for politically active people

[Diraker]

Just a heads up for those who are interested in preserving our secular government (or alternatively a heads up for those who think the US is a christian nation).

There's a new resolution heading to the house of representatives. H.R. 888

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.RES.888:

I won't paste it here because it's pretty long but it reeks of christian revisionist history. At best it only paints half the picture, at worse it contains flat out lies.

I sent a letter to my representative urging him to vote no on this resolution. I also suggested that he (or someone in congress) should sponsor a resolution recognizing the first amendment and the separation of church and state.

Now I am a letter writer and I realize not everyone is; do whatever you want; do nothing at all...at least I can say that I tried, that I care about what my government does.

Representatives can all be found here:

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

[Drekor]

I can't believe I actually read through that without breaking out laughing... I think having it's own special week is a little absurd. If you want to appreciate history build a museum.

[Gnioss]

Most of it seems like the hugest waste of time I've ever seen. The only thing this 10 zillion word document actually says is that we should have a YAY RELIGION!!1!! week. GOOD THING ALL THE LEGISLATIVE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD HAVE BEEN SOLVED SO WE CAN GET TO THIS, THE MOST IMPORTANT BILL OF THE YEAR.

[Diraker]

Another VERY IMPORTANT republican resolution...

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=hc111-121

1st Session

H. CON. RES. 121

Encouraging the President to designate 2010 as ‘The National Year of the Bible’.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2009

Mr. BROUN of Georgia (for himself, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. FORBES, Mr. PENCE, Mr. GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. WAMP, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. CARTER, Mr. AKIN, and Mr. MCGOVERN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Encouraging the President to designate 2010 as ‘The National Year of the Bible’.

Whereas the Bible has had a profound impact in shaping America into a great Nation;

Whereas deep religious beliefs stemming from the Old and New Testament of the Bible have inspired Americans from all walks of life, especially the early settlers, whose faith, spiritual courage, and moral strength enabled them to endure intense hardships in this new land;

Whereas many of our Presidents have recognized the importance of God and the Bible, including George Washington; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Harry Truman; John F. Kennedy; Ronald Reagan, who declared 1983 as ‘The National Year of the Bible’; and especially Abraham Lincoln, whose 200th Birthday Celebration in 2009 highlighted freedom for the slaves;

Whereas shared Biblical beliefs unified the colonists and gave our early leaders the wisdom to write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, both of which recognized the inherent worth, dignity, and inalienable rights of each individual, thus unifying a diverse people with the right to vote, and the freedoms of speech and vast religious freedoms, which inspired courageous men like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to lead the Civil Rights Movement;

Whereas the Bible has been the world’s best selling book since it was first published in English in 1526, and has influenced more people than any other book;

Whereas the Bible has been a cornerstone in the development of Western civilization, influencing the nations in the areas of history, law, politics, culture, music, literature, art, drama, and especially moral philosophy;

Whereas the Bible, used as a moral guide, has inspired compassion, love for our neighbor, and the preciousness of life and marriage, and has stimulated many benevolent, faith-based community initiatives and neighborhood partnerships that have healed and blessed our families, communities, and our entire Nation, especially in times of war, tragedy, and economic and social crisis;

Whereas the Bible has inspired acts of patriotism that have unified Americans, commemorated through shared celebrations such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; and

Whereas 2010 is an appropriate year to designate as ‘The National Year of the Bible’: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the President is encouraged--

(1) to designate an appropriate year as ‘The National Year of the Bible’; and

(2) to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scripture which has profoundly influenced and shaped the United States and its great democratic form of Government, as well as its rich spiritual heritage, and which has unified, healed, and strengthened its people for over 200 years.

I say, "Bring it on!"

"Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived." - Isaac Asimov

[Soushia]

And yet they wont make 9/11 a national holiday.

:thumbdown

[Mutt]

And yet they wont make 9/11 a national holiday.

:thumbdownIs there a Pearl Harbour day? Or does that get rolled into memorial day?

[Soushia]

Pearly Harbor day is nationally recognized (i.e. listed on a calendar) but is not a "national holiday".

However, there are a number of reasons:

#1) Pearl Harbor occured during a "time of war" under an official decleration of war.

#2) 90% of the damage and lives lost were those that were enlisted or drafted...and those soldiers are remembered every year on Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

#3) Pearl Harbor also brings images and memories with it of Japaneese-American interment camps, and the only 2 detonations of nuclear weapons in the history of world. The U.S. Government isn't too fond of having those images splattered all over the tv every single year.

[Diraker]

The reason is, of course, because some politicians think it's ok to use the machinery of the state to promote their religion.

[Virt]

#1) Pearl Harbor occured during a "time of war" under an official decleration of war.To be completely tangential to the thread... Wasn't it what caused us to declare war?

The reason is, of course, because some politicians think it's ok to use the machinery of the state to promote their religion.
Woot, go go GOPosaurs! Although these kinda resolutions are always thrown around in the house... you could probably trace it back to some constituency in some legislative district that that wanted this.

[Splicer]

The reason is, of course, because some politicians think it's ok to use the machinery of the state to get re-elected.

Fixed.

[Soulein]

A even better GOP Bill! (seriously)

http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc111/h1207_ih.xml

Also, why does it take an act of congress for people to appreciate the very positive impact religion has had in this nation? I would add that religion in America has flourished, BECAUSE of our core belief in a secular government.

This isn't exactly un-constitutional, as it doesn't respect (or do anything to) any religion in the country. It is however, a waste of time and energy.

[Diraker]

I partly agree but I just want to say that "respecting" in the first amendment is 'in regards to' or 'making the appearance of' an establishemnt of religion. The supreme court has ruled that the government can't favor one religion over another or favor religion over non-religion. So IMO this certainly is unconstitutional. Not that this has stopped the government before. But the constitution means what the supreme court says it means. I haven't heard of anyone sueing over this (I wonder if someone tried to sue in 1983) so if it isn't going to court then SCOTUS won't make a ruling. I imagine though that this resolution will be voted down...but who knows. The last time chrisitans wanted a special resolution (see the original post) it was voted down. Anyway there are a lot of resoltuions that get made. And a lot that are made for showboating/pandering purposes.

[Soushia]

I partly agree but I just want to say that "respecting" in the first amendment is 'in regards to' or 'making the appearance of' an establishemnt of religion. The supreme court has ruled that the government can't favor one religion over another or favor religion over non-religion. So IMO this certainly is unconstitutional. Not that this has stopped the government before. But the constitution means what the supreme court says it means. I haven't heard of anyone sueing over this (I wonder if someone tried to sue in 1983) so if it isn't going to court then SCOTUS won't make a ruling. I imagine though that this resolution will be voted down...but who knows. The last time chrisitans wanted a special resolution (see the original post) it was voted down. Anyway there are a lot of resoltuions that get made. And a lot that are made for showboating/pandering purposes.

Ever since the "red scare" 50 years ago, the "conservative christians" have been trying to expand the crack in the now open door created by writing "in god we trust" on the U.S. dollar.

It has been downhill ever since.

Religion, spirituality, and morality are all good things. But like any good thing it becomes very very bad when pushed to extremes. Trying to legislate religion is an abomination. There is a reason why there is supposed to be a seperation between church and state.