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The Second American Revolution

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In this fascinating book, author and constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead shows the Biblical basis of freedom in Western culture. Western/Christian society has always dealt with the idea that government was not absolute, but was subject to God's sanction - the idea profoundly expounded by Samuel Rutherford in Lex, Rex. But, now that the Biblical basis for government has been removed, Western man once more faces the prospect of government without limits or restrictions.

Mr. Whitehead probes the results of this paradigm shift, and shows that unpleasant changes are in the works, and indeed are already underway. But, this is no mere voice of doom. The ending of the book has two very important chapters, which spell out what Christians should do about it. This book also has two wonderful bonuses - a number of excellent political cartoons from the inestimable Wayne Stayskal, and two excellent appendices that should not be skipped!

John W. Whitehead (b.1946) is a well-known attorney and founder of the Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties and human rights organization. In this 1985 book, Whitehead flexes his intellectual muscles, and produces a book that is profound and yet highly readable. Are you a Christian who is concerned about the course that the United States is on? Then, you should read this book. I highly recommend it.

Excellent summary of how/why Constitution is structured the way it is and why it has endured. Clear analysis of where things went wrong and how to bring them in line w/ original intent. Excellent first book on the subject from astute Constitutional lawyer Whitehead who defends rights of religious liberty in an increasingly hostile era unintended by the framers.

John W. Whiteheads' book, "The Second American Revolution" is a brief and concise examination of the Constitutional Law
by which American Citizens have the lawful right, the parental right, to education their children as a private alternative of Public Schooling.

The fascinating element in all of the case law cited in this small book, is that the landmark 1972 case,
WISCONSIN v. YODER, 406 U.S. 205 (1972) which establishes private and homeschooling as a Lawful Right, and a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT of American parents, is also cited for specific objection, in the book by New Atheist author Richard Dawkins.

Those who have read Dawkins propagandistic publication, will understand the entirety of Dawkins absurd arguments, if they have first studied this slender volume by John W. Whitehead.


Facts of the Case:

Jonas Yoder and Wallace Miller, both members of the Old Order Amish religion, and Adin Yutzy, a member of the Conservative Amish Mennonite Church, were prosecuted under a Wisconsin law that required all children to attend public schools until age 16. The three parents refused to send their children to such schools after the eighth grade, arguing that high school attendance was contrary to their religious beliefs.

Question:

"Did Wisconsin's requirement that all parents send their children to school at least until age 16 violate the First Amendment by criminalizing the conduct of parents who refused to send their children to school for religious reasons?"

Conclusion of the Supreme Court of the United States [Usually abbreviated "SCOTUS"]:

In a unamimous decision, the Court held that individual's interests in the free exercise of religion under the First Amendment outweighed the State's interests in compelling school attendance beyond the eighth grade. In the majority opinion by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, the Court found that the values and programs of secondary school were "in sharp conflict with the fundamental mode of life mandated by the Amish religion," and that an additional one or two years of high school would not produce the benefits of public education cited by Wisconsin to justify the law.Justice William O. Douglas filed a partial dissent but joined with the majority regarding Yoder.

The U. S. Supreme Court has decided that partental liberty is not just an ordinary Constitutional right, but is recognized as a FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL right.

The U. S. Supreme Court has expressly held, and I quote:

"This case involves the FUNDAMENTAL INTEREST of parents, as contrasted with that of the State, to guide the religious future and EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN. The history and culture of Western civilization reflect a strong tradition of parental concern for the nurture and upbringing of their children. This primary role of the parents in the upbringing of their children is now established beyond debate as an enduring American tradition. If not the first, perhaps the most significant statements of the Court in this area are found in Pierce v Society of Sisters."---WISCONSIN v. YODER, 406 U.S. 205 (1972)
Argued December 8, 1971
Decided May 15, 1972

I would add, that this is not only a primer on American Constitutional Law, regarding several amendments to the U. S. Consitution, with a focus on the First Amendment and its ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE; but this book makes for an excellent curriculum for students to study. Perhaps some High School Freshmen would be inspired to become an Lawyer who fights for Justice someday.

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At first, American Consitutional Law seemed a novelty and confusing to me. After reading Whitehead though, I saw how easy an understanding of the Law can be. It is a dynamic study, and of course, you can see the dynamism at work, when you read the Ninth Chapter of "The God Delusion" which is the chapter with a reference to CHILD ABUSE in the title.
It shows how little the New Atheist authors can be trusted, because Dawkins tries to imply that WISCONSIN v. YODER was a legal case brought by the state of WISCONSIN for CHILD ABUSE. It never was about CHILD ABUSE. The charges involved
NON-COMPLIANCE with that State's Compulsory Attendance Law.

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The Supreme Court, in a sense, handed WISCONSIN it's Lunch.

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You are not alone if you think American has gone off-track somewhere. Read this excellent book and you will find out why we have lost our way.

I read it in the 1980's....and time his proven the author to be right.

A must read for Christians.