The Law is the Law!

[Bill Houghton]

THE LAW IS THE LAW 


So ' if ' the US government determines that it is against the
Law for the words 'under God' to be on our money, then,
So be it. 




And ' if ' that same government decides that the


'Ten Commandments'


Are not to be used in or on a


Government installation, then,

So be it. 




I say,   'so be it,'   because I would like to be a

Law abiding US citizen. 




I say, 'so be it,' because I would like to think that

Smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions. 




I would like to think that those people have the

American public's best interests at heart.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?




Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot post His Commandments in Government buildings , I don't believe the Government and its

Employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas Celebrations which honor the God that our government

Is eliminating from many facets of American life. 




I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter.   After all, it's just another day. 




I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as

Well as Sundays. After all, it's just another day. 




I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives

To not have to worry about getting home for the 'Christmas Break.'  After all it's just another day. 




I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would

Work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter.   It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other

Day of the week to a government that is trying to be 'politically correct.'

In fact....




I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God...) because, after all,   our government says that

It should be just another day....

What do you all think?




If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected

officials will stop giving in to the 'minority opinions'

And begin, once again, to represent the 'majority'

Of ALL of the American people.

SO BE IT...........




Please Dear Lord, 

Give us the help needed to keep you in our country!

'Amen' and 'Amen' 

[MountainDon]

 

[Redoverfarm]

'Amen' and 'Amen'

[wildbil]

Hilarious that you said "majority." In case you haven't noticed lately most people either openly denounce God or are too afraid to admit they believe; all of whom celebrate every holiday. 

[Bill Houghton]

I failed to mention that I was reposting this, I did not author it.  Wildbil, I guess I am under the impression that most of the people I know believe in God (of one sort or another).  However, my sample size is VERY small.  Have there been legitimate stats gathered (is that even possible?) in this country or the world in general about belief in God?  I say "is that even possible" because I doubt there could be a legitimate "double blind" type gathering of such information and I am suspicious of any other method because who is doing the reporting just about guarantees their position on the numbers.

Bill in the U.P.

[MountainDon]

Polls and statistics can always be skewed.

Without doing a poll, but by observing lifestyles and listening to conversations I can state that I know a lot of people who do believe in a God. I also have noted that a great many of our preschoolers are being educated about God... judging by references they make from time to time; especially over the days leading to Christmas and Easter.

[Squirl]

If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected

officials will stop giving in to the 'minority opinions'

And begin, once again, to represent the 'majority'

Of ALL of the American people.

One persons religion or "god" is not the same as the next persons.  The U.S. governemnt holds court and work on every jewish holiday.  Many politicians and workers are jewish, especially in the legal system.  Some offices are open on Friday after sundown and Saturday the day of the sabath.  The point of the seperation of religion and government laws are to protect minority religios rights.  I disagree with striking down my religious rights as a minority in this country.

[Squirl]

I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter.   After all, it's just another day.  

I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as

Well as Sundays. After all, it's just another day. 
 
'Amen' and 'Amen'  [/center]

Thanksgiving is a harvest festival.  Not a religeous holiday. 
At least 22% of the supreme court shouldn't have a problem with your request.  They are jewish.

[cordwood]

 I say move them all to Sunday like Easter is (or Ester if your Pagan) and quit making new "Do Nothing" days.
MLK day is coming up on a Monday, Just what people need. Work-a-Day people get squat and the generally overpaid get a FREE day! Sunday off I think is great for Religious reasons or not people need a day of rest but all these ever increasing "HOLIDAYS" is getting ridiculous. Every time we have a "Monumental" occurrence they want to make it a holiday, I say BUNK! If you go back far enough in time you could almost make EVERY DAY a holiday.
Religious Freedom means being able to practice "YOUR" religion without persecution, NOT forcing it on other people. I don't want someone telling me I can't celebrate my belief in December but I don't want to be off work for 12 days in a row either.
If your chosen belief tells you to take certain days for celebration then I say go for it but don't expect me to pay you for it. It's called "Sacrifice" and they have many books published that make reference to it!
Did I mention I hate Government?!

[StinkerBell]

Somehow I feel there is a great misunderstanding of separation of Government and Religion. It was meant for Government staying  out of Religion. So a person can exercise their free will and pick a religion or not to pick a religion. I am not sure where it came to that religion is not to be part of Government. However, with that said the Government has already crossed the line by telling pastors/preachers that they can not preach a sermon that maybe deemed "hate speech" despite what the Bible, Torah or Koran might say and a pastor/preacher can not express an opinion from the pulpit of how he may vote or what his concerns are about their community. Seems to me that government has already stepped into the sanctuary and is calling the shots.

[Jens]

Hilarious that you said "majority." In case you haven't noticed lately most people either openly denounce God or are too afraid to admit they believe; all of whom celebrate every holiday. 

Apparently not here!!!  Funny part about the founding of the country is, they wanted religious freedom from what King George was telling them they had to do, but not for everybody else who didn't agree with them once they got here.  That may not be true once is was actually founded, but was pretty much the lay of the land for the colonials. 

It was a pretty good read there though.  Y'all just keep on makin me smile!

[Pox Eclipse]

So ' if ' the US government determines that it is against the
Law for the words 'under God' to be on our money, then,
So be it.

'Under God' has never been on our money. 

Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God...

No court has ever said you can't pray to God, or trust in God.  You just can't make the rest of us do it with you by using my taxes to put it on everybody's money, or post your religious values in buildings that belong to everyone, who have a constitutional right to hold different beliefs.  Your religion is not my religion.  Do what ever you wish in the privacy of your own home or in your own church, but don't force it on me, because I do not share your superstitions.

[r8ingbull]

Somehow I feel there is a great misunderstanding of separation of Government and Religion. It was meant for Government staying  out of Religion. So a person can exercise their free will and pick a religion or not to pick a religion. I am not sure where it came to that religion is not to be part of Government. However, with that said the Government has already crossed the line by telling pastors/preachers that they can not preach a sermon that maybe deemed "hate speech" despite what the Bible, Torah or Koran might say and a pastor/preacher can not express an opinion from the pulpit of how he may vote or what his concerns are about their community. Seems to me that government has already stepped into the sanctuary and is calling the shots.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

As far as I know the government has only told church leaders that they stand to lose tax benefits if they engage in the political process.  Directing blame at the government is wrong on this one.  Those to blame are the pastors/ministers who won't stand up for what they believe due to financial considerations. 

Religion doesn't get special status, that's the basis of the first amendment.  Once the church engages in hatred speeches they stopped assembling in peace.  If a group wants to assemble and sing and dance and learn about the bible, that's peaceful assembly.  If they want to get together and talk about killing muslims and jews and blacks and gays, that is not peaceful assembly.

[Jens]

No court has ever said you can't pray to God, or trust in God. 

You just aren't allowed to do it in a public place, considering public assembly.  One exception applies generally, if you are not praying to "the Christian God", it is ok, because that is politically correct...wait a minute, that means there are a lot of exceptions.

In many situations, you aren't even allowed to mention "the Christian God", unless speaking about it as a myth, i.e., at work, at school, court, etc.


You just can't make the rest of us do it with you by using my taxes to put it on everybody's money,

I agree...

or post your religious values in buildings that belong to everyone, who have a constitutional right to hold different beliefs. 

If I, or my religious organization built, paid for, or even paid for a share of that building, I would consider it wrong if what I could say therein were limited because it was used as a public place.

Your religion is not my religion.  Do what ever you wish in the privacy of your own home or in your own church, but don't force it on me, because I do not share your superstitions.

Ouch... I realize that I didn't write THE book, but in MY book, calling any spiritual belief superstition borders on hate speech.  I am not offended, but I tell you this to warn you of the Christian masses, who are of course mostly angry, spiteful, militant vigilantes. 

All of that said, I think that it is wrong to either push your beliefs on anyone, or to limit the capacity by which others can beleive in whatever they want to believe. 

I wonder what would happen, if we had a president who was openly spiritual, and spoke of, Yahweh, Allah, Buddha, or Krishna in an unabashed manner.  And then I wonder what the difference in public out cry would be, if that same openly speaking president were Christian.  And the type of person I speak of, is the type whose life revolves around doing things the way God wants them done, what the Jews call Kavanah.  I am definitely not referring to someone as passive as GWB

[StinkerBell]

Religion doesn't get special status, that's the basis of the first amendment.  Once the church engages in hatred speeches they stopped assembling in peace.  If a group wants to assemble and sing and dance and learn about the bible, that's peaceful assembly.  If they want to get together and talk about killing muslims and jews and blacks and gays, that is not peaceful assembly.

I am not talking about Killing anyone. I am talking about the teaching of biblical principal. No where in the Bible does it say to kill (for example) gays. It refers that the act of homosexuality is detestable to God. For some that alone is hate speech.

[Pox Eclipse]

No court has ever said you can't pray to God, or trust in God. 

You just aren't allowed to do it in a public place, considering public assembly.  One exception applies generally, if you are not praying to "the Christian God", it is ok, because that is politically correct...wait a minute, that means there are a lot of exceptions.

In many situations, you aren't even allowed to mention "the Christian God", unless speaking about it as a myth, i.e., at work, at school, court, etc.


No one is prevented from praying in public places; lots of college students do it right before final exams, and no one is stopping them.  What is prohibited is a government entity leading the prayer.  That smacks of coercion by the authority of the state, and that is illegal.

You just can't make the rest of us do it with you by using my taxes to put it on everybody's money,

I agree...

or post your religious values in buildings that belong to everyone, who have a constitutional right to hold different beliefs. 

If I, or my religious organization built, paid for, or even paid for a share of that building, I would consider it wrong if what I could say therein were limited because it was used as a public place.

Again, no one is preventing you from praying in school, or in a courtroom, or in city hall.  You may not give your prayer the authority of the state; that is illegal.

Just because your taxes are used to build public spaces doesn't give you the right to put up religious monuments.  Otherwise we would have to allow Jewish, Islamic and even Satanic religions equal time and put up their religious monuments.  Is that what you want?

Your religion is not my religion.  Do what ever you wish in the privacy of your own home or in your own church, but don't force it on me, because I do not share your superstitions.

Ouch... I realize that I didn't write THE book, but in MY book, calling any spiritual belief superstition borders on hate speech.  I am not offended, but I tell you this to warn you of the Christian masses, who are of course mostly angry, spiteful, militant vigilantes.

Jesus would be so proud of them. 

[StinkerBell]

I do find a lot of irony in this thread. Our country's history is somehow forgotten and how we apply modern meaning to words that have morphed in meaning. If someone can convince  me that freedom of speech means spread eagle in a magazine is something the forefathers of this country see as freedom of speech, then I am willing never to speak on the matter again.  The problem imo is that there is no spirit in the law just the legalism to extreme degree and because we have as a society become this extreme is why we have so many laws. We then get angry when a mass murderer gets off on the smallest of legalities, yet these extreme views in the laws are the same we apply when it comes to separation of church and state. On many levels it is interesting but in reality it is sad.

[Jens]

Ditto Stinker...that third sentence almost had me rolling. 

What I am trying to say, is that in my experience the only religion that is ever not allowed into things is Christianity.  I am not exactly proud of Christians of the past, or for that matter any of the present, but to say that if you talk about God in public school isn't allowed, but talk about Buddha, or Ancient Greek or Roman religions and that is okay, well, that's just prejudiced in my view of things. 

And yes, there are many public places, as I said schools, and such, where you are correct in saying that they do not keep you from praying, but, lets just say it does nothing to help your cause.

The Constitution...

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

The Declaration of Independance...

"the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them,"

and elsewhere...

"We hold these truths to be self-evident,

    * that all men are created equal,
    * that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
          o that among these are
                + Life,
                + Liberty and the
                + pursuit of Happiness. "

If I remember correctly, the Emancipation Proclamation has talk of God in it too. 

This country was founded by ethical monotheists, with ethical monotheism as the basis of its government, courts, and laws, yet the first note to the Bill of Rights is freedom of religion. 

I think they were aware that there is nothing wrong with God, whatever you choose to call him, but with religion, that is what they wanted to leave behind in England when they came here, and when they declared independence. 

I agree with the last sentence of yours Stink, it is sad.

Maybe we could figure out some kinda code for when we are being sarcastic, so that others know.  I can be pretty dry sometimes, and it doesn't translate well in print!

Jesus would be so proud of them. 

No idea about that one.

[Dog]

Hi thread...I' m not a Jewish person, but the Jewish person brought up a very good point!

[StinkerBell]

The other issue I see before us is that we as a country are imo becoming socialist. If we are (which I believe we are the bail out program just demonstrates that) then no area is safe for religion or the mention of God.  Just something to ponder.

[glenn kangiser]

I think we're fascists.

[Jens]

The other issue I see before us is that we as a country are imo becoming socialist. If we are (which I believe we are the bail out program just demonstrates that) then no area is safe for religion or the mention of God.  Just something to ponder.

I guess they'll just have to end up killing me then.