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Well I read it, and I had to refrain from getting a hammer beating my own computer down. There was so much malarkey being spoken, but this one sentence most of all rattled me —— !
“We all came to these parts of America with one and the same end and aim, namely to advance the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Is that right?
Well, that christian Jesus/God that they were praying too, I guess he/she told them to slay the Indians steal their land and leave them destitute, okay alright.
I guess that same very Lord Jesus Christ told them when they got here,”Now high tail it back to Africa enslave and shackle them, strip them of all human dignity & human rights and for pete’s sake do it in the Honor and Glory of Me, Do it in my Name!”
So, forgive me if I can’t speak on what it might do to the other businesses as you mentioned. Cause if they’re having a Heritage Week based off this what a lie they are living.
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About 86 days ago
Jax says:
Tiresome as these attempts have become, they still need to be fought. I sometimes wonder if the RR expects the rest of us to simply throw our hands up in the air and say “you win”. However, as more of these measures are fought and as the general public becomes more aware them, it’s possible the RR will be pushed to further extremes. With any luck, their fanaticism will be exposed for what it truly is.
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About 86 days ago
Rick R says:
David wrote- “Just how is this unslaked desire to turn the U.S. into a theocracy any different than the goal of Osama bin Laden to make everyone a muslim and kowtow to his allah?”
Because…..because…..why….we have Jayzuss!! (snark mode off)
My favorite creepy moment in “Jesus Camp” is where Becky Fischer states exactly this, comparing her little camp and youth ministry to an Islamic Madrassa. Of course, the Muslims are bad because they don’t have THE TRUTH. Freaks.By the way, how long will it be before Barry Christianson storms in here to whack us upside the head with a 2×4 for commenting on a blog when he’s out doing the REAL C/S separation work?
C’mon Barry. Don’t disappoint.
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About 86 days ago
daniel rotter says:
I’m always amused by the D. James Kennedy types who claim that America is a “Christian nation,” and yet believe that America has to be “reclaimed for Christ.” Anyone with an IQ higher than a cucumber knows that those two sentiments contradict each other.
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About 85 days ago
Dave C says:
So does the Alabama legislature think we should become a Papal state? The Pope is, after all, the original Christian leader.
Or perhaps Elizabeth II? Some of those English colonists might have liked that idea.
Or perhaps the SBC? They are popular in Alabama.
Or perhaps we don’t need to have a specific church. After all, they all agree on pretty much everything, right? Oh, maybe not.
But surely that’s not much of a problem. They will all get along despite their differences. After all, it worked well in Europe after the reformation. Except for all those bloody wars.
But at least it works well elsewhere, especially in the Middle East. Except for, well, just about the entire Middle East.
But this is America! We have always gotten along religiously, except where we killed each other because of religious beliefs and oppressed each other. D’oh!
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About 85 days ago
Albatross says:
The governor of Idaho declared the week 10/22/2006 - 20/28/2006 to be Christian Heritage Week for Idahoans.
In 2002, Gov. Ventura “accidentally” signed a proclamation declaring Christian Heritage Week for Minnesota.
2007 Timothy Kaine for Virginia declared 3/11 - 3/17 Christian Heritage Week. (Bet the Catholics were thrilled to death to have their St. Patrick’s Day hijacked.)
Joe Manchin, West Virgina, proclaimed 11/17 - 11/25/2006 CNH Week.
March 30 - April 6, 2008 - Hawaii.
and on and on…
“I do not believe it is for the interest of religion to invite the civil magistrate to direct its exercises, its discipline, or its doctrines; nor of the religious societies that the general government should be invested with the power of effecting any uniformity of time or matter among them. Fasting and prayer are religious exercises. The enjoining them, an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the times for these exercises and the objects proper for them according to their own particular tenets; and this right can never be safer than in their own hands where the Constitution has deposited it…” Thomas Jefferson
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About 85 days ago
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 8 through May 15, 2005, as Jewish Heritage Week.”
(Umm, by the authority of the Constitution???)
It’s entirely one thing for the states to do this (still foolish and wrong), but for the POTUS to be declaring these things by powers the Constitution expressly forbids? How has this been deemed Constitutional?
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When he was Governor of Texas, Bush had a “Jesus Day” in Texas. I am not a Christian and never would be as its adherents constantly and with no sense of embarrassment flaunt their alleged founder’s words on a daily basis.
Recently, I was in a restaurant when an idiot stood up and asked in a very loud voice that everyone stop eating at that moment and give praise to Jesus for what we were about to eat.
I’m usually a mild-mannered grandmother but that was asking too much. I have studied the Christian Testament (a/k/a the New Testament) to the extent that could put any so-called Christian to shame.
Jesus said that when you pray go into your inner room to do so (Mat. 6:6) and I told him to shut up, sit down, and open his bible, which he was toting as some kind of fetish and read Mat. 6:6.
The bulk of Christians are so ignorant of the basis of their faith that they cannot or will not read something as simple as to when to pray and where.
My problem is that I have no ill feelings towards anyone and feel that each and every American is, as it should be, entitled to pray to whatever deity they wish. But their freedom ends where my ears begin.
Did I feel foolish for berating that hypocrite? No. In fact most of the people in the restaurant gave me a standing ovation!
When I went to pay the owner just grinned, shook my hand, and said it was taken care of, the look on that man’s face was worth it.
Bush feels that the Constitution is something that he uses for convenience’s sake; the rest of the time he feels entitled to break its articles all he wants. When he leaves his government housing for the last time, he should be met by Federal Police and be immediately put into handcuffs and imprisoned for the imperial manner in which he has broken the Constitution…and they’d better run to catch Cheney before he has an opportunity to skip out to Dubia.
Again, although not a Christian, I respect its right to exist, but just leave me and mine alone to follow the only religion that was started by God himself. There is only ONE religion that God started, the rest have been started by men or women.
Contrary to Obama’s pastor’s wishes, may God BLESS America.
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About 83 days ago
Zetetic says:
Well… The Greek Orthodox faith celebrates Easter on a different calendar - I guess they aren’t true “Americans? !
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About 83 days ago
Above Us Only Sky says:
Beverly Kurtin,
Your story was a treat to read and I applaud your courage. I am even more heartened that you got a standing ovation from the majority of the patrons. This reveals something that the RR would be loathe to have broadcast; the majority of Americans are really pretty good folk who just want to live and let live and who also view religion as a personal and private matter.
The worst thing about religion is this incessant need to proselytize and seek dominion over the government and culture. I am not sure how we can collectively stop this. I do know that the stand you took as an individual goes a long way towards that goal.
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About 83 days ago
Amen. Amen.
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About 81 days ago
J says:
“But their freedom ends where my ears begin.”
You think you the right to not be offended? You are an opponent of free speech.
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About 81 days ago
No J. She’s saying her right to have a quiet meal out with other civilized people trumps some religious nut’s delusion of being pastor of the world and spoiling everyone’s evening. It seems the other diners agreed with her opinion.
I certainly do.
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“You think you the right to not be offended? You are an opponent of free speech.”
I gotta admit, though, I like that argument, used commonly but by no means exclusively by the right wing.
I always have that retort quick at hand whenever someone complains about a breast-feeding mom or a nude sunbather.
“You think you the right to not be offended?”
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About 81 days ago
How about the whole “War on Christmas” thing, and the threats of boycott for not saying Merry Christmas, for displays of Baby Jesus?
“You think you the right to not be offended?”
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About 80 days ago
The Grand Inquisitor says:
I have a question for Mr. Boston. How is it inaccurate to say that Christianity had a profound influence on America’s history, which is, after all, the point of a “Christian Heritage Week?” Your derision of several of the colonies by calling them “theocratic” is an admission of Christian religious influence on those governments. Your flippant dismissal of quotes from 1883 and 1853 through your sudden (and fleeting) interest in constitutional originalism ignores the fact that again those quotes demonstrate Christian influence on the country. A myriad of others not cited in that bill could be produced.
Your whole argument against a “Christian Heritage Week” seems to be predicated on a claim that the Constitution is not Christian in any way. This “fact” in your mind apparently renders every Christian pronouncement in the nation’s history irrelevant. Even if your claim about the Constitution being a “secular” document is granted (a dubious proposition given that at the least there are several Christian principles embedded in the Constitution’s design), it fails to demonstrate that it is wrong to acknowledge Christian influence in the country’s history.
Finally, as another comment notes, George Bush recently declared another week to be “Jewish Heritage Week.” Do you have a problem with that too or just Christian pronouncements because they placate (in your view) those evil right-wing Christian wackos intent on overtaking the government?
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About 80 days ago
This gives me the notion that, next time I’m in a restaurant and a bunch of the staff come out to sing “Happy Birthday” to some diner, I’ll yell “Shut up! Civilized people are having dinner here!”
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About 79 days ago
Quite frankly, J, I’m not going to argue with you on that one.
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About 79 days ago
The Grand Inquisitor moaned- “Even if your claim about the Constitution being a “secular” document is granted (a dubious proposition given that at the least there are several Christian principles embedded in the Constitution’s design)”
Evidence, please? And David Barton’s intellectual pornography doesn’t count.
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About 79 days ago
Thank you, Rick. You stole the words from my fingertips.
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About 52 days ago
Keith Goss says:
This is why red flags should pop up when we hear that John McCain welcomed the endorsment of John Hagee. Hagee is a charlatan and one of the “strutting peacocks” that Luther warned about. Republican Presidents and congressmen need to stop receiving advice on foreign policy from quacks who because they’ve read the latest prophecy books think they deserve a hotline to the Whitehouse. If we let this continue, mark my words, something like witch burning is right around the corner again.
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About 46 days ago
Jon says:
Article 11 reads:
Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
-The Treaty of Tripoli
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About 22 days ago
Simon says:
Well, first of all to be an idiot and say that Christianity hasnt had an impact on America whether u talk politically or culturally or whatever is just stupid. Of course Christianity played and still plays a big role, and whether there isnt or is underlying reference to religion is irrelevent. Corpus Juris Civilis the Roman laws codified by Emperor Justinian, the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau were both Christians and had indirect effekt on the american revolution and american judiciary. And to put people like Alexander Hamilton, John Witherspoon and so on and there is clearly a Christian influence on the constitution. Just because the constitution per se dont mention Christianity doesnt mean that it is anti-Christian. And because of liberals and their constant attack on Christianity…for some reason its not okay for some people to say Marry Christmas despite the fact that its a national holiday…well I dont think that kind of attituted from the non-religious or liberal side of the spectrum will succumb the christian fundamentalist movement, to the opposite..it will only ignite them to work harder to make ur lifes apparently tougher.
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These christian fundamentalists will not stop until this country is turned on its head. Just how is this unslaked desire to turn the U.S. into a theocracy any different than the goal of Osama bin Laden to make everyone a muslim and kowtow to his allah?