"[The]Civil Rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any matter or on any pretext infringed."
James Madison, introducing the Bill of Rights at the 1st Federal Congress. June 8, 1789
There are no words to describe how important a quote like that is to the current landscape of our nation.
If this doesn't destroy the theory that our Founding Fathers weren't Christians or that the country wasn't founded on the notion of Seperation between Church and State, then clearly the probably isn't with history, it's the people who want to rewrite it and those who are stupid enough to believe them.
This weekend the Christian Right is holding their annual "Reclaiming America for Christ" Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
According to the website, the conference is a chance for individuals to get the tools and training to change America for the better.
Let me repeat the phrase, Change America for the better.
Right.
Sounds like an attempt to turn this once great country into a Theocracy.
But, for some reason this statement actually sent shivers down my spine.
"Whether you are brand new to the war for America's soul or a battle tested veteran. Reclaiming America for Christ offers hard-won wisdom, proven plans and real time information from frontline Christian leaders."
The battle for America's soul?
What soul does this country have left when we've been bamboozled into giving up our fate to those on the Christian Right?
Face it, we're living in a semi-Theocratic State with no regard to history.
A history that clearly defines that this nation was founded by a principle of Separation of Church and State.
The conference in Ft. Lauderdale to save America's soul is what I equate to Nazis gathering around to rally the troops in their quest to push forward their ideology of a master race.
The premise is that America is a nation of White, Christian beliefs and those that don't follow through with the ideals of the Christian Right will be systematically eliminated from America's landscape.
And, it appears to be working at this point in the game.
With Samuel Alito being confirmed to the Supreme Court, South Dakota has passed a law to ban Abortion. Thus, declaring war on Women throughout the State. But, South Dakota isn't the only state trying to curb Abortion.
In Iowa, the law prohibits emergency room doctors from telling female sexual assault victims that emergency contraceotives or a double dose of birth control taken within 72 hours of the assault can prevent a pregnancy.
In Michigan this year, there will be two ballot initiatives to amend the State constitution saying that the day Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, all abortions in that state will be illegal.
Last year, several hundred women in Missouri were forced, by law, to listen to and watch a litany of anti-abortion propaganda before being allowed to have an Abortion.
And, of course, my favorite.
A woman in Northern Wisconsin who had been raped and became pregnant had to drive more than 300 miles to get an abortion. When she arrived at the medical facility, she was told that abortion is the only medical procedure where the law requires a 48 hour waiting period. She missed two days of work at her minimum-wage job and slept in her car while waiting to get the abortion.
If the Christian Right says that they're nothing more than good Christian people, why would they subject a woman to sleep in her car to wait two days to get an Abortion after being raped?
The answer is, those in the Christian Right have no respect for individuals who aren't Christian. And, quite frankly don't have respect for women who want to take control of their bodies.
The Reclaiming America for Christ moan fest is a declaration of war on America.
These people hate America and the melting pot of cultures and individuals.
They want a country of blandness and religious rhetoric to shape our everyday lives.
And, what I found so amusing is their asseration that President Bush isn't doing enough to peddle their ideas to Congress.
Sounds like crocadile tears on their part.
When you have a nation that bans Gay marriage, is curbing or in some cases banning Abortions, and sparking religious hatred and fear with the faux "War on Christmas," then you've done a number on the values and history that have shaped our country for over 200 years.
Haven't done enough. That's bullshit.
This weekend should scare every American, because the Reclaiming America for Christ Conference is a window to an America that could fall into a Theocratic regime. We're there, but, not almost.
Yet, we've continued to elect officials to the highest of offices that actually believe that America needs to be rescued from the forces of Women, Homosexuals, and non-Christians. To me, that makes us even gulitier than those who continue to peddle out this garbage to America.
If James Madison was wrong about the Civil Rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief then everything that we've been taught is a big lie.
And, to me there is no greater duty than to preserve our history by rallying against the Politicians and individuals who are at this Reclaiming America for Christ conference.