5/1/2009 - May 2009 SLI Newsletter

May 2009

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you for your response to our letter last month. We told of our financial needs and we received encouragement by your support. Our needs still exist and contributions are still low. Please continue to support our efforts. Importantly, share our needs with others. Let us know who we can add to our mailing list. Thank you for your support.

We have been busy in many ways. We have received a number of home school related calls lately. We are glad to report that home schooling seems to be doing well in Alabama without much regulatory threat. We are encouraged by the number of parents who take the time to participate in their children’s education.

We recently sent a letter to the Huntsville Board of Education asking it to reconsider the use of a textbook as summer reading material for 9th grade school students. The book is entitled A Lesson Before Dying. It has some important lessons, but it has some very graphic pornography and profanity. Many parents had objected to the book. It appears the Huntsville Board of Education will provide alternative reading material, but retained this objectionable book. There is no law to prohibit what they have done. It was just in very poor taste and we believe it is the failure of the elected officials to recognize their obligations to protect these impressionable young minds. If you would like a copy of our letter, we have posted it to our website or call and we will be glad to send you a copy.

Legislatively, we have provided continuing legal assistance on the several bills to expand bingo gambling. It appears those bills, in spite of the Sweet Home Alabama ad campaign, will not pass. On the other hand, the healthcare conscience rights bill has not made much progress. It is considered a “Republican” bill and has been held up, along with a number of other good bills.

During the last part of February I attended the Conservative Political Action Conference (“CPAC”). There was almost 9,000 persons in attendance. Even in spite of the many problems being created by the Obama administration, there was a great mood of optimism. It reminded me of the days when Jimmy Carter was President. Such terrible thoughts act as a catalyst to spur us to action. This month’s Educational Update is a commentary on the direction in which America is heading.

We will leave you with Psalm 42:11. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul . . . hope thou in God.” Change must come in the hearts of men before change will come in the actions of men. Pray for our leaders and pray for the safety and strength of America.

Yours very truly,

A. Eric Johnsto

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