Articles and Videos – Page 1085

Oaklawn Lets People Wager $10,000+ on Credit

Jan 10, 2014JerryGamblingGambling, Oaklawn

Last week we talked about Oaklawn racetrack’s new “Oaklawn Anywhere” website that lets people bet on horse races online.

The website lets people place bets literally from anywhere. If you have an internet connection, such as with a smart phone, you can gamble. You can also bet on horse races happening in other countries — all from your computer or mobile device.

So how are the bets placed? By credit card, debit card, ATM card, check, money transfer — basically any way you can get money to Oaklawn in Hot Springs.

And how much money can you wager? As much as you want.

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Words From Our Founders: George Mason

Jan 9, 2014JerryWords From Our FoundersReligion, Religious Freedom, Religious Liberty, Words From Our Founders

Today we continue our Words From Our Founders series examining the Founding Fathers’ own words on religion, religious liberty, and virtue.

On June 12, 1776, just a few weeks before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Fifth Virginia Convention unanimously ratified the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The chief author of the declaration was George Mason. Below are the final two enumerations of the declaration — pertaining to morality and religious liberty — as written by George Mason and edited by the Convention. In addition to the Virginia Declaration of Rights, Mason’s work was influential in the adoption of the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Made by the Representatives of the good People of Virginia, assembled in full and free Convention, which rights to pertain to them and their posterity as the basis and foundation of government. …

XV. That no free government, or the blessing of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue, and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

XVI. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity towards each other.

Veterans Administration Turned Away Christmas Cards, Censored Choir

Jan 8, 2014JerryChristmasChristmas, War on Christmas

Christmas may be over, but, as we’ve already reported once this year, the War on Christmas isn’t.

Last December, Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of Liberty Institute in Texas, wrote an opinion-editorial titled, “Yes, Virginia, there really is a war on Christmas.”

In it Shackelford outlined examples of attempts to censor Christmas celebrations around the country. Most of this censorship involves removing the religious elements from Christmas.

Now Todd Starnes and the American Family Association are reporting some disturbing news related to the Veterans Administration. According to Starnes, last month the VA

Censored a school choir who came to sing at the VA hospital in Augusta, Georgia, because their Christmas songs included the words “Christmas” and “Jesus;”
Told American Legion volunteers they could not hand out gifts to veterans if the wrapping paper included the words “Merry Christmas;”
Turned away at least one Alabama woman distributing Christmas gifts to veterans because the wrapping paper she used included the words “Merry Christmas;” and
Rejected handwritten Christmas cards from Dallas schoolchildren because the cards contained phrases like “Merry Christmas” and “God Bless You.”

This situation is just bizarre. As we have written over and over again, Christmas is a federal holiday; our state and federal governments recognize it; our courts have ruled time and again there is nothing wrong with that.

With that in mind, why turn away schoolchildren who want to honor our veterans with Christmas songs or cards? Why reject Christmas gifts? It simply does not make sense.