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David Diskin asks those attending the City Council meeting to support and respect the members of the council and encouraged stronger support for the community, during the first secular invocation during Wednesday's meeting. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)
David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy
David Diskin, founder of Lodi United, gave the first invocation, or Call to Civic Responsibility since the council approved its new policy allowing anyone to participate.
Diskin, who is an atheist, asked at the council's Wednesday meeting that people participate in their community by volunteering and helping others. The council and most people in the audience crossed their hands and bowed their heads or looked at Diskin.
"What I hope to 'invoke' tonight is the sense of community that ties us all together — the brotherhood or fellowship that allows individuals to look beyond their personal gain, beyond their beliefs, beyond their past, and to take action that supports the greater good," Diskin said during the Call to Civic Responsibility.
Lodi United opposed having any invocations and instead suggested the city remove the item completely or have a moment of silence. But after the council approved a new policy that allowed those who are not religious to give a Call to Civic Responsibility, Diskin said he'd be honored to participate.
The policy also expanded the invocation or Call to Civic Responsibility to be uncensored as long as it does not attempt to convert anyone attending the meeting, advocate a political agenda, or assert the "accuracy, inaccuracy or primacy of any religious belief or lack thereof." Invocations now occur before the meeting at 6:55 p.m. and are agendized on the council meeting with the following note:
"Invocation/Call to Civic Responsibility. Invocations may be offered by any of the various religious and non-religious organizations within and around the City of Lodi. Invocations are voluntary offerings of private citizens, to and for the benefit of the Council. The views or beliefs expressed by the Invocation Speaker have not been previously reviewed or approved by the Council, and the Council does not endorse the beliefs or views of any speaker."
The council reviewed its policy after Lodi resident Karen Buchanan filed a complaint to the Madison, Wis.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The foundation threatened to sue if Lodi did not enforce its own policy requiring "non-sectarian and nondenominational prayer."
Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com.
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Observer wrote on Nov 11, 2009 6:28 AM:
Lodian wrote on Nov 8, 2009 3:05 PM:
Another one for the Blog Hall of Fame! lol! "
Billy Rubin wrote on Nov 8, 2009 11:14 AM:
Oh,I hope you're right Brian.
I want an expensive court case to come of it before it's over. This is an important matter and, regardless of the outcome, it wouldn't bother me one bit if it bankrupted the city. "
Brian wrote on Nov 8, 2009 11:10 AM:
Much like the source of blood to your brain. "
-The lack of blood to may brain is as a result of not enough exercise. Unlike the Godless atheists, I would never deny that God empowers my brain. "
Billy Rubin wrote on Nov 8, 2009 11:10 AM:
It's the same crazy people who feign "offense" at Diskin's words as bellowed themselves hoarse screaming they were going to keep their children home so they wouldn't have to hear the Communist America-hater Obama tell the kids to work hard in school.
Those people have gone over the brink. "
Brian wrote on Nov 8, 2009 9:31 AM:
He's advocating Godless invocations. You have to start somewhere. Put on your spectacles, it helps.
And I doubt the CC ever had any intentions of enforcing Godless invocations before this whole thing started. I suspect the atheists had a hand in strong arming the CC to put this guideline on the books anyway. For the most part they still don't want to touch it with a ten foot poll. This isn't over. "
gadzooks wrote on Nov 8, 2009 9:03 AM:
gadzooks wrote on Nov 8, 2009 9:00 AM:
" An UNGODLY society is much like cut flowers where the beauty of the flowers eventually withers away because the source that makes the beauty possible has been cut off. "
Much like the source of blood to your brain. "
Brian wrote on Nov 8, 2009 8:56 AM:
" Brian, I don't even know what you're talking about. Lodi United, nor the FFRF, did not "get our way".
-Please stop reminding us that your ultimate goal has not been achieved yet. "
Brian wrote on Nov 8, 2009 8:44 AM:
Brian wrote on Nov 8, 2009 8:33 AM:
society. So, we can rest assured that an UNGODLY society will never come to fruition no matter how much atheists want it. An UNGODLY society is much like cut flowers where the beauty of the flowers eventually withers away because the source that makes the beauty possible has been cut off. "
Robb wrote on Nov 7, 2009 6:14 PM:
Lodian wrote on Nov 7, 2009 3:38 PM:
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Nov 7, 2009 12:00 PM:
Lodian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 2:13 PM:
It's who he is, David. "
Lodian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 2:11 PM:
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Nov 6, 2009 10:00 AM:
davidd wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:30 AM:
And I certainly have no interest in stifling anyone's desire to improve the community, including church-related philanthropic activities.
I do wish you would stop attempting to presume what I think. You are dangerously close to libel. "
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:49 AM:
Brian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:19 AM:
of Los Angeles?
And Heaven forbid any cities in America be named after Catholic saints. "
Brian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:09 AM:
Oh they got their way alright. Lest we not forget that these type of people
do this type of thing in increments. "
rantraves wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:00 AM:
Brian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 6:07 AM:
Are we not allowed to mention in our invocations how our belief in Jesus Christ is a strong influence on a community activism? "
Brian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 6:00 AM:
Human Rights Blessed by God or Begrudged by Government? "
Brian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 5:40 AM:
You gave the URL. Anyone who wanted to read that slanted information could have just visited the site.
-And I'm sure David can assure us that the Freedom from Religion Foundation
won't try to influence anyone with their
slanted information about how this country was founded. "
Brian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 5:04 AM:
-Hmm, Is David going to try to oppress those giving invocations that may say it is a civic responsibility to attend church and contribute to the religious community? Since the Boy Scouts have their meetings at churches
I would give him fair warning not to attempt to oppress any invocation involving the Boy Scouts or ANY group
that meets at a church. "
Brian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 4:52 AM:
magnificance. But you prefer the GODLESS
humanist approach to things. Suit yourself. "
Brian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 4:44 AM:
He seems to find it difficult to come up with his own words and blasts the blogs with copied material.
-A writer often cites other people's material to make a point. You are always critical of people who cite other people's material you don't agree with. That what it's all about, Madamme. "
Brian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 4:31 AM:
" Brian is an imbecile. Just because you cut and paste something you found on the Internet doesn't mean it's true or accurate. "
-Chuckle, Just because David Diskin and the Freedom From Religion Foundation got their way with the City of Lodi doesn't mean IT'S RIGHT. "
Brian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 4:26 AM:
" Brian, do you really need to flood the forum with your continuous copy-and-paste posts?
You gave the URL. Anyone who wanted to read that slanted information could have just visited the site.
It's copywritten material. "
-So what part of it do you not agree with? And I posted the link. It was my perrogative to post some of the link. Just as it is YOUR perrogative that the material is slanted.
Now that you got your way with the city adopting GODLESS invocations why don't you stick your atheism where the sun doesn't shine. "
ElBombero wrote on Nov 6, 2009 1:36 AM:
Lodian wrote on Nov 5, 2009 11:12 PM:
4AStrongLodi wrote on Nov 5, 2009 10:42 PM:
Calladus wrote on Nov 5, 2009 8:55 PM:
davidd wrote on Nov 5, 2009 8:20 PM:
You gave the URL. Anyone who wanted to read that slanted information could have just visited the site.
It's copywritten material. "
Brian wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:36 PM:
Brian wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:35 PM:
Brian wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:35 PM:
One reason we have lost so many of our religious freedoms is that the liberal educational establishment has worked hard to eliminate our knowledge of the Judeo-Christian heritage of America. The facts nonetheless reveal the true convictions of our founders. Without question, they believed that although no one Christian denomination should dominate the nation, the principles of the Bible and Christianity should underlie our government and American education as well.
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ." - Patrick Henry
"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." - U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Jay " "
Brian wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:34 PM:
The concept of separation of church and state might be implied by the First Amendment which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...." It says nothing about the "separation of church and state." And, even if you accept the principle of the separation of church and state being implied by the First Amendment, it's implication is not there to protect Americans from religion, it is there to protect religious Americans from the government. " "
Brian wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:33 PM:
Active humanists and the liberal media have for years undertaken a concentrated effort to misinform the American public by attacking the "Religious Right" and rewriting America's Judeo-Christian history in a humanistic tone. The motto at the heart of the American experiment "in God we trust" has been exchanged for "in Man we trust."
Rewriting History
The last three generations of Americans simply have not been told the truth about American history as its Christian heritage has been disparaged.
For example, ask most Americans if the "separation of church and state" is in our Constitution, and they will answer yes. You can scour the Constitution of the United States, and you will NOT find the phrase, "separation of church and state" or anything close to it. " "
dogs4you wrote on Nov 5, 2009 5:32 PM:
veritas wrote on Nov 5, 2009 4:51 PM:
linengray wrote on Nov 5, 2009 2:52 PM:
Then by your logic if you don't believe that the New Year starts on January 1st, which a number of religions do not, then you should not get paid for that day off. Really!
BTW Christmas has not been about Christ since the beginning. It was an attempt, by the church, to blend existing pagan practices into the new religion of Christianity. Do some reading. The same with Easter. "
rantraves wrote on Nov 5, 2009 1:24 PM:
Inquisitor wrote on Nov 5, 2009 1:02 PM:
LodiFreeThinker wrote on Nov 5, 2009 12:55 PM:
Setting aside our differences and working together as a community is a worthy goal, and a nice way to start the meeting. "
dogbark wrote on Nov 5, 2009 12:48 PM:
That was what was intolerable and brought on the potential for lawsuit.
So for David to now go with a call to service is a good example of how to follow the new rules. "
4AStrongLodi wrote on Nov 5, 2009 12:43 PM:
It's called sensitivity...something you know nothing about. "
Mazie wrote on Nov 5, 2009 12:34 PM:
linengray wrote on Nov 5, 2009 12:10 PM:
That is the silliest thing you have said. Forcing people to work? Where do you think you are living? I often work during holidays to allow those who celebrate take the time off. However if a business is closed how are you suppose to work?
Think before you say something just to say something. "
mp wrote on Nov 5, 2009 12:05 PM:
Calladus wrote on Nov 5, 2009 11:52 AM:
It's a pre-Christian tradition to celebrate in midwinter that stretches back to Saturnalia and earlier.
The tree is a nifty bit of Pagan tradition that is frowned upon by the Bible (Jeremiah 10 2-4) and by early American Christians who condemned it in the 1800's. "
Calladus wrote on Nov 5, 2009 11:41 AM:
Rhodie wrote on Nov 5, 2009 11:17 AM:
Rhodie wrote on Nov 5, 2009 11:15 AM:
davidd wrote on Nov 5, 2009 10:59 AM:
First, I was asked.
Second, I saw this as an opportunity to inspire others to contribute their time the Lodi community.
Lodi United's mission is to separate church and state, to eliminate religious prayer from public meetings.
A moment of silence was a compromise for those who wish to pray and those who do not. It was an alternative to public prayer.
It has never been our mission to eliminate inspirational, secular speeches.
We still feel that prayer does not belong in council meetings. But a speech that asks people to volunteer? I would hope that everyone can see the value in that. "
4AStrongLodi wrote on Nov 5, 2009 9:40 AM:
It's funny how many people claim that our Founders were Christian and that's why we're a Christian Nation (despite what the Constitution they wrote says), but they don't realize how many of our founders and leaders were Atheists or Deists. Just a few...
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Franklin
Abraham Lincoln
John Adams
Chew on that a while. "
Lodian wrote on Nov 5, 2009 9:34 AM:
Mazie wrote on Nov 5, 2009 9:26 AM:
Rhodie wrote on Nov 5, 2009 9:17 AM:
" Rhodie & Mazie, when you lose a game, do you just take your ball and go home?"
Well, if the game is over why stay?
Seriously, we're not talking about a game or sour grapes. I am talking about what David said were his values. He stated many times that he valued a moment of silence over a call to service/prayer at the CC. So why then, when asked did he not live up to that professes value? That is all I am asking.
I have stated many times that one of my values is to live debt free, without credit cards. So if someone knoew me from these boards and saw me use a credit card wouldn't that tell them someting about me? That what I said was a value wasn't?
I don't blame David for accepting the invitation, but if it was really a value as he professed here, Stella, then he would have done a moment of silence rather than saying anything. "
Patricia wrote on Nov 5, 2009 9:10 AM:
Patricia wrote on Nov 5, 2009 9:08 AM:
Stella wrote on Nov 5, 2009 9:01 AM:
Mazie wrote on Nov 5, 2009 8:30 AM:
ElBombero wrote on Nov 5, 2009 8:01 AM:
Rhodie wrote on Nov 5, 2009 8:00 AM:
Brian wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:59 AM:
" Way to go David! I want to personally thank you for being an awesome community member and for sharing a minority opinion in a VERY narrow minded town. You exemplify what you speak with action which can be hard to do! "
-I hardly think a "Sense of Community"
is a minority opinion. Suit yourself joesr. This little innvocation will do more to prevent division in Lodi than
no invocation at all. "
davidd wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:54 AM:
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:51 AM:
Jenn H wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:30 AM:
joesr wrote on Nov 5, 2009 6:00 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.