With the National Day of Prayer upon us, I went over to Judge Barbara Crabb's office to look at the mail she's received since she declared this day unconstitutional.
Last month, she ruled that "the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.... The government may not use its authority to try to influence an individual's decision whether and when to pray."
Judge Crabb got much more mail than usual, says Susan Vogel, secretary to Judge Crabb.
At the clerk's office, I was handed a file containing the correspondence. I counted 61 letters and e-mails, and 55 were negative.
Some were very negative.
"Judge Crabb needs to be removed from her position," wrote Bob Ferguson by e-mail. "She is a stupid bitch."
Al Kafer of Cleveland, who described himself as a "70-year-old Vietnam vet," addressed her as "Babs" and wrote: "We could give a damn what some INTELLECTUAL PYGMY in a skirt in cheeseland says." And he added a P.S.: "We are no longer taking your shit anymore."
"You mam [sic] are a disgrace to America," wrote Michael Yeager. "Only an Anti-Christ individual would deny a national day of prayer. . . . Basically, you have committed treason against God who established our nation."
John in Texas (jkcope5427@sbcglobal.net) wrote: "I will be praying God removes her from office."
Many others said they were praying for her, as well.
Some told her she was going to hell.
"Can you imagine what it will be like to live forever in Hell?" wrote David Lee (dflee10@inbox.com). "We have had enough of the Obamas of this world, and we plan on stopping them as we will also you."
One anonymous letter, addressed "To the Dishonorable Barbara Crabb," said: "You Barbie are a disgrace to this country just as Obama is. . . . Enjoy Hell, you will be there soon. I pray for your kids."
Mrs. Eleni Rigual of Bedminster, New Jersey, called for "immediate impeachment."
Roger Stapp sent an e-mail that said: "There should be a way to remove communist judges from our courts."
Others told her to go into exile. "Please do this country of ours a huge favor and leave it," wrote David Anderson (flightpro2@netzero.net).
And still others told her to find Jesus. Demanding that she must "repent," B. Eric Culbertson added: "Put your faith and trust in what Jesus Christ did on the cross. The decision is yours, and it will have eternal consequences."
As for the positive mail, Kelly Karas of Sacramento, California, wrote, "Thank you for your intellectual honesty and integrity."
And Dr. Manfred Rothstein, a dermatologist in Fayetteville, North Carolina, said in his letter that he feels "left out" when people deliver a prayer and say "in Jesus's name." He told Judge Crabb: "I am sure you took criticism for this ruling, so I wanted you to know that some people do agree with you and appreciate your taking a stand."