Separation Of Church & State And Related Issues
Sep 07 '04
The Bottom Line This is one of my comments I decided had piece-potential. Please be sure to read introduction (boldfaced) to it, because it has sad news re: Mike/mkp51 and his family.
INTRODUCTION:
Here recently, I first read this piece by Mike/mkp51, which made me aware of this piece by Stephanie/sunstreeks.
This evening, I came across this piece by Cindy/itztru, which was in certain ways related (in part) to the first two.
There is a very lively discussion going on in each of the comment sections that also can't be missed.
The comment that I left in the section going with Cindy's piece turned out to be something I thought would be good to be turned into part of this Epinion, and so I have.
Whether to categorize it as "religion" or "politics" lead me to decide to categorize it as "social studies," because it's a little or a lot of each one of the first two.
Before we get to what I've written in Cindy's comment section, I would like to make everyone here aware that Mike's beloved grandson passed away late this spring just a day before his first birthday, due to a tragic and avoidable accident that also seriously injured his mother/Mike's daughter.
This is the eulogy Mike wrote and read in tribute to Ryan, and here are Part One and Part Two of an account he began writing about what happened.
The date on the second part is June 8--which means that it's been over three months since Mike has written anything here.
Having gone through the passing of my dad--86 years old rather than a mere baby just starting out--I know how much something like this can take out of a person, which would surely explain his absence.
I hope that anyone reading this will touch bases with Mike and let him know how much we care!
Having said this, here's my comment...
Because I personally believe, I'm not at all bothered by "under God" in our Pledge, but it might bother me more if I strongly DIDN'T believe.
Perhaps, the best solution would be to leave it in but those who didn't believe it just wouldn't say those two words when reciting the Pledge.
As for those who didn't want to recite it period (prime example: Jehovah's Witnesses), they should have the right to remain seated or even leave the room.
One solution might be not to have the Pledge be part of classroom exercises other than teaching students to be aware that there is one and what it means.
Perhaps, a history of it should be given that tells of the change in wording over the years and why there are some people who won't recite it.
Then, people could recite it (or not recite it) however they pleased.
As for the "separation of church & state" so often talked about...what is actually said was that the government wasn't to establish a state religion.
That's what they had over in England where people were forced to attend The Church Of England or be severely punished.
That is what they have over in some of the Middle-East countries where you'd better practice nothing but Islam or else be severely punished--even executed.
The USA was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs, and there's no denying this.
The difference between what we now have and what the Constitution speaks against is that people are free to worship in a number of different ways here and do so free of fear that they might be arrested for doing so.
Along with the many churches dotting the landscape, there are also synagogues, mosques, Buddhist temples, places of worship for Hindus, and a lot of other different things.
People are free to worship one god or many--or no god at all.
It's this freedom to worship as we please that was given to us in the Constitution--and not some kind of gag law to stifle any reference to religion and/or religious act done in a government-sponsored place (e.g. school, courtroom, etc.).
Several of our laws happen to be in agreement with not only Judeo-Christian customs but, also, with those of many of the world religions--so, when people don't agree with those laws, that's when they begin to blame their existence on "Bible-thumpers."
There are some laws on the books attributed to Christians that a lot of us don't even believe to be right (e.g. capital punishment).
Anyway, our Judeo-Christian roots are a very real part of history, and history would have to be re-written for this to be denied.
And this history also includes very shameful things done in the name of God--such as how we've treated both Native Americans and the Negro slaves we brought over here. In some cases, we also did the same to Mexicans (land-grabbing, as we did with Native Americans/Indians) in our "Manifest Destiny" mindset.
In short, it isn't the mention of God that has been so wrong but, rather, some of the atrocities we've done in His Name.
Peace!
AJ :o)
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
AinsleyJo
|
|
Member: Ainsley Jo Phillips
Location: Anderson, Indiana
Reviews written: 270
Trusted by: 221 members
About Me:
I'm hosting a write-off: http://www.epinions.com/content_5362983044
|
|
|
© 1999-2010 Shopping.com, Inc.