In light of all the religious fervor being spread around in the last few weeks, I felt it was now the time to spread some sanity into all of it and relay to those who need an education, that the United States of America was not founded as a "Christian" nation. Those like Tom Delay and his band of RW Armageddon Crusaders who would make you believe it was are lying because it serves their own purposes...
They are really snake oil salesmen of the highest degree, and their religious grandstanding has hurt this country and tarnished our Constitution. It has also marred the truly mysterious and wonderful relationship we have with the Creator, whose deeds are good, and who had nothing to do with the theatrics displayed by cheap petty opportunists that used our Congress for a tent revival.
It is time Americans stand up for the true principles this nation was founded on: Justice, Democracy, equality, opportunity, and freedom. And while I too am spiritual, I know you do not need to carry a crucifix to believe in those principles. Therefore, as a Christian and a Democrat, but most importantly as an American, I think it is time to set the record straight...
Deism
This link give information about the philosophy our Founding Fathers did follow in birthing this nation.
Founding Fathers/Deism
This link will take you to quotes from our Founding Fathers regarding religion/politics, and put their views into perspective on mixing the two.
Now, please bear with me as I give you mine.
As I stated, I am a Christian, and I used to attend church on a regular basis and was very involved with the church. However, after living through some times that made me question my faith, I now feel more fulfilled in seeking out God and exploring my own spiritual freedom and wonder in my own way. Does that make me a heathen? No. Does that make me Godless? No. Does that make me unAmerican? Hell, no. What it does make me however, is the epitome of the American our forefathers described in our Constitution.
The First Amendment was written for me, and it was written for all of those who cherish their religion and spiritual freedom and hold it tightly to their breast, whether they pray in quiet solitude or attend revivals where they shout out praises to their Lord. It was also written for those who don't believe in God at all, but who do believe in the Constitution and what it stands for, and follow those principles as good Americans.
It was not written however, for those who exploit religion for political gain and power. It was not written for those who use it to persecute others in the name of the state or God. And it was most definitely not written for those who use it to justify preemptive, unconstitutional, illegal slaughter in our names.
This is the message we as Democrats must be spreading now, rather than acquiescing to it. We must not be silent, for no state can truly survive as a free state in the clutches of those whose minds and hearts are enslaved by dogma in relation to matters of public policy. For it breeds division among the masses, which leads to the deterioration of free thinking, which then is the death knell for Democracy, which then leads to Theocracy.
The common signs of a Theocratic state are: Militarism, Corporatism, Nationalism, Fascism, perpetual war, and insinuating religion into public policy and all facets of government. Sound familiar? No Theocracy in the history of this world has ever been successful. They all end up in bloodsoaked ruins. And it will be the same if we allow it to take hold here.
It is then the duty of all Americans of conscience who cherish their religion and their freedom of expression thereof in the tradition of our Deist Founding Fathers, to stand up to this dangerous threat against our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
Instead of the Democratic Party now swinging to the center/right to acquiesce to these dangerous stances, we should be standing up as Americans to speak truth to power for what we believe in and know is right. That is how you win. Pro-Choice IS Pro -Life, and damn it, I am tired of such labels that lead Americans to believe that if you state that you are Pro-Choice, you are Pro-Death. RIDICULOUS, and false. Democrats need to say this, and mean it. Being against this war in Iraq IS being for the troops, and also for standing with the very foundations of what make this country great.
Standing up for religious freedom without encroachment from government is also what our Founding Fathers believed in, and as a Christian I am dismayed at where this country seems to be heading. The Christian Right is dead wrong on this issue, and it is time to tell them that straight out. You can love your country and not love religion. You can worship the Lord without invoking him in legislation. You can pray in the quiet solitiude of God's beautiful Earth without needing an executive order to do so. You also have the right to die as you wish to live... WITH DIGNITY.
For the sake of God and all we hold dear as Americans, this must be the mantle carried now by a true opposition Party that believes in freedom and faith. We must also be unafraid to stand by those beliefs. Otherwise, we will not only fail again as a Party, we will doom our very existence as a Democracy. May God give us the strength to find that spirit of our Founding Fathers to bring back the country they envisioned, and we love.