Days before John Walker Lindh's trial, on Monday, July 8^th I called the offices of J. Brosnahan, John Walker Lindh’s attorney.  (yes I can prove it).   I directed them to this website, where they would find dozens of pages of direct textbook quotes leading students (including Walker) to Islam.  At their request I sent an email with a link to the picture of an effigy of John Walker chained at the steps of California’s state capitol.  The banner states,

 “Assume you are a Muslim soldier…"
- Calif. textbooks 
Our children learn what you teach them. 

According to main media, two days later, on Wednesday July 10^th, the Justice Department [prosecution] lawyers informed the White House about their intention to strike a deal with Walker.  On Thursday, White House Counsel Alberto R. Gonzalez briefed President Bush and got his approval.  Negotiations progressed beyond midnight Sunday, July 14^th and an agreement was reached hours before the Monday morning hearing was to begin, "catching even the trial judge off guard." 

Brosnahan stated that based on earlier rulings, he expected the Judge to REJECT defense motions that the statements by John Walker be thrown out.  Also crippling to Walker's defense, Robert Pelton, journalist, was ordered to testify for the prosecution.

Yet suddenly, the prosecution initiated the negotiation with John Walker's lawyers, within days of John Walker's lawyer receiving direct quotes from the textbook leading students to Islam.  John Walker did a great job "assuming he was a Muslim soldier" as the textbook taught him.

The conditions for the plea bargain were replete with conditions and restrictions over John giving his life story to the media or as a book. 

Meanwhile, BlessedCause webstats for July showed a minimum of 422 hits/347 requested files from the US Govt.  (0 requests by the US Govt. the previous month).  The US Military showed 761 hits/742 files.  

Prior to President Bush taking office, during the Clinton administration, the Calif. Dept. of Education would only fund Houghton Mifflin's "Across the Centuries." With California's endorsement, this textbook has been gaining ground nationwide. In the October 30, 2000 issue, Forbes magazine observed that Delaine Eastin, California's superintendent of public instruction, "sought and received campaign contributions from textbook publishers."  Unbelievably "Across the Centuries" had California's exclusive endorsement these past 11 years.

Textbook Fallout

Vivendi, owner of Houghton Mifflin, (previously known as Havas), replaced Nader F. Darehshori, CEO/President of Houghton Mifflin.  Mr. Darehshori previously taught elementary school in Iran. He began work for HM in 1989 and became President in 1991, simultaneous to “Across the Centuries” debut.  Mr. Darehshori was replaced by Hans Gieskes of the Netherlands on July 1, 2002.

On Aug. 3, PE.com reported, "The California Board of Education is scheduled to hear proposals for new textbooks next year, said Chris Dowell, a curriculum consultant for the state."  Within two weeks of this report, Vivendi, owner of HM, announced HM was on the "chopping block."  Months later it's been reported that Vivendi has been unable to secure a high enough bid to sell Houghton Mifflin.

Figures have been reported at a half a billion dollar LOSS for a company purchased approximately a year ago..

On Oct. 23, 2002, Vivendi announced negotiations with Lagardere to purchase its publishing businesses, with the exclusion of Houghton Mifflin. 

"As to Houghton Mifflin, Vivendi Universal is examining the possibility of starting the disposal process again in order to be able to open it up to a higher number of potential acquirers."

(In other words, in pieces).  Since that time negotiations for Houghton Mifflin has become a revolving door of prospective buyers, many continuing negotiations of other Vivendi assets noting the expressed exclusion of Houghton Mifflin.  On November 1, 2002, Arabia.com reports "Vivendi shares weaken, investors discount Houghton Mifflin sale."

Although Vivendi had hit a financial crisis and is in need of fast cash, it is not typical for corporations to put healthy money-making ventures, recently acquired, for sale at a fraction of their cost.  Figures at 3/4 the recent purchase price, (half a billion dollar loss), have failed negotiation so far.

 Other publishing companies had previously stated they were watching the progress of Houghton Mifflin to see if they should compete in like manner.  A recent article shows that McGraw-Hill is carefully incorporating the feedback from conservative Texas groups.

Meanwhile, traffic of BlessedCause pages concerning Houghton Mifflin is skyrocketing.  Even with all the Houghton Mifflin & Vivendi pages currently on the web, Google search engines are listing BlessedCause webpages in Google's first page.  For a current example, at Google, key in : 

       [ textbook, Vivendi, Houghton Mifflin, buy ]

Blatant promotion of Islam while scorning Jews and maligning Christians has consequences, as does the predominant promotion of  atheism in public school. see post

Our religious freedom is under heavy attack as children are forced to know other gods and learn atheist philosophy.  Make no mistake, God is angry. In California, when elementary students were encouraged to dance to African gods, God knew. When our children were asked to demonstrate prayer to Allah on their hands and knees, God was there. When an English teacher claimed to have psychic powers and had our children participate in clairvoyance, God watched. And when children are taught homosexuality as a valid option, under the guise of "tolerance", God's wrath draws near. There is so much more at stake here than we realize. As history proves, our choices concerning our children have monumental national consequences. 

The body of a Christian is God's holy temple.  For our government to promote acts of worship to other gods by God's holy temples, His innocent children, in public school is unconscionable. To promote atheism is worthy of swift judgment.  We need "separation of atheist and state."

Does America deserve terrorist attacks?  Only if it continues in these unholy practices.

"Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not.

"Woe unto you, Chorazin! woe unto you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judment, than for you. 

"And you, Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

"But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you." -Jesus (Matthew 11)

Will I prosper for saying these things? No. The Bible is clear about the suffering that will happen to those who tell the truth. But I will say it anyway.  America, you are warned. 

If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 
                           -God  (2 Ch 7:14)

Beware of false prophets with messages of peace and prosperity.  I praise God for Pat Robertson, Dave Hunt, David T. Moore, and so many pastors of Calvary Chapel and elsewhere, who fear God, not man, and teach the truth despite the attacks.

                            -Jennifer Shroder

See dozens of articles covering the outrage nationwide over Houghton Mifflin textbooks.

Houghton Mifflin Textbook Reviews:
7th Grade, Promotion of Islam
6th Grade, Maligning Christianity
6th Grade, Falsifying Jewish History
Houghton Mifflin Textbook: "God is gone"
BlessedCause Analysis of Houghton Mifflin's Response

Law Suit Filed by Thomas More Law Center lists "Across the Centuries" in their press release

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