Little use for the ACLU unless...

I’ve had little use for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) over the past 40 years.

For the most part, organization representatives stick their collective noses in places where I personally feel they don’t belong. Fifteen years ago, a local ACLU rep asked if I wanted the group to participate in a lawsuit against a paper where I was publisher. I thanked the nice lady, but declined.

In many cases, bringing the ACLU in as an issue-partner, is an accelerant to potential problems, not a problem-extinguisher.

The group’s reputation is that of a strong advocate of upholding Constitutional law. They do that, but often go overboard, making tempests in a teapot, mountains out of molehills, breakfast out of Farina, er . . . you get the point.

On one recent issue, the ACLU is taking a strong stance and for it deserves sustained, loud applause.

In the neighboring state of Arkansas, the ACLU filed suit to overturn a law passed in November banning unmarried, cohabitating couples for adopting or fostering children.
Any couple. Any children. That includes an unmarried grandmothers living outside wedlock, other couples in the same non-knot-tying situation and . . . shhhhh, homosexuals.

The law, of course, was not aimed at “relatives,” per se, but it was a direct shot at citizens who have chosen to live an alternative lifestyle. (You know, homosexuals!)

Of course, the Bible says to love your neighbor, but with their vote so-called conservatives clearly were not talking about guys named Steve who enjoy blanching peppers for an exotic dinner, or women with the moniker of Big Sal who drive an 18-wheeler and can field dress a deer in less than 30 minutes

For the aginners who profess to be church-goers, maybe it’s one of those hate the sin and love the sinner things. Regardless, the ACLU is going to fight the Natural State’s law and . . . they will win the case.

Banning a group of people from adopting or serving as foster parents because of a situation, which has nothing to do the child’s welfare, is unconstitutional. The court system, at some level, state, appellate or the Supreme Court, will overturn this blatantly discriminatory law.

Fifty-seven percent of Arkansas voters approved the ban. You could expect that a large number of those voters who are proud of the fact their vote helped deny a possible home for neglected, abused and forgotten children would rush out the day after the law when into effect and adopt a kid or two . . . or, at the very least, become foster parents.

You would be wrong.
It’s easy to say, “Homosexuals” should not be allowed to adopt or serve as foster parents for children. It’s quite another to step up and take on that responsibility.

People who detect a problem and make their feelings known in the voting booth should also be ready to be a part of the solution.