"Just the Facts, Ma'am"

This morning I saw a Facebook post claiming that a Federal judge (appointed by President Obama) in 2015 ordered Brandon High School in Mississippi to remove the hymn “How Great Thou Art” from the marching band’s halftime show.”  That claim and that post is false!  There was a Federal Court Order enjoining the school from including, “prayer, religious sermons or activities in any school sponsored event”…stating, “administrators, teachers and staff of the Rankin County School District may not participate in any religious activity, or solicit or encourage religious activity at school or while performing duties as a (county) employee.”  This ruling did not and does not, impose or restrict parents, students, and spectators from their religious expression (including singing a song if they choose to do so).  The school district (not the Federal Judge, appointed by President Obama) opted to pull the hymn “How Great Thou Art” from the school-related event.  

The Federal judge (apparently it is very important to say the one appointed by President Obama) issuing that Court Order in 2015 was upholding the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.  

Today, it is reported that President Trump has canceled a trip to London to open the new US Embassy.   “Reason I canceled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for ‘peanuts,’ only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars.  Bad deal.”

The truth, as best I can determine,  is that the embassy relocation decision was made by the George W. Bush Administration in the aftermath of embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya. To upgrade the former embassy building would have cost $550 million and the building still would not have been secure.  The cost of the new embassy building, which is not “in an off location,” was entirely funded by the proceeds of the sale of other US government property in London and “not through appropriated funds.”

 What we say matters!  How we say it matters.  The facts matter.  Misleading statements will get us in trouble.  We are in trouble now!