Religion in public politics

[ZenGum]

I was thinking of calling this thread "Dear America, WTF are you doing?!".

Two news articles on the same day.

I recall the fuss about the "one nation, under god" clause. Now this:

The House will vote tonight on a bill that would solidify the phrase "In God We Trust" as the nation's motto, and would support and encourage "the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions."

The vote should occur around 6:30 pm ET.

The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA), will likely pass with the two-thirds majority needed to pass, but it is not without its opponents. In a report of dissenting views from Democratic members of the Committee on the Judiciary Committee, five Democrats call the bill "unnecessary" and a violation of "the First Amendment's prohibition against the establishment of religion."

Also a violation of the universal declaration of human rights, freedom of belief clause. But that's a UN thing.

Then there was this article which, in terms of the are you out of your #^&%ing minds? factor, is the clear winner.

The Michigan Senate passed legislation Wednesday that requires school districts to develop anti-bullying policies, but the father of the boy for whom the bill is named says he has strong objections to language inserted at the last minute.

One of the reforms will require school districts to have procedures in place to address bullying complaints. But the bill now also has language that says requirements don't "prohibit a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or a pupil's parent or guardian."

Kevin Epling, whose son Matt Epling killed himself in 2002 after being bullied, said that the added language will allow anyone to bully a student and cite their religious beliefs. He has worked with lawmakers for years to developed anti-bullying legislation.

"God hates fags! You're going to burn in hell, fag!" appears to be allowed. If there is a shortage of fags, substitute Jew, witch, harlot, or wearer of garments made of two kinds of thread, as available.

Dear Americans, those of you I know seem quite intelligent, reasonable and humane (well, mostly). Please take better care of your country. On the global scale it is actually quite important. Good luck.

[Lamplighter]

Z, your remarks are right on. Sometimes things get a little crazy.

[SamIam]

This has been a problem every since Great Britain allowed various fanatical religious outfits who had been kicked out of Europe to immigrate to the 13 Colonies. GB should have sent them to Australia instead. Ha!

So, here we are in the present day, and we're saddled with fundamentalists and weird cults that call themselves Christians but are really just re-incarnations of the Jim Jones crazies and the David Koresh Branch Davidians in Wacko, Texas.

"One nation under God" is annoying, but the news from Michigan is disturbing.

I really don't know what can be done about it other than hope the Rapture will arrive soon and rid us of these people.

[tw]

The expression "In god we trust" says religions like this should be honored? Unfortunately, they also represent the same god.

[DanaC]

Ooooh. From that site:

WBC will picket Denver High School East to warn this wicked generation that their sins will take them straight to Hell. We will give your children an opportunity to see what truth looks like, the face of what they were entitled to have from every adult that ever touched their lives! You brutish teachers and hateful parents have broken the moral compass of this generation, teaching rebellion with everything you say and do.

I can only imagine how the parents of said children might feel about this.

[Sundae]

Duplicate!

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by DanaC

I can only imagine how the parents of said children might feel about this.

Grateful.

Parents with faith (of any kind) can say, "This is what wacko extremists are like, babba. These ones call themselves Christians, but when you see and hear hate like this you will know them by their actions and not by their chosen names. And this will be the same across other religions."

And atheist parents can say, "See what happens when you believe in magic books instead of decency?"

And all the children can hold their bellies and laugh at the silly people who waste their lives hating other people, hoping there is another one to come where they will sit at the feet of a vengeful and hating God.

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Sundae

Grateful.

Parents with faith (of any kind) can say, "This is what wacko extremists are like, babba. These ones call themselves Christians, but when you see and hear hate like this you will know them by their actions and not by their chosen names. And this will be the same across other religions."

And atheist parents can say, "See what happens when you believe in magic books instead of decency?"

And all the children can hold their bellies and laugh at the silly people who waste their lives hating other people, hoping there is another one to come where they will sit at the feet of a vengeful and hating God.

Shit, homegirl, you're on fire today!

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by tw

The expression "In god we trust" says religions like this should be honored? Unfortunately, they also represent the same god.

Is that site for reals? I haven't seen such hatred and ignorance spewed out in a while - at least not since Radar's last visit.

WBC will picket the Jewish General Assembly - 2011 to remind the Jews that they still carry the curse of God for having Christ crucified by the Romans.

To this day they seek to stop the servants of God from preaching the true Gospel of Christ. They hide behind false accusations of 'anti-Semitism' to deflect attention from the only message of hope to this wicked generation, to wit: Repent and Obey or you will go to Hell!

WBC will remind the hard-hearted, fag-enabling, Christ-rejecting Jews at the 2011 Jewish General Assembly that God still hates fags, fags still doom nations, america is a fag nation, ergo, america is doomed.

And did you catch the clicker on the left side of the text that counts the number of people god has sent to hell while you were visiting the site? I got up to 136 people in flames. I hope they were all members of Westboro Baptist Church.

[GunMaster357]

After reading what your representatives and senators are doing to your country along with those insane guys, I came to a very sad conclusion.

The Land of the Free is doomed to become the next Nazi Germany. Very, very far from the Founders vision.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

I was thinking of calling this thread "Dear America, WTF are you doing?!".

Great minds think alike--that's exactly what I've titled the theme of my never leaving the house.

[tw]

Or relabel the thread "Religion in public parks". Because that is what we will be dicussing in a few months. Some stores started playing Christmas music two weeks ago.

BTW, Happy Holidays (and watch that expression make religious extremists upset).

[ZenGum]

At least you guys get thanksgiving as a buffer to keep Christmas at bay. We've had the tinsel and cheezy carols since late sodding october. And the fake snow painted on windowsills.

[Aliantha]

What I thought was funny were the halloween displays right next to the christmas displays. A bit at odds really.

[DanaC]

yeah. In our shops this past couple of weeks we've had Halloween displays, jostling for position with the Guy Fawlkes Night fireworks and bonfire toffee and Christmas goodies.