The Aldrich Alert Gary Aldrich
A Publication of the Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty

Defy the Order and Remove the Judge

July 2, 2002

by Gary Aldrich - Volume 2, Issue 34

This article appeared on NewsMax.com on Friday, June 28, 2002.

This week’s ruling on the Pledge of Allegiance by 85-year-old Judge Alfred T. Goodwin reminds us that as we age, our mental capacity diminishes. There seems to be no other explanation for such a ridiculous ruling.

Out of sheer love there are many activities of the elderly that we are reluctant to curb. You can see evidence of our compassionate toleration in Florida and other states where the elderly have settled because of the warm weather and lower tax rates.

There are stark examples of our collective compassionate understanding on our highways. Little old men and little old ladies driving along, barely able to see over the steering wheels, slow to react to changing road conditions, posing a real danger to surrounding drivers and pedestrians.

But our society lets them drive because on some level we “understand,” and we know that someday we will be old, and we’ll want to maintain our freedoms as long as we can.

Sometimes our elderly get “drive” confused with “reverse,” or the gas pedal confused with the brake pedal. When that happens, they drive over curbs and bus benches or through the fronts of grocery stores, and people often die.

But our love for the elderly allows them to continue to drive until our sanity tells us that they should not be allowed to operate a two-ton battering ram under any condition. There is no set age at which folks should stop making important decisions for themselves or for others. We all know a lot of older people who maintain their physical and mental sharpness well beyond what the average person considers to be “old.”

The federal government says that the legal age of retirement is 62, and in professions where extreme sharpness is required, as in the ranks of the FBI and our federal fire fighters, the age of 57 is the time to hang up the gun, take off the badge, park the tanker truck, or give up the helmet.

But for some unknown reason we appoint federal judges for life. Some of our federal judges believe that “life” really means life, even if they have to be driven to work and even if their law clerks have to do all the research and writing for them.

But I contend that many of the elderly have no business behind the wheel of a car, nor should a person with questionable mental capacity be making such important decisions about the pillars on which our nation stands, decisions that affect my life and the lives of generations of Americans to come.

So, the first thing we have to do is remove Judge Alfred T. Goodwin from the federal bench. He’s 85 years old, for heaven’s sake.

Second, I want to know the name of the genius who asked this judge to come back to work after he himself thought it was time to retire!

I know I am being my usual, irreverent self, but I am so sick and tired of fighting these endless battles to maintain my way of life. We have enough to contend with, especially when our country is at war. It does not seem fair, somehow, that this kind of nonsense should exist to distract us from what’s really important.

Third, I say, “Defy the order!” It’s as simple as that. It’s a stupid ruling, and I don’t care what these judges have said. Just keep on saying the pledge with “God” in it, and defy the ruling!

Now I know this will get me into trouble with all the moderates who crave being led around like a herd of sheep. They run for the antacids at the very thought of a former law enforcement officer suggesting that the law be broken.

But consider this: each and every day when millions of Americans take to the roads, 98% of us break the law. How? Well, it’s simple – we drive faster than the posted speed! We are human beings. We have common sense. We know the difference between driving 15 miles over the limit and reckless driving. So we drive the speed that makes the most sense for the car we are driving and the road conditions we experience.

But now consider the importance of these two issues put side by side. On one hand you have a speeding automobile that can cause damage to property and lives. On the other hand you have a simple declaration of respect that causes discomfort for a few. The majority of us believe in God. A few do not.

So tell me, what is the harm in disobeying Judge Alfred T. Goodwin’s ruling? I think the good citizens who live within the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals have common sense, and I suggest that they disobey this particular ruling!

I say make this ruling an example of what we as a society will not tolerate. Join hands, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, with God in it, and say it loudly. If need be, go to jail in defiance so that following generations can exercise and maintain their freedom of religion.

If we stand together on this, there are not enough police officers, not enough judges, not enough jail cells – nor will there ever be – to arrest the 80% plus of us who want to continue to practice our religion.

Stand around silently like sheep, and prepare for the eventual slaughter of the rest of your freedoms. We’ve already lost prayer in our schools. We will not lose God in our Pledge of Allegiance! Stand up now or forever regret your timidity. Take a stand now and enjoy the calmness and serenity that comes from knowing you’ve done the right thing.

…And remove 85-year-old Judge Alfred T. Goodwin from his extraordinary position of power before he again drives his “vehicle” over a bus bench of innocent citizens’ rights.