[Editor’s note: The following blog was posted on March 7th (click here for mySA.com "El Conservador").]
Here we go again. Last Saturday, Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio played basketball and beat San Antonio’s Edison High School in a state playoff game. Unfortunately, a few students from Heights began chanting “USA! USA!” Because Edison’s team roster is predominantly Hispanic, several “grown-ups,” including SA Independent School District athletic director Gil Garza, were offended. On Wednesday Garza filed a complaint with the University Interscholastic League which governs sports for all Texas public schools.
Two points are curious in this incident. First is the reaction (or over-reaction) by Garza and others officials affiliated with Edison, and second is the way this incident was initially reported by the media.
We cannot and must not defend bad behavior or bad manners. Insults of any kind are unacceptable, and young people should be corrected and taught proper behavior. It is reported that the chant by Heights students lasted for about five seconds, and the head coach, Andrew Brewer, silenced those few students as soon as he heard them. Heights later issued a public apology to Edison and disciplined the guilty students.
Apparently those actions by Heights were not enough for Garza and other SAISD officials. In an era of political correctness, “civil rights” has been replaced with “civil revenge.” Garza told the media, “a bunch of kids made a poor decision, but we can’t ignore it. Our community is fed up.” It also appears Garza assumed the authority to speak for the “community.”
Garza and other SAISD officials should teach kids that bad things happen, and you can and should control your own personal behavior. Racism, adultery, stealing, lying, and all other forms of bad behavior have consequences. More important, Garza and others should teach Hispanic students not to see themselves as victims.
Then there is the issue of how the media reported this incident. When the story broke on Sunday evening, the reports gave the impression that all Heights students were guilty of chanting. Furthermore, no Heights students were interviewed to give their version of the events. It appears some Edison students were chanting “Alamo Whites,” however that was not reported. The unfortunate portrayal that was given by the media was that of “mean racist whites against poor victimized Hispanics.”
The few students from Heights that misbehaved have been punished and the Alamo Heights administrators have apologized. That should have been enough, but to SAISD school administrators who are fixated on political correctness (and race), only revenge, not justice, appears to be satisfactory.
As for the news media, in their hurry to report a story, they have been unjust to the all the students of Alamo Heights. Race is a fact of life in south Texas, and problems will occur, but we should teach responsibility and justice, rather victimization, entitlement, and revenge. And so what did the kids learn from all of this?
“My husband and I attended our first Lincoln Day Dinner sponsored by the Wilson County Republican Party. The Lavernia Chamber of Commerce hall was decorated beautifully, silent auction and live auction items were prominently displayed, encouraging enthusiastic bidding, and Republican and Tea Party friends, 290 of them, made everyone feel welcome that evening.
“Ruby Manen, Wilson County Precinct Chair, invited San Antonio Tea Party President, George Rodriquez, to be the main speaker. There is a saying “the icing on the cake,” and that is exactly what George Rodriguez delivered in his speech that night. George did not speak “to” the audience, he spoke “for” all of us who believe in God, our Country, and our Constitution.
“George’s words resonated with everyone so much so that when he concluded his speech they could not, absolutely could not remain in their chairs. They gave George a standing ovation, and I believe the San Antonio Tea Party also received a standing ovation that evening.”
The rains may have kept some away, but it didn’t dampen the patriotic enthusiasm on display at the Faith & Freedom First rally on Saturday, February 18th!
The San Antonio Tea Party joined a coalition of political, civic, and religious groups at Main Plaza to support and celebrate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, as well as to protest the Obama Administration’s contraceptive mandate forced on religious institutions. The broad-based coalition included organizations such as the Latino National Republican Coalition, Alamo Pachyderm Club, Republican Men’s Club, Bexar County Republican Women, Republican Business Women, the Alamo Heights High School and Churchill High School Young Republicans, Young Republicans of Bexar County, The Justice Foundation, and Texas Leadership Coalition. With the San Fernando Cathedral as a backdrop for the event, prominent members of the clergy also took part, including Fr. John E. Leies of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Pastor Charles E. Flowers of Faith Outreach Center International, and Pastor Gerald A. Ripley, Jr., of Abundant Life Church. Also participating were the Hon. Art Martinez De Vara, Mayor of Von Ormy, and Dr. William P. Mueller of the Catholic Medical Association. The SATP was well represented among the crowd of approximately 200, as were a number of candidates for federal and state offices and local judgeships. Radio personality Trey Ware also braved the drizzle and attended the event. Several elected officials who were unable to attend—Congressmen Francisco “Quico” Canseco and Lamar Smith—delivered words of support through their local staffers.
George Rodriguez, SATP President, one of the speakers at the event, called on participants to “Remember in November” those who give lip service to support for religious liberties, but ignore those beliefs—recognized by the First Amendment of the US Constitution—through policies such as those the Administration recently announced.
In what was a proud testimony to diverse organizations coming together on a common issue, representatives from the sponsoring organizations didn’t let the city’s delay in granting a permit or the forecast of rain weaken their resolve to stage a meaningful event. Representatives of each of these organizations worked diligently since their press conference on February 11th (announcing the event) to gain the required permits and settle logistics before they could officially publish the time and location. Their patience paid off, and even the sun made a brief but welcome appearance half way through the event.
During the rally, the SATP’s Statement on Religious Liberty was circulated through the crowd and is available (Click Here) for reference. We have also posted a photo album of the event.
Additional information about the event may be viewed at WOAI’s report from the site. Also, we encourage readers to regularly visit Faith & Freedom First’s website for more information about the rally, as well as updates on a March event the coalition is planning.
The San Antonio Tea Party and a coalition of civic and religious groups will rally at noon on Saturday, February 18th, for the dual purposes to protest the recent Obama Administration contraceptive mandate forced on religious institutions, and to support and celebrate the First Amendment—part of the US Constitution that the Administration seems to have forgotten. The rally will be held at Main Plaza (San Fernando Cathedral) located at Main and Commerce Streets downtown San Antonio.
“All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing,” wrote English philosopher Edmund Burke. If ever that were true, it is now. Please join us for the rally this Saturday! Bring your signs, banners, and flags to let San Antonio and ultimately Washington, D.C. know “enough is enough!”
Please pass this information to others and invite them to join us. For more information on this issue, read the following statement by SATP President George Rodriguez.
Obama Attacks the First Amendment
The opposition to President Obama’s Contraceptive Mandate for religious hospitals and clinics is based on two fundamental points: personal religious belief and the U.S. Constitution.
First, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution clearly states that the government cannot interfere in religious belief. Religious belief is the most personal and precious aspect of an individual’s personality. How we think makes us what we are. “As a man thinks, so is he.” Our personal and private beliefs are the basis of individual freedoms.
However, the dictators make every effort to control personal thoughts to control people. This is why our Founding Fathers prohibited this in the first amendment to the Constitution, to prevent the government from telling the people what or how to think. But Obama is trying to “fundamentally change America” (his words). He wants a political system where the government limits the freedoms of the people, instead of where the people limit the authority of the government. It is not the government’s business to make any church or any religion change its doctrine and beliefs to fit government policies. The Constitution clearly stops the government from imposing its ideas over any religion.
Second, we believe the real target of the Obama administration’s contraceptives mandate is the U.S. Constitution by using Obama-care as a weapon. We have seen other examples where the Constitution does not matter to the Obama Administration such as ignoring states’ rights. Liberal women’s groups want universal access to birth control but ignore the fact that there are many private nonprofit clinics that can provide such services. Why pick on religious groups? Where is the freedom of choice the liberals always clamor for?
In an effort to “accommodate” (Obama’s own word) the religious anger, the contraceptive mandate was shifted from Catholic employers to insurance companies. Instead of being forced to buy an insurance product that violates their beliefs, religious institutions will be forced to buy an insurance product that contributes to the profits and viability of a company that is federally mandated to violate their beliefs.
Obama wants to implement his liberal policies regardless of the Constitution. He feels the government and the collective should supersede the rights and beliefs of the individual. The mandate clearly impedes the free exercise of religion by requiring religiously affiliated medical centers to provide birth control assistance in spite of their religious belief. If Obama can be successful with this policy mandate, we are on a slippery slope to undermine personal freedoms of every kind.
This mandate must be rescinded completely, and Obama must stop his attack on religion, personal freedoms, and the U. S. Constitution. This is not just a religious issue; it is an American freedom issue.
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As previously announced at the Feb. 11 press conference, a coalition of religious and civic groups–including the San Antonio Tea Party–will host a
Faith and Freedom First Rally on Saturday, February 18, at 12 p.m. at Main Plaza, downtown San Antonio. Main Plaza is located at Main and Commerce Streets, across from the San Fernando Cathedral. Click here for map and directions.
The purpose of the rally is to protest the Obama HHS contraceptives mandate being forced on religious institutions and to support/celebrate the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Please pass the word to friends and church members to clear their schedule and make plans to join us Saturday at noon for this important rally.
The contraceptives mandate is yet another attempt to erode individual freedoms through ObamaCare and ignore the Constitution. We must unite and speak out!
CLICK HERE to Read More and Comment…
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Posted 2/11/2012: At today’s press conference, we announced plans to hold a march and rally next Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10am in downtown San Antonio.
The exact site has yet to be determined, but we want everyone to pass the word to their friends and church members to clear their schedule and make plans to participate in this rally next Saturday. The purpose of the march and rally is to protest President Obama’s HHS Contraceptive Mandate which impedes religious freedom in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This is yet another attempt to erode individual freedoms through ObamaCare and ignore the Constitution. We must unite and speak out. You can stay posted for further information on the SATP website (www.sanantonioteaparty.us), or though your church and/or civic organization leaders. The Constitution is hanging by a thread, my friends, and we must say “no” to this mandate.
George Rodriguez, President, San Antonio Tea Party
Fred Rangel - San Antonio businessman, ran for City Council District 7 seat in 2011
David Rosa - Republican candidate for U.S. Congress District 20
Weekly Report for Feb. 6 – Feb. 10, 2012
Monday, Feb. 6
- Met with Seguin Tea Party group to discuss their affiliation with SATP.
- Spoke with Justin Hollis, Dewhurst Campaign, about hosting Dewhurst for a “meet & greet” event.
- Reached out to local Christian church ministers and pastors to meet regarding Obama HHS Contraceptive mandate.
- Contacted CPS to request a meeting with CEO/President to discuss various issues.
Tuesday, Feb. 7
- Met with Mike Luckey regarding networking with Hill Country Patriots on area-wide issue. Liberal policies in SA and Bexar County can impact on surrounding counties.
- Attended Neighborhood Group meetings for Groups # 2 and # 258/261
Wednesday, Feb. 8
- Discussed plans for a press conference with various conservative groups to protest HHS Contraceptive Mandate.
Thursday, Feb. 9
- Met and briefed Joe Ortiz, Republican candidate for County Commissioner Precinct 1, regarding the Street Car issue.
- TV interview on Univision regarding creation of a Temporary Worker program for aliens.
- Interviewed on radio regarding Mitt Romney and Immigration.
- Held SATP Executive Committee meeting
Friday, Feb. 10
- Meeting with Jonathan Huhn from Senator Cornyn’s office to discuss various issues
- Helped to plan a press conference with several conservative groups and religious organizations regarding the HHS Contraceptive Mandate. The press conference is planned for Saturday, Feb.11 at noon.
Planned meetings and events:
Saturday, Feb. 11 – Press Conference at 12 noon at Sideliners Bar & Grill, 15630 Henderson Pass, San Antonio, regarding HHS Contraceptive Mandate.
Saturday, Feb. 18 – Speaking at Wilson County George Washington Dinner, 12301 U.S. Highway 87, La Vernia, TX at 6:00pm
Wednesday, Feb. 29 – Meeting with CPS President to discuss rate-payer issues and concerns
San Antonio Tea Party
