SPECIAL HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE THIS MEMORIAL DAY

By Christopher Kelly
This year Memorial Day, when we pause to reflect on the sacrifices of our fallen veterans, has special historic significance. In 2015 Memorial Day will fall between the 70th Anniversary of VE Day and the 70th Anniversary of VJ day on September 2 – the end of World War II. On May 8, 1945 the world celebrated VE Day that marked Victory in Europe in World War II. Church bells pealed all over England. Crowds gathered to celebrate in Piccadilly Circus. Seventy years ago, Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave a speech in which he summed it up…

"This is the lesson: never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, 
large or petty—never give in except to convictions of 
honor and good sense. Never yield to force: never yield 
to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. 
God bless you all. This is your victory!

About a week prior to VE Day, Adolf Hitler had committed suicide in his bunker on April 30, 1945. About three months later, VJ Day (September 2 in USA), marking Victory over Imperial Japan and the signing of the surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri Tokyo bay would be celebrated around the world.

By August 1945 the worst war in human history came to an end. Finally, many Americans and other Allied soldiers would return from captivity in German and Japanese POW camps. At last young men would be re-united with their families. Demobilization would follow as the troops began to come home to the states. The GI bill would kick in and millions of world-weary soldiers would be transformed into students.

Over the course of just under four years over 16 million American men and women had served in some capacity in the war. Today in 2015, less than one million WW2 service vets are still alive.

Just over 400,00 mostly young Americans would never return from their duties in the Second World War. Some Americans will pay a visit to cemeteries such as Arlington in Virginia and many more around the nation. Many who paid the ultimate price are, however, buried overseas in twenty-four different overseas cemeteries in eleven different countries.

Most of us know about the carnage that took place on Omaha beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. But there are many nearly forgotten stories of World War II that deserve to be remembered. For example…

1. How the USS Wasp helped deliver Spitfire aircraft to the beleaguered island of Malta during its long three year siege and bombardment by Axis forces. Later that year, the Wasp would be torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine.

2. How in the invasion of Sicily nearly 1,400 Americans were killed by friendly fire on July 10, 1943 when the 504th Parachute Regiment was hit by naval gunfire

3. How black and white Stripes would be painted on the undercarriage of all Allied that flew on D-day in order to avoid a repeat of what happened in Sicily. Look for the D-day stripes on airplanes in your local aviation museum.

4. How in September 1944 young Americans invaded the tiny 13 square mile island of Peleliu in a country (Palau) that most of us have never heard of.

On of the ironies of World War II was that American forces in Europe were led by a Supreme Allied Commander, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was of German descent. Grosvenor Square in London, where the D-day landing were planned, was referred to by local wags as "Eisenhowerplatz". Today it is the home of the American Embassy in London.

In the Spring of 1945 Americans were discovering the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps. After Eisenhower visited Ohrdruf Concentration Camp that had been liberated by American troops on April 4, he declared: "We are told that the American soldier does not know what he is fighting for. Now at least he will know what he is fighting against."

This is why we must always remember and teach our children about the sacrifice of our veterans and the eternal significance of Memorial Day to freedom-loving people here in the U.S. and around the world.


Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

SCHOOL SAYS STUDENT CAN’T FLY U.S. FLAG ON TRUCK

Photo Credit: abcnews.go.com
by bsu.com
A school administrator told high school senior Peyton Robinson that he could not fly his American and POW-MIA flags in the bed of his truck. The administrator told Robinson some might consider the flags offensive and he needed to remove them before returning to school.

“He said, ‘We’re having some issues. Some people were complaining about the flags in your truck,” said the South Carolina student.

Robinson was pretty mad when a school official unscrewed the flags and laid them in the bed of his truck without getting his permission.

“I’d understand if it was the Confederate flag or something that might offend somebody,” he added. “I wouldn’t do that. But an American flag — that’s our country’s flag. I have every right to do it. I don’t see a safety issue. I mean, I understand it’s a big flag — it’s 4 by 6 — but nobody has ever complained about it being in their way or anything.”

Superintendent Vernon Prosser said the school district was concerned that the flags would block the view of other drivers. However, the South Carolina highway patrol stated that Robinson’s flags are legal.

Protesting the school’s action, about 70 students showed up at school with flags waving from their cars and trucks. Officials quickly changed the school policy.

“Due to the outstanding display of patriotism through peaceful demonstration, it is apparent to us that many are not happy about this policy,” the school said in a statement. “School officials have reviewed the standing policy regarding flags and have decided that an exception will be made for the American flag, as long as the size of the flag(s) does not create a driving hazard.”

Why It Matters
Proudly displaying our country’s flag is a right, even the duty, of every U.S. citizen. It is the outward sign of our patriotism and love of country. Both should be encouraged in our young people and nothing should ever hinder their patriotic spirit.

Take Action
Learn how to properly respect the flag of the United States of America.
Share this story with others and encourage them to be as proud of our nation’s symbol as Peyton Robinson.


Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

THE 2015 BILLBOARD AWARD FOR TOP CHRISTIAN SONG GOES TO THIS CHRISTIAN COUNTRY ARTIST

(Photo Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
by Isaiah Narciso
"It's really kind of a joyous, uplifting song about changing your life for the better and kind of having that 'a-ha' moment, to waking up and your life being different from that moment forward." -Carrie Underwood

Country music singer Carrie Underwood took home theBillboard Award for Top Christian Song. She won the honor during the 2015 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night.

According to Sterling Whitaker of Taste of Country, the season 4 winner of "American Idol" has never been shy about publicly expressing her Christian faith. Billboard awarded her the honor for the song "Something in the Water," which talked about the importance of baptism and conversion.

"It's really kind of a joyous, uplifting song about changing your life for the better and kind of having that 'a-ha' moment, to waking up and your life being different from that moment forward," Underwood said.

Whitaker noted that "Something in the Water" has become Underwood's longest-running No. 1 song to date. He noted that it was "rare for a song with such an overt Christian theme to find its way to the mainstream."

"It's very humbling to be part of it," songwriter Chris DeStefano said. "One of the things that's been really exciting for me—I know it sounds crazy—is just reading tweets, and seeing how it's affecting people directly. You're able to really see people's emotions as they're writing on Twitter."

DeStefano added that Underwood's award-winning song had "such a powerful effect on people."

"As a songwriter, that is all you can hope for, is to affect people and touch people, and make a difference in their lives, in small ways and big ways," DeStefano said.

Whitaker quoted some of the lyrics of Underwood's song. He noted that her song ended with a part of "Amazing Grace."

"There's somebody saying what I'm saying to you / Opened my eyes and told me truth / He said just a little faith and it'll all get better / So I followed that preacher man down to the river and now I'm changed / And now I'm stronger," Whitaker quoted in regards to Underwood's lyrics.



Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

WATCH: CANADIAN REPORTER EXPOSES HAMAS

by United With Israel

Canada’s Sun News broadcast a fantastic piece in which it exposes Hamas as a terrorist organization, while acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself.

What this reporter does, is simply reveal what Hamas terrorists actually say themselves, even including quotes and video footage. Hamas does not hide its intentions, but the media work hard to make them look justified while demonizing Israel. Fortunately, Canada shows a lot of support for Israel and is not afraid to share the truth.

This video should go absolutely viral. Sun News truly understands the worldwide hypocrisy that unjustly condemns Israel.





Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

HOMESCHOOLERS WIN QUIZ BOWL V MICHIGAN SCHOOLS

Isaac Van Loh, 16, says his team’s victory on a Michigan quiz show helped to vindicate homeschooling and prove its rigor. The Lansing Homeschooler Chargers’ win on April 29 was the first time in the 26-year history of QuizBusters, a show on Michigan PBS affiliate WKAR-TIV, that a homeschool team nabbed the championship.

“It shows that we’re not just sitting at home or going on field trips to the amusement park. We’re actually learning stuff,” Isaac told the Lansing State Journal.

The Chargers faced formidable opponents in the Okemos Chieftains, who had consistently dominated the 60-school tournament. The Chieftains were the returning champions.

Both teams faced a gauntlet of questions ranging from particle physics and Scottish literature to botany and African geopolitics—a range of inquiry likely to inspire panic in most adults. Yet kids on both teams remained calm and collected, routinely buzzing in answers before host Matt Ottinger could even squeeze out the first few words of his question.

Chargers captain Lily Van Loh, 18, (Isaac’s older sister) scooped up the first two answers. From there, the Chargers never looked back until the ending bell declared them the winners 390–310. Lily exhibited focus and ease throughout the intense competition, though she assured me it had not always been quite so. Her first quiz competition, during her freshman year, was also on TV. She buzzed in without having any idea what the answer to her question was. Years of practice and hard work honed her skills and those of her teammates.

“We learned to play really good quiz bowl through trying and losing a lot of games,” teammate Derek Edwards said in an interview with The Lansing State Journal. The Chargers’ other secret was not to make quiz prep an obsession. Van Loh family dinners were not organized into complicated interrogations, nor were the teens subjected to midnight wake-ups to probe their mastery of presidential minutiae. While many schools devote extra study and resources to quiz bowl preparation—strategically assigning spheres of knowledge to team players—the Chargers let their capabilities overflow from general study. Of course, playing quiz bowl made them quickly apply what they learned, resulting in what Lily termed a “beautiful cycle” of motivation. Quiz bowl “made my life a hundred times easier,” agreed Lily and Isaac’s mom, Naomi Van Loh.

Lily also credited the Christian faith of team members with keeping them all grounded. She explained that QuizBusters creates an environment where kids can become “cocky and insufferable” as adults heap compliments on them. The Chargers stood out by carrying themselves with humility. Not that there weren’t occasional struggles, Lily admitted. But she laughed recalling how whenever they entered a match feeling overconfident, they invariably suffered a sound beating: “That’s not just embarrassing on a physical level. There are lessons to be learned on a spiritual level, too, that I won’t forget.”

Lily was excited at how her experience will help toward her goal of becoming a teacher since now she knows “how to get a kid to love to learn.” She acknowledged the hardest part of getting kids involved is their fear of being wrong. She said, “You can’t let it crush you, but you have to pick up and buck up and move forward” to get better.

Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

MOM SUES SCHOOL BOARD FOR TEEN'S ARREST & SUSPENSION OVER NRA SHIRT

By Jessica Chasmar
A West Virginia mother is suing the Logan County Board of Education for violating her teenage son’s constitutional rights after he was charged and suspended for wearing an National Rifle Association T-shirt to school.

Tanya Lardieri filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of her son, Jared Marcum, who was charged in 2013 for disrupting the educational process and obstructing a police officer after he refused to turn his NRA T-shirt inside out, EAGNews.org reported.

A judge later dismissed the charges, but the school still forced Jared to serve a one-day suspension.

“The shirt was an un-alarming olive green tee shirt bearing the NRA logo, which is the letters ‘NRA’ in black, the words ‘PROTECT YOUR RIGHT,’ an image of a hunting rifle and the officials NRA logo which has an eagle and two cross firearms,” according to the lawsuit, obtained by the Charleston Gazette.

The lawsuit names several school board members, the school district superintendent, several teachers and staffers at Logan Middle School, as well as the principal and the school itself.

The lawsuit claims that Jared was waiting in the lunch line in the school’s cafeteria when he was physically stopped by school secretary Anita Gore, who placed her hand on his chest and prevented him from moving forward, The Logan Banner reported.

The lawsuit says Ms. Gore told Jared that he had to turn his shirt inside out or face suspension. After the teen refused, teacher David Burroway hauled him off to the principal’s office by his arm, according to the lawsuit, The Logan Banner reported.

The teen was later charged with obstruction of justice because he refused to keep quiet after the officer ordered him to stop talking.

The family is seeking $200,000 in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages for alleged violations of Jared’s First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, EAGNews.org reported.


Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

HUCKABEE: U.S. NEEDS LIFT OIL EXPORT BAN

By Devin Henry
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee says the United States needs to lift its ban on crude oil exports, encourage more energy production on federal lands and embrace renewable energy in order to "completely transform the balance of world power."

Huckabee detailed his energy platform on Monday, according to the Texas Tribune, telling a Houston audience that more domestic energy production is needed to reduce America's dependence on foreign sources.

The former Arkansas governor said state and local governments should have more control over energy policy and that there should be more energy exploration on federal lands. He said he would lift the crude oil export ban and do more to encourage natural gas exports, arguing that American energy production is more climate-conscious than in other parts of the world.

At the same time, Huckabee said people "shouldn't demonize renewable fuels" such as solar and wind power, which could be used to supplement current energy production.

"We need to be a country that looks at the world and realizes energy is the backbone of making this world function, and we start talking about what we can do rather than what we can't do," he said, according to the Tribune.

Huckabee’s energy platform touches on a handful of local issues, both in Texas, where he was speaking and kicking off a fundraising tour, and Iowa, which hosts the country’s first presidential caucuses in January.

State lawmakers in Texas have recently banned local ordinances against hydraulic fracturing after voters in the town of Denton approved a fracking moratorium last year. Huckabee said he would move "regulations back to the people closest to the industries” to give more local control over energy policy.

In Iowa, Republican presidential candidates have already faced questions over renewable energy sources. The state leads the country in wind energy and, critically, ethanol production. Some candidates have already said they oppose the government’s ethanol blending mandate, though Huckabee told an Iowa audience in March that he supports the standards.



Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

US HOUSE TO VOTE WEDNESDAY, ON 20-WEEK ABORTION BAN—MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD NOW!

by Breaking Christian News
The vote for the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act"-falls on the anniversary of brutal abortionist, Kermit Gosnell's conviction.

The Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives have scheduled a vote on a landmark pro-life bill on Wednesday, May 13. [According to National Right to Life, the pro-life public's] immediate action is required to help pass this vital bill!

The bill is the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36), which would extend general protection from abortion to unborn children beginning at 20 weeks fetal age—nationwide. This bill could save thousands of babies each year from painful deaths. This federal bill was developed from model legislation developed by National Right to Life, which has been enacted so far in 11 states.

Well-funded pro-abortion groups are launching an all-out attack on this vital pro-life bill. Planned Parenthood has already announced that it will spend "whatever it takes to stop the ban."

It is urgently necessary that pro-life citizens immediately place phone calls to the Washington, DC offices of U.S. House members, to make their voices heard. Please enter your zip code into the "Call Now!" box (Click Here), and you will be shown the appropriate phone number to call to reach the office of your representative in the U.S. House.


Thank You for supporting
FREEDOM

U.S. BANS ENTRY FOR IRAQI NUN, FEARS SHE’LL STAY ILLEGALLY

by Believers Stand United
A Catholic nun from Iraq who was scheduled to speak about her religious persecution by ISIS has been denied access into the U.S. because government officials believe she would attempt to stay in the country illegally.

Sister Diana Momeka of the Dominican 
Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena
Sister Diana Momeka of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine submitted a short-term visa application to enter the U.S. for a limited speaking engagement. During her stay, she was also going to meet with the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committees, the State Department, USAID and other organizations. Her application was endorsed by high-ranking government officials and religious organizations, including Rep. Anna Eshoo of Calif., Rep. Frank Wolf of Va., and The Cradle Fund, an organization that assists persecuted Christians in the Middle East.

The application was denied and an accompanying letter explained that she was considered an IDP or “Internally Displaced Person” in Iraq. In other words, she was forced to leave her home in Iraq but still remains within the country’s borders. Therefore, U.S. government officials feared she would attempt to stay in the U.S. after her visa expired. The U.S. State Department has refused to comment on the denial of Sister Momeka’s visa application.

Until August of 2014, Sister Momeka lived in Northern Iraq in the city of Qaraqosh, where she taught spiritual direction, English and peacemaking at St. Ephrem Seminary. However, last August, ISIS invaded the city, forcing her and 50,000 others to leave.

Why It Matters
The U.S. has hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants flooding through its borders and has even taken steps to ensure they can legally stay. However, the government will not allow a persecuted Christian nun from Iraq to enter the country for a speaking engagement for fear she will stay illegally? The hypocrisy on display by the U.S. government is ludicrous.

Take Action
Contact the U.S. State Department and express your disappointment and disapproval of their denied entry to Sister Momeka when she has such a powerful, worldwide peaceful message to communicate.



Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

"THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MOVING THROUGH OUR LOCKER ROOM" SAYS NBA MVP' STEPHEN CURY

Stepehn Curry, left, plays for the NBA's Golden State Warriors
by Charisma News
My dad may have been playing in the NBA at the time, but the best basketball games I remember from my childhood were the ones between my little brother, Seth, and me on our backyard basketball court in Charlotte, North Carolina. We'd play for hours and hours, oftentimes well into the night with the use of a bright stage light shining on the court, until our mom would yell out the window for us to come in. Those games would get pretty heated, but that was the norm for brothers as close as we were.

Our whole family was very close in fact, even when it came to school. My mom started a Christian Montessori school when I was in first grade, so we all went there together—Mom was in charge as the head mistress, our aunt was our teacher, and our grandmother was the cook. My brother and sister and I were blessed to have such great influences in our lives, and I can honestly say that my mom and dad were the best. They raised us to believe in God, and we were at church every Wednesday for youth Bible studies and every Sunday for services.

I remember it like it was yesterday, the day I gave my life to Christ. I was in fourth grade, and I recall hearing and understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ and walking down the aisle to give my life to Him. My parents continued to pour into my faith from that point on, making sure I understood the commitment I'd just made. Starting in middle school I attended Charlotte Christian School, which allowed me to hear the gospel on a daily basis. Looking back, my childhood was filled with the Lord's presence.

Wanting to follow in my dad's footsteps on the hardwood, I had my sights set on Virginia Tech during my high school years. Unfortunately, the Hokies and other ACC schools weren't interested. I was confident the Lord had blessed me with the talent to play the game, and I just wanted to go where He wanted me to be. That place became as clear as day to me once I met Bob McKillop, Davidson's head coach. He explained his vision for my career at Davidson and how he could help me achieve my goals. Plus, he was a man of God, so it was an added bonus to play for a leader who was grounded in faith. The entire recruiting and signing experience taught me about patience and seeking God's will, because He had a plan all along. I couldn't see it at the time, but I trusted He knew what was best for me.

During our Cinderella run to the 2008 Elite Eight, I knew the Lord was preparing me for a bigger stage to represent and be a witness for Him on the basketball court. I remembered my mom telling me from day one at Davidson that God puts His people in different areas of life so that they can reach more people for Him. I tried to use that time for His glory.

Then, in 2009, it was a surreal moment and a dream realized to be sitting in the green room with my family hearing my name called as the seventh overall pick of the NBA Draft.

Fast-forward to now—my fourth year with the Warriors—and my faith continues to be my driving force. God's blessed me with an awesome support system in Oakland, starting with my head coach, Mark Jackson, who is a pastor of a congregation in Southern California. It's rare to have such an outspoken believer leading an NBA team. We also have about 10 guys on our team who attend our pregame chapels and pray together before games.

The Holy Spirit is moving through our locker room in a way I've never experienced before. It's allowing us to reach a lot of people, and personally I am just trying to use this stage to share how God has been a blessing to my life and how He can be the same in everyone else's.

God's given me talents to play basketball for a living, but I still have to work hard to improve every day. I know that in the grand scheme of things, this is just a game that can be taken from me at any moment. But I love that basketball gives me opportunities to do good things for people and to point them towards the Man who died for our sins on the cross. I know I have a place in heaven waiting for me because of Him, and that's something no earthly prize or trophy could ever top.

There's more to me than just this jersey I wear, and that's Christ living inside of me.



Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

HUCKABEE ANNOUNCES 2016 WHITE HOUSE BID

by Fox News
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee announced Tuesday he is running for president, delivering an economy- and security-centered message that he hopes will appeal to everyday Americans and distinguish him from the already-crowded Republican field.


Huckabee, who is embarking on his second presidential run, made the announcement in his hometown of Hope, Ark. In a 30-minute speech that focused on his humble beginnings, Huckabee vowed to end “stagnant wages,” protect Medicare and defeat radical Islamic terrorism.

“Folks cannot seem to get ahead or even stay even,” he said.

Huckabee, a former Baptist minister, ran for president in 2008, winning eight states including the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses before running out of money and exiting the race.

“Folks, it’s a long way from a little brick rented house on Second Street in Hope, Arkansas, to the White House,” he said. "But here in this small town called Hope, I was raised to believe where a person started didn't mean that is where he had to stop. I always believed that kid could go from hope to higher ground."

The 59-year-old Huckabee has a strong following among the party’s evangelical Christian base but this time will face stiff competition for that vote from such primary candidates as Dr. Ben Carson and Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee waves to supporters in
 Hope, Ark., May 5, 2015, after he announced that he is running 
for the Republican presidential nomination.
Danny Johnston/AP Photo
He frequently repeated the phrase, “Hope to higher ground,” which appears to be a slogan of sorts for his 2016 campaign.

He also took a swipe at President Obama for declining to recognize the Islamic State group as radical Islamic terrorists and vowed to stop them.

"I wonder if he can watch a Western from the '50s and be able to figure out who the good guy and the bad guys really are," Huckabee said. "As president, I promise you, we will no longer try to contain Jihadism. We will conquer it.”

He also vowed to protect Medicare and give states more of a say in government and education.

Huckabee, who left his job as a Fox News host earlier this year in preparation for a potential 2016 run, was Arkansas governor from 1996 to 2007, serving after Bill Clinton, who also is from Hope. And he was the state’s lieutenant governor from 1993 to 1996.

Even before the speech, Huckabee was trying to position himself as the GOP candidate best equipped to defeat Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner.

In a recent campaign video, Huckabee argued that in his more than 10 years as governor, he took on Democrats in "Bill Clinton's Arkansas" after then-candidate Bill Clinton won election to the White House in 1992.

"Every day in my life in politics was a fight," Huckabee says in the video, released as a preview of his Tuesday announcement. "But any drunken redneck can walk into a bar and start a fight. A leader only starts a fight he's prepared to finish."

The field of confirmed and potential GOP presidential candidates includes more than a dozen people.

A new NBC/ Wall Street Journal poll of GOP primary voters shows 23 percent picked former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as their first choice.

Bush is followed in the poll by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio with 18 percent, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker with 14 percent, Cruz and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul with 11 percent, Carson with 7 percent, Huckabee and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 5 percent, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 2 percent and former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina at 1 percent.

Huckabee is the third Republican this week to announce a 2016 White House bid, following Fiorina and Carson, a retired neurosurgeon They join Cruz, Paul and Rubio.

Campaign aides say Huckabee’s path to winning the party nomination this time will be to appeal to working-class cultural conservatives, pitching their candidate as an economic populist and foreign affairs hawk who holds deeply conservative views on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage.

Huckabee advocates a national consumption tax, which is similar to a sales tax, to replace the existing federal taxes on personal income and payrolls. He rejects calls for a minimum wage hike, saying his proposals will yield a "maximum wage" for workers.

On immigration, he insists on a secure border and bemoans the presence of millions of people who are living in the country illegally, though he favors a creating a path to citizenship for children of immigrant parents who brought them to the U.S. illegally.

Like other Republican White House hopefuls, Huckabee is sharply critical of Obama's foreign policy. He has called for "bombing the daylights" out of Islamic State targets in the Middle East, though he says American troops should be deployed to the region only as part of an international coalition that includes nations such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

But whatever the issue, Huckabee, also an author, wraps his appeal as a pitch to everyday Americans who he says "don't feel like anybody understands or knows who they are, much less cares what's happening to them."

Evangelical Christian voters helped Huckabee win the Iowa caucuses in 2008 and finish a strong second in South Carolina, the largest of the early-voting states.

He would need to replicate that early success to create an opening to build a wider coalition and compete deep into the primary schedule.



Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

HUCKABEE TO HISPANIC CHRISTIANS: "THANK GOD FOR AMERICA"

by BCN
"May I say to you that I respect the courts, but the Supreme Court is only that—the supreme of the courts. But it is not the Supreme Being... the court cannot change what God has created." -Gov. Mike Huckabee

Gov. Mike Huckabee, presumed 2016 Republican presidential candidate, addressed more than 1,000 Latino Evangelical leaders as the featured speaker at the evening awards dinner at The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC/CONEL) annual convention in Houston, Texas.

(Photo Credit: Jack Jenkins/Thinkprogress)
"The person I am going to introduce to you is a great friend," said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of NHCLC/CONEL, in introducing Gov. Huckabee from the platform. "He understands with hard work and a good value system you can live the American dream. He is a born-again Christian, who loves Jesus and he is a champion of many of our causes."

Alluding to the oral arguments regarding same-sex marriage heard by the Supreme Court on April 28, Gov. Huckabee spoke to the critical protection of religious liberty.

"All of our ancestors came to this country hoping for something that we have been uniquely given and that is liberty—religious liberty. And it is under assault," Gov. Huckabee said. "May I say to you that I respect the courts, but the Supreme Court is only that—the supreme of the courts. But it is not the Supreme Being... the court cannot change what God has created."

Gov. Huckabee shared a story of meeting Dmitri, a man who left the Soviet Union in 1988, just one year before the fall of The Berlin Wall. When asked about why he left, the man said it was because his government lied to him.

"I wish more people appreciated their freedom—what freedom really means from the heart of someone who knew what it was like to live without it," said Gov. Huckabee. "God has given us, by His grace, the opportunity to be the preservers of this Republic—not so we could selfishly take from it, but rather give to it."

Gov. Huckabee challenged attendees to pray for our country every day.

"We owe it to our children and grandchildren to give them a world that is not falling apart but one that we are working to put back together," he said. "The one thing we need to do every night of our lives is get on our knees and thank God we live in a country where people are trying hard to get in and not trying to get out of."


Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS CHRISTIAN PRAYERS


The Supreme Court said Monday that city councils and other public boards are free to open their meetings with an explicitly Christian prayer, ruling that judges may not act as "censors of religious speech" simply because the prayers reflect the views of the dominant faith.

The 5-4 decision rejected the idea that government-sponsored prayers violate the Constitution if officials regularly invite Christian clerics to offer the prayers.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, speaking for the court, said prayers and invocations have been a routine feature of legislatures and city councils throughout American history, and he said the court was unwilling to set specific limits on those prayers.

The 1st Amendment's ban on an "establishment of religion" does not require "that legislative prayer may be addressed only to a generic God," the decision states. To enforce such a requirement would mean judges would have to review the prayers and "act as supervisors or censors of religious speech."

"Once it invites prayer into the public sphere, government must permit a prayer giver to address his or her own God or gods as conscience dictates, unfettered by what an administrator or judge considers to be non-sectarian," Kennedy wrote in Town of Greece v. Galloway.

The ruling upholds the prayers offered regularly at town meetings in Greece, New York. Two women, one Jewish and the other atheist, had sued after attending a series of public meetings that featured a prayer to Jesus Christ.

While Kennedy's opinion upholds these prayers, he said a city would go too far if the prayers "denigrate non-believers or religious minorities, threaten damnation or preach conversion." This "would present a different case," he said.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. formed the majority.

Justice Elena Kagan spoke for the four dissenters and faulted the court for "allowing the Town of Greece to turn its assemblies for citizens into a forum for Christian prayer."

"When citizens of this country approach their government, they do so only as Americans, not as a members of one faith or another. And that means that even in a partly legislative body, they should not confront government-sponsored worship that divides them along religious lines," Kagan concluded.


Thank You For Supporting
FREEDOM