The individual States of the U.S. are moving toward a program of fingerprinting and performing exhaustive background checks on all public teachers. In Texas, the Austin Independent School District is the pilot program for this effort. In this week's Austin Chronicle there is an article on the program. I will be commenting on how this program is one of many pre-cursors to the implementation of the "Mark of the Beast". My quotes in brackets:

AISD's Fingerprints Guilty until proven innocent

by Justin Ward 2/1/08

"Two weeks ago, in a highly publicized show of good faith, Austin Independent School District Superinten­dent Pat Forgione smiled wide for the cameras as he put his fingers to ink and pressed them down on paper. With that motion, he became the first person in the state to submit to a new, state-mandated regime of fingerprinting and background checks for school employees. But not everyone in the district shares Forgione's enthusiasm" [Take note of the fact that this is 'state-mandated'. What is a Beast? In Scriptural prophecy a Beast is a state or a nation. A government that exerts control over people.]

"Last week, nine teachers from Pillow Ele­mentary spoke out against fingerprinting, calling the background checks an unnecessary invasion of privacy and raising doubts about the security of their personal information. One teacher, Candy Ellard, said she is considering resigning, and at least six others at the school are also contemplating refusing to submit. "While I must say this is a law where I totally agree with its intent – to protect children," Ellard said in an e-mail, "I strongly object to its method for obtaining this goal. We must ask ourselves how we can protect every individual in our state without sacrificing our fundamental civil liberties.

"AISD is the pilot school district for the program, which will require schools to systematically fingerprint and check about 1 million public-school employees over the next four years. District employees were informed of the program only a month before it began, and there is still much confusion and fear over exactly what the law will mean in practice." [Note that this program is implemented with 'good intentions', the protection of children. And who is against protecting children? It's pretty difficult to resist something that is for the good of the society. What do you think the reason will be for the implementation of the Mark? To fight crime? To prevent terrorism perhaps? Also note that this program was communicated to the teachers only one month before it started. The Mark will probably be implemented quickly as well, but we see trends in that direction right now. If you are "among the wise" as Daniel wrote, you shouldn't be caught off guard].

"And it's not just the Orwellian flavor of the program that's causing teachers to fret. Nicholas Martin, who teaches Latin at McCallum High, said he's uneasy about what happens to information on a teacher once it's been collected. "Why is it that the state holds onto the [fingerprints]? Once that background has been checked, [the information] should be destroyed," Martin said. "It's hard to say something like this without sounding reactionary ... but our fear is that it's starting this big national database."

"Ellard also said she and others are afraid the setup of the program exposes teachers to a risk of identity theft. Teach­ers must supply their names and Social Security numbers, along with 13 pieces of unique data online, in order to get what's called a Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas Pass, or FAST Pass, which they need to be fingerprinted. "This divulgence of so much critical personal-identity information at one time, on one website, was a concern for many," she said." [One of them asked why would the state want to hold on to the fingerprints and all of the other personal information after the background check is complete. Could it be to get them used to the idea of the government, any government, having all of this information on you permanently?]

"Pam Hall, a spokesperson for AISD Human Resources, says teachers have nothing to worry about. "It's just like if you go to the bank to apply for a loan. You have to trust that the institution will protect your information."" [Yes, just trust them.......and, by implication, shut up. Get used to that attitude coming from governmental entities.]

"Hall said it's natural that teachers have questions but insisted, "They'll come around." The law doesn't really leave them any option. A teacher has 80 days to submit to fingerprinting before the State Board for Educator Certification revokes his or her certification. "Some of us would like to protest it," Martin said. "I have a 2-year-old daughter. Do you just surrender your rights or feed your family?"" [Notice what she said? "They'll come around". Yes she is correct. The vast majority will "come around". Will you? And notice what the quoted teacher said about surrendering rights or feeding your family. Does that remind you of anything in the Scriptures? "And no one shall buy or sell who does not have the Mark".]

"So far, only one employee has flat-out refused to comply, said Hall...." [This is very telling. Only one employee out of many thousands has so far refused to comply. When the Mark is implemented on mankind the numbers will be very similar percentage-wise. The vast majority will comply. Again, this program is just one of many pilot programs coming to "teach" us how to comply with being identified and categorized for the Beast System's purposes. The purpose is to get you in line with the program. To be obedient to the Beast and the spiritual entity behind it. But compliance comes with a very high price. Most notably, your lack of protection from the plagues of YHWH coming upon a rebellious generation. Compliance with the Mark will give you peace, security, and even prosperity for a time. You'll be able to engage in commerce and trade. In short, you'll be able to eat. But all of these temporary "blessings" come from the Beast. The ultimate long-lasting blessings come from the Father. Rejecting Him puts you in with the world and it's ways, which we are admonished to come out of. Those who reject Him will suffer the consequences and it will not be fun and games. Plus, those who accept the Mark will NOT be in the Messiah's Kingdom on earth during the Millennial Reign. Ultimately all will be eventually saved, but, "There's the hard way, and then there's an easier way". Yahshua the Messiah said that His burden is light. But most will not believe HIm and will accept the burden that SEEMS light. It's all about Faith ultimately. There must be reliance on the Father and the Messiah now for that Faith. You can't work it up on your own. It's the Faith OF Yahshua and His Name, not any other name, that will get you through.]