OUR COLUMNISTS Democrats -- The GOP's Best Friends? Commentary by Matt Friedeman Democrats have assumed that being merely livid will be enough to overtake the Republicans. Alas, the party of reaction isn't going to get it done -- at least not this year. Lower Than the Dust Commentary by Jane Jimenez As Americans work to pursue our careers and succeed professionally, we are compelled to accentuate our strengths and rise above the crowd. Survivor instincts are honed. We rise as the dust settles. Bibles and Football; Easter and Earnhardt Commentary by Brad Locke God can use any means He wishes -- including football teams and race cars -- to bring sheep into His fold. But we mustn't think the Gospel needs burnishing or adornment. God's Word doesn't need our help. The Gospel of Judas: A Betrayal of the Truth Commentary by Mark Creech It's being hailed as the greatest archaeological find in the last 60 years. But those who either promote or embrace extra-biblical revelation such as the Gospel of Judas betray the truth, even as the real Judas Himself did, and crucify the Son of God afresh.

...The Philippine Army says it has captured a suspected Muslim militant accused in the 2001 kidnapping of American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham. The militant known as Abu Omar also is accused of deadly bombings in the southern Philippines. A third American who was kidnapped with the Burnhams, Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf rebels. Martin Burnham was killed during an army commando mission a year later in which his wife, Gracia, was wounded and rescued. In her book In The Presence Of My Enemies, Gracia Burnham identifies Abu Omar as a militant who spent 11 months among their rebel captors. [AP]

...Four Americans have been fined for missionary activity in the predominantly Muslim ex-Soviet republic of Uzbekistan. An Uzbek court fined the four English language teachers from the nonprofit group Global Involvement Through Education $400 each for "urging local students to change their traditional confession to a religion of Protestant character." President Islam Karimov, who has ruled Uzbekistan for 17 years, tolerates no dissent and permits no religious activity, including Islam, outside of state-controlled institutions. Earlier this month, police broke up meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses in seven Uzbek cities, arresting more than a hundred local converts. [AP]

...The leader of a pro-family group in Virginia says he considering legal action against Arlington County for its investigation into the business policies and practices of a local Christian businessman. Upon being asked to duplicate two pro-homosexual films, Tim Bono of Bono Film & Video politely refused the business, citing his company policy -- do not duplicate material it deems obscene, that may embarrass employees or tarnish the company's reputation, or that is contrary to Christian and ethical values. But the customer making the request was long-time lesbian activist Lillian Vincenz, who took her complaint to Arlington County officials, asking them to force Bono to duplicate her materials. The county's Human Rights Commission subsequently began an investigation into the Christian businessman's actions, even conducting a public hearing to discuss the alleged "discrimination." Those actions by the Human Rights Commission, says Joe Glover of the Family Policy Network, may warrant a lawsuit for what he sees a violation of the religious liberties of Christian business owners. He sees the response of Vincenz -- a so-called "gay pioneer" in the area who has been promoting homosexual behavior for more than four decades -- as an attempt to quash religious freedom. "With the help of Arlington County, this lesbian activist proves that [homosexual activists are] really out to publicly use the power of the government to destroy the religious liberties of decent people," says Glover. The county has reportedly decided that Bono's actions violate Arlington County code that prohibits "discrimination by a public accommodation ... on the basis of sexual orientation or perception thereof." Glover, however, is seeking out business people in the county who would be willing as anonymous plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the county. The county's involvement, he says, is an "anti-Christian, pro-homosexual witch-hunt" against all businesses in the area. "It's a heavy-handed threat to turn government against Christians who want to live their lives according to scripture," Glover adds, offering his thoughts on the potential outcome of the case. "Even if [the homosexual activists] can't win a case like this on the merits, they're out to strike fear in the hearts of Christians who want to live according to their faith.," he says. (See related article) [Jody Brown]

...A pro-family advocate believes the "gap" between economic conservatives and pro-family conservatives is growing wider. Dr. Alan Carlson of The Howard Center for Family, Religion, and Society feels the bond between these two groups, which as been a source of strength for the Republican Party, is changing. "I see the compromise breaking down right now," he observes. "I see not much being done, certainly not in the economic sphere, to help families these days." Dr. Carlson believes this "unraveling" could destroy the legacy of Ronald Reagan because he sees the coalition of the two groups as one of the greatest achievements of the former president. [Bill Fancher]

...President George W. Bush's approval ratings are at an all-time low, even among Republicans -- and a pro-family leader isn't sure that shake-ups on the White House staff will help matters. The president's approval ratings have sunk to 33 percent -- his lowest ratings ever -- and even the ratings of GOP supporters have dipped below 70 percent. A series of changes are taking place among the White House staff -- but Gary Bauer of American Values is not sure that will help. "I think it's too early to tell whether we're just rearranging chairs on the deck of the Titanic or not," he offers. Bauer says it is good to move folks around at times, "but I think at the end of the day it's the policy," he says. Between now and November, he says, the White House needs to get "serious about renewing the tax cuts, getting the budget deficit under control, getting the marriage amendment passed, and doing something serious about border control." Skyrocketing gas prices, adds Bauer, are another issue President Bush must address. [Bill Fancher]

...In the debate over immigration reform, some U.S. senators want to force immigrants to assimilate into the American culture. Kansas Republican Sam Brownback is one of the many in the Senate who feel that way. "That's why, in the proposal on the eleven million that are here and documented, one of the requirements is that they have to learn English," the lawmaker explains, "because one of the assimilation issues is the assimilation into the language and that's what I think a lot of people have been concerned about." Current estimates are that approximately ten percent of the American population was not born within U.S. borders. "We have to force more assimilation," says Brownback, "and in this immigration bill, we attempt to do that." The senator wants to see that assimilation take place in a rapid manner. According to the latest polls, so do the vast majority of Americans. [Bill Fancher]

...A California-based immigration reform activist says Mexico is being hypocritical in demanding that the United States bestow special rights upon illegal Mexican immigrants while it treats its own illegal alien population harshly. While illegal immigrants in the U.S. have been allowed to unfurl the Mexican flag and demand rights during recent demonstrations, hundreds of thousands of Central Americans who are in Mexico illegally suffer mostly in silence. In fact, Mexican authorities recently shot and killed a man they thought looked like an illegal alien. Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) says for Mexico it is "do as I say, not as I do." Mehlman says when people cross over into Mexico illegally, it is taken seriously. "They don't offer people all sorts of government benefits and services. They're not giving college tuition to the children of illegal aliens in Mexico. They're not giving them driver's licenses," he says, all in reference to what is happening in the United States. He admits he is intrigued that some Central American immigrants are remaining illegally in Mexico and working there. "I guess those are jobs Mexicans won't do," he conjectures. "I suppose because you have so many Mexican workers who have left the country and gone to the United States that perhaps there is a labor shortage." In contrast to America's immigration debate, he notes that those Central Americans are not demanding that they be allowed to vote in Mexican elections. "But somehow, when Mexicans come to the United States, they demand all these things for people who break our laws," he says. "There is a double standard here -- [and] we ought to call them on it." Still, adds Mehlman, "what Mexico does is Mexico's business." By the same token, he says Mexico ought to respect the fact that what America does regarding its immigration laws is the sovereign business of the United States -- "and nobody has the right to interfere with that," he says. [Chad Groening]

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