Score Another Victory For Atheists In Michigan
The Grand Haven City Council voted three to two earlier this week to have the cross removed from Dewey Hill. Their decision comes after months of heated debate, rallies organized by veterans, and heartfelt letters penned to the editor of a local paper in this city of less than 11,000 residents. The city even tried to defy protesters by placing an even larger cross and nativity scene on Dewey Hill.
They are not too happy with the perpetrator of all this Church-State-Separation. Mitch Kahle, A Norton Shores civil rights activist, who has been pushing for removal of the Dewey Hill cross and Nativity scene, has expanded his mission to area schools.
Mitch Kahle
Mitch Kahle, founder of “Remove the Grand Haven Cross” and the recently formed Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists, wrote a letter to Grand Haven Area Public Schools Superintendent Keith Konarska and Fruitport Community Schools Superintendent Bob Szymoniak on Wednesday, demanding the immediate removal of Pastor Russ Gabel and his Freewater Experience ministries.
Kahle was justifiably upset about the efforts of clergy to proselytize during school hours.
“Clergy have been banned from public schools for more than 50 years,” Kahle said. “Every superintendent is aware of this fact. It’s obviously very disturbing a school would allow a Christian pastor to come in during school hours, give them candy and entice them into a room for prayer.”
This isn’t Kahle’s first foray into getting religious symbols extracted from public land. Recently relocated back to his home state of Michigan, Kahle lived in Hawaii, where he was active in the procurement of the rights of atheists.
In 1997, his first victory was forcing the Army to remove a 37-foot cross at Schofield Barracks. Kayle also received the coveted Freedom from Religion Foundation award for his work in convincing the Hawaii Senate to drop prayers to open legislative sessions.
Good work, Mitch. We need more people who follow the original framers of the Constitution who wanted to keep church and state separate.
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Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: VegasJessie
A resident of Las Vegas Nevada, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma as a Political Science major. Very motivated to get people to participate in the electoral process.
Pilotshark January 8th, 2015 at 15:06
Good Job! keep up the good work.
Pilotshark January 8th, 2015 at 16:06
Good Job! keep up the good work.
tracey marie January 8th, 2015 at 15:15
Good!
tracey marie January 8th, 2015 at 16:15
Good!
Carla Akins January 8th, 2015 at 15:24
I have to wonder if he gets threatened a lot.
AmusedAmused January 8th, 2015 at 15:33
If he does, I’m sure it’s done LOVINGLY.
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 04:54
Right! He is annoying whether we are religious or not.
Carla Akins January 8th, 2015 at 16:24
I have to wonder if he gets threatened a lot.
AmusedAmused January 8th, 2015 at 16:33
If he does, I’m sure it’s done LOVINGLY.
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 05:54
Right! He is annoying whether we are religious or not.
StoneyCurtisll January 8th, 2015 at 15:47
Wait until the friends on the curvy couch get a hold of this..
There will be hell to pay.~!
Larry Schmitt January 8th, 2015 at 19:54
Steve Douchy should have a field day.
StoneyCurtisll January 8th, 2015 at 20:08
And Ms. Hasselback.
StoneyCurtisll January 8th, 2015 at 16:47
Wait until the friends on the curvy couch get a hold of this..
There will be hell to pay.~!
Larry Schmitt January 8th, 2015 at 20:54
Steve Douchy should have a field day.
StoneyCurtisll January 8th, 2015 at 21:08
And Ms. Hasselback.
fahvel January 8th, 2015 at 16:39
do any of these idiots realize that the separation is the prime reason that there is freedom of religion albeit a melee of cults that have little to do with kindness – including the biggies too.
Dwendt44 January 9th, 2015 at 00:44
A big fat NO. They either don’t realize that or could care less about he Constitutional principles.
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 04:53
Not really true. The founders included a lot more religion in their decision-making.
fahvel January 8th, 2015 at 17:39
do any of these idiots realize that the separation is the prime reason that there is freedom of religion albeit a melee of cults that have little to do with kindness – including the biggies too.
Dwendt44 January 9th, 2015 at 01:44
A big fat NO. They either don’t realize that or could care less about he Constitutional principles.
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 05:53
Not really true. The founders included a lot more religion in their decision-making.
fancypants January 8th, 2015 at 17:11
We have one in my state and the Huge parking lot is almost always empty
Does that tell you anything ?
bpollen January 9th, 2015 at 06:47
I would guess Kansas, Oklahoma, or Texas. When I went from one end of I-35 to the other, that’s where I saw the ultramega-crosses.
fancypants January 9th, 2015 at 23:18
this cross is in Effingham illinos I think the same group constructed all the above
bpollen January 10th, 2015 at 03:41
You may well be right about who built ’em.
The name of the town makes me think of all kinds of “what do they like on their sandwiches there?” type jokes, but I will spare you.
fancypants January 10th, 2015 at 19:01
that’s ok I live over 150 miles from this town or me and city hall would be on a first name basis by now.
go ahead and fire away !
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 04:50
Is what you eat?
Stan Ubeki January 9th, 2015 at 09:36
Is this in Effingham?
fancypants January 9th, 2015 at 23:15
yes its near i70 and i57 intersection
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 04:47
Just sell a small plot of land to a private organization and let them pay for the upkeep.
fancypants January 8th, 2015 at 18:11
We have one in my state and the Huge parking lot is almost always empty
Does that tell you anything ?
bpollen January 9th, 2015 at 07:47
I would guess Kansas, Oklahoma, or Texas. When I went from one end of I-35 to the other, that’s where I saw the ultramega-crosses.
fancypants January 10th, 2015 at 00:18
this cross is in Effingham illinos I think the same group constructed all the above
bpollen January 10th, 2015 at 04:41
You may well be right about who built ’em.
The name of the town makes me think of all kinds of “what do they like on their sandwiches there?” type jokes, but I will spare you.
fancypants January 10th, 2015 at 20:01
that’s ok I live over 150 miles from this town or me and city hall would be on a first name basis by now.
go ahead and fire away !
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 05:50
Is what you eat?
Stan Ubeki January 9th, 2015 at 10:36
Is this in Effingham?
fancypants January 10th, 2015 at 00:15
yes its near i70 and i57 intersection
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 05:47
Just sell a small plot of land to a private organization and let them pay for the upkeep.
Suzanne McFly January 8th, 2015 at 17:12
I am writing this from a liberal Christian point of view. I am glad he stood up to this, as a Christian I would just overlook the Cross believing it isn’t hurting anyone. I hate to admit I wouldn’t speak out, but if it is accepted by most I wouldn’t see anything wrong. However, the clergy coming to the school to pass out candy and have the kids pray with them? That is way over the line. The first step is, lets put up a cross and show how painless accepting the church into your neighborhood is. The next step, lets bring prayer to school and show how painless accepting God into your school is. Next step, lets bring you into our church and ask you to pay your part to contribute to our existence and show you how painless it is to support us. And it continues to go on.
I have not belonged to a church in decades, I do go to churches when there is no mass service going on. When I go in, it is silent and peaceful. I pay a dollar and light a candle to pray for loved ones I have lost and I go to feel my soul regain some strength and be comforted. I have not supported the church as a member because it does not support me as a strong woman who refuses to rely on by worth coming from me giving birth, my worth comes from what I bring to the earth myself. However, I do love my Pope and all that he has stood for so far though, he is why I won’t rule out attending church ever again. He gives me faith and he makes my soul happy again.
tracey marie January 8th, 2015 at 19:35
why do they charge to pray and light a candle, they do not pay taxes.
Suzanne McFly January 8th, 2015 at 19:55
They don’t charge, there is a collection box and I put a dollar for the purchase of the candle. I have no problem giving money when I attend mass, I understand it costs money for the electricity being used. I used to help my Mom and my Grandmother take care of the plants and clean up after functions and I loved the priest of my church when I was growing up, he was the sweetest man. My great Aunt was a Nun and I would visit her at her convent. I grew up in the church and I had great experiences, so I happily pay one dollar.
tracey marie January 8th, 2015 at 20:01
okay, I can see your point
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 04:45
Gee, one of our priests was expelled for questionable acts with children and our chief priest was caught taking money and sleeping with nuns. He was fired too.
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 04:41
I stopped going to chuch when they started charging a 25 cent admission including for minors by themselves.
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 04:40
Wait until he installs an athetist cross (upside down) or devil’s cross.
Suzanne McFly January 26th, 2015 at 06:27
People will be in the streets protesting for that of course.
Suzanne McFly January 8th, 2015 at 18:12
I am writing this from a liberal Christian point of view. I am glad he stood up to this, as a Christian I would just overlook the Cross believing it isn’t hurting anyone. I hate to admit I wouldn’t speak out, but if it is accepted by most I wouldn’t see anything wrong. However, the clergy coming to the school to pass out candy and have the kids pray with them? That is way over the line. The first step is, lets put up a cross and show how painless accepting the church into your neighborhood is. The next step, lets bring prayer to school and show how painless accepting God into your school is. Next step, lets bring you into our church and ask you to pay your part to contribute to our existence and show you how painless it is to support us. And it continues to go on.
I have not belonged to a church in decades, I do go to churches when there is no mass service going on. When I go in, it is silent and peaceful. I pay a dollar and light a candle to pray for loved ones I have lost and I go to feel my soul regain some strength and be comforted. I have not supported the church as a member because it does not support me as a strong woman who refuses to rely on by worth coming from me giving birth, my worth comes from what I bring to the earth myself. However, I do love my Pope and all that he has stood for so far though, he is why I won’t rule out attending church ever again. He gives me faith and he makes my soul happy again.
tracey marie January 8th, 2015 at 20:35
why do they charge to pray and light a candle, they do not pay taxes.
Suzanne McFly January 8th, 2015 at 20:55
They don’t charge, there is a collection box and I put a dollar for the purchase of the candle. I have no problem giving money when I attend mass, I understand it costs money for the electricity being used. I used to help my Mom and my Grandmother take care of the plants and clean up after functions and I loved the priest of my church when I was growing up, he was the sweetest man. My great Aunt was a Nun and I would visit her at her convent. I grew up in the church and I had great experiences, so I happily pay one dollar.
tracey marie January 8th, 2015 at 21:01
okay, I can see your point
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 05:45
Gee, one of our priests was expelled for questionable acts with children and our chief priest was caught taking money and sleeping with nuns. He was fired too.
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 05:41
I stopped going to chuch when they started charging a 25 cent admission including for minors by themselves.
freshstart222 January 26th, 2015 at 05:40
Wait until he installs an athetist cross (upside down) or devil’s cross.
Suzanne McFly January 26th, 2015 at 07:27
People will be in the streets protesting for that of course.
m2old4bs January 8th, 2015 at 18:31
A standing “O” for Mr. Kahle! Well done Sir.
m2old4bs January 8th, 2015 at 19:31
A standing “O” for Mr. Kahle! Well done Sir.
Angelo_Frank January 8th, 2015 at 20:26
Washington Free Beacon is a political satire site I believe.
Jack E Raynbeau January 8th, 2015 at 20:47
Nope. Poe’s Law in action.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Free_Beacon
Angelo_Frank January 8th, 2015 at 21:26
Washington Free Beacon is a political satire site I believe.
Jack E Raynbeau January 8th, 2015 at 21:47
Nope. Poe’s Law in action.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Free_Beacon
LaserHaas01 January 8th, 2015 at 20:46
VegasJessie – the gal that has grit!
Whamzees January 8th, 2015 at 21:46
VegasJessie – the gal that has grit!