PS: Mods, if this belongs in GD, my apologies… I’m hoping for a sharing of opinions on the ACLU without a lot of political sniping - but I don’t know whether that can happen or not.)

[Otto]

Your link requires registration; care to summarize?

But to answer your question, it’s never a bad idea to support the ACLU.

[Malodorous]

The ACLU is a little extreme for me occasionally (their attempt to get the cross off the LA seal a few months back for example), but any large organization is going to do stuff that I occasionally disagree with. In general though, I agree with their goals and think that they do very important work. They also stand for important ideals that I think need defending in the current politcal atmosphere, so I usually include them when I’m sending out the charity checks.

[Elysian]

My ACLU card is going to arrive in the mail in a few days. I am going to be a card-carrying member of the ACLU! Fear me!

I really like what their organization says they stand for. I would not be surprised if they weren’t 100% true to that. However, is there any other organization that shares those beliefs that has as much political clout?

What’s really neat is that their latest missive arrived with a bookmark, summarizing the Bill of Rights. I can never remember which amendment goes with which right, so that’s going to be a big help for me

[Malodorous]

I wonder if they’ve seen an increase in donations and support since this last election?

[Tapioca_Dextrin]

Here’s the ACLU press release among other things

the ACLU points to many documented examples of JTTF involvement in the investigation of environmental activists, anti-war protesters, and others who are clearly not terrorists nor involved in terrorist activities, including:

tracking down parents of student peace activists
downloading anti-war action alerts from Catholic Peace Ministries · infiltrating student groups
sending undercover agents to National Lawyers Guild meetings
aggressively questioning Muslims and Arabs on the basis of religion or national origin rather than suspicion of wrongdoing

[rjung]

The ACLU is one of the few things remaining in America that we can be proud of.

[Electronic_Chaos]

My membership is about to expire shortly, and I’m also contemplating renewing. On one hand, I really like what it stands for, but on the other hand, money’s not exactly flowing freely right now. Also, I seem to be getting weekly emails from them essentially saying “The world is ending! Give us your money!” (or at least that’s how it seems to me). Since joining, about 50% of the mail I recieve is from other orginizations asking me to free Tibet, save the trees, etc… It’s actually sort of amusing because I ordered a pair of military surplus boots a few months back, and ever since, the OTHER 50% of my mail has been other military surplus catalogs (Guns, ammo, and camo). I feel so conflicted!

Anyway, in the long run I’ll probably end up giving them their $20. They’re fighting some good fights, and I suppose I can deal with the occaisonal spam.

[mhendo]

@Malodorous

I wonder if they’ve seen an increase in donations and support since this last election?

I don’t know, but i got a solicitation in the mail and i’m going to join.

[Genghis_Bob]

I joined the day after the election. Still haven’t received my card, though :mad:

[Debaser]

The ACLU is basically an anti-religion lobbying group. They seem to focus most of their energy on regularly attacking the boy scouts because they don’t like the fact that they don’t allow gay scout leaders or openly gay members and focus on religion.

Now that it’s holiday season, your ACLU dontations will probably go towards their struggle to ban Christmas decorations from shopping malls and town commons across the country. :rolleyes:

[Munch]

@Debaser

The ACLU is basically an anti-religion lobbying group.

Which certainly explains their defense of Jerry Falwell several years back. :rolleyes:

[NinjaChick]

@Debaser

The ACLU is basically an anti-religion lobbying group. They seem to focus most of their energy on regularly attacking the boy scouts because they don’t like the fact that they don’t allow gay scout leaders or openly gay members and focus on religion.

Now that it’s holiday season, your ACLU dontations will probably go towards their struggle to ban Christmas decorations from shopping malls and town commons across the country. :rolleyes:

Uh…cite?

From the ACLU website:

The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees:

* Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state.
* Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.
* Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
* Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.

[mhendo]

@Debaser

The ACLU is basically an anti-religion lobbying group. They seem to focus most of their energy on regularly attacking the boy scouts because they don’t like the fact that they don’t allow gay scout leaders or openly gay members and focus on religion.

A cursory examination of their website demonstrates very clearly that this is not the case. Their interests extend well beyond the issue of the separation of church and state.

I guess it’s a bit much to expect you to actually know anything about them before spouting off, though.

[Steve_MB]

@Debaser

The ACLU is basically an anti-religion lobbying group. They seem to focus most of their energy on regularly attacking the boy scouts because they don’t like the fact that they don’t allow gay scout leaders or openly gay members and focus on religion.

Now that it’s holiday season, your ACLU dontations will probably go towards their struggle to ban Christmas decorations from shopping malls and town commons across the country. :rolleyes:

Really, Debaser, you’ll have to do better than that to get this thread tossed into the Pit.

[iamthewalrus_3]

Obviously, your reasons for donating to the ACLU will have to be your own, but I wanted to chime in as another proud supporter of the ACLU.

To answer one of your questions: The ACLU is a very powerful group, and I believe it stands the best chance of stopping further government encroachment on our civil liberties.

[Malodorous]

@Debaser

The ACLU is basically an anti-religion lobbying group.

The ACLU has lobbied on behalf of religious minorities many times. It does support a strong seperation between church and state, so if you don’t support this, then the ACLU may not be the place to send your $$.

They seem to focus most of their energy on regularly attacking the boy scouts because they don’t like the fact that they don’t allow gay scout leaders or openly gay members and focus on religion.

I’m a member of both organizations, if the ACLU spends most of its time attacking the Boy Scouts, it’s odd I havn’t heard of it. They were involved in the one lawsuit in NJ against the Boy Scouts(which I disagreed with, but like I said, its a big organization so I don’t expect to agree with their every decision).

Now that it’s holiday season, your ACLU dontations will probably go towards their struggle to ban Christmas decorations from shopping malls and town commons across the country. :rolleyes:

:rolleyes: indeed.

[rjung]

It’s not that the ACLU is anti-religious groups; it’s that religious groups are anti-civil rights.

[Rock-n-Rolga]

Genghis Bob, same here! It’s like being 8 years old again, running up to the mailbox every day to see if the spiffy toy you ordered in exchange for box tops has arrived yet. Maybe they’ve had a record number of new memberships and their card-stamping machine caved in under the strain?

[Ferret_Herder]

@Rock-n-Rolga

Genghis Bob, same here! It’s like being 8 years old again, running up to the mailbox every day to see if the spiffy toy you ordered in exchange for box tops has arrived yet. Maybe they’ve had a record number of new memberships and their card-stamping machine caved in under the strain?

I wouldn’t be surprised - a day or two after the election, I was trying to sign up online and the operation would time out each time I’d click the “I’d like to be a card-carrying member…” button.