Religious Freedom, White Declears A Day for it

[ChicanoPwr]

Religious Freedom Day, 2005
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

George Washington wrote, "The liberty enjoyed by the people of these States, of worshipping Almighty God agreeably to their consciences, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights."

<snip>

We reject religious bigotry in every form, striving for a society that honors the life and faith of every person. As we maintain the vitality of a pluralistic society, we work to ensure equal treatment of faith-based organizations and people of faith.

As the United States advances the cause of liberty, we remember that freedom is not America's gift to the world, but God's gift to each man and woman in this world. This truth drives our efforts to help people everywhere achieve freedom of religion and establish a better, brighter, and more peaceful future for all.

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 January 16, 2005, as Religious Freedom Day. I encourage all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious freedom, to endeavor to preserve this freedom for future generations, and to commemorate this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of worship.

GEORGE W. BUSH

So what happened to the seperation of between Church and State?

[BiggJawn]

1. "Remember, Freedom OF Religion doesn't mean Freedom FROM...

...Religion..."

And our Founding Fathers were ALL "Good Christian Men"!

You can TELL me I don't have freedom FROM religion, shit, you can even try to Tase and beat the idea out of me in a "Re-Education Facility" (concentration camp), but it ain't gonna happen.

Was Jerry Foul-Well present when Shrubya signed the proclamation?

BTW, 16 January was a SUNDAY, so I don't imagine very many Public Schools were in session that day....

[complain jane]

2. I don't think Jesus would throw himself a $40m inaugural do you?

George Bush is religiously free to rot in hell.

[bryant69]

3. And we already missed it

We could have come up with lots appropriate ways to celbrate our religious freedoms.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[me b zola]

4. Just a bone to throw,imo

Remember how they got the bible thumpers all in a bind for the last election...gay rights and abortion rights.

Now that they have won this election, both issues they have put on the back burner. Why?...Well, to save them for the '06 elections. These bastids don't believe any of their own propaganda. It is there purely to serve as the means to stir fear & hatred among the "faithful". Once the elections are over, they go back to the business of raping our economy and enslaving us in the process.

[ErinGoBraghLess]

5. Keep on bashing

I have to say this: If we keep on bashing religion all the time, we are never going to play to the majority of this country. You can laugh all you want about how Bush is a religious fanatic and a nut and all that, but if we take such a strident tone against religion, it's going to hurt us.

Second, as a lawyer, I think Michael Nedow and folks like him are taking this separation thing way too far. The establishment clause not only prevents the government from establishing a religion, it also prevents the government from prohibiting the free exercise of religion. There is NO separation of church and state mentioned in the Constitution. The founding fathers established a national day of prayer, for Pete's sake. So if we want to waste our time attacking the mention of God on our money and in our oaths, and if we act like a cross on the town square is the greatest threat to this country, etc., we're just going to look like a bunch of silly fanatics. You think that will play well in 2006 and 2008?

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[ErinGoBraghLess]

9. Religion is bad??

I have to respectfully disagree. I enjoy my religion. And while evil has been committed in the name of religion, that does not make religion bad. Child abuse is bad, rape is bad, selling drugs to kids is bad. Religion brings much joy to the world. But religion is a personal thing. You don't have to agree with me.

[BiggJawn]

7. Thanks, I intend to.

"I have to say this: If we keep on bashing religion all the time, we are never going to play to the majority of this country. You can laugh all you want about how Bush is a religious fanatic and a nut and all that, but if we take such a strident tone against religion, it's going to hurt us."

Well, at any rate, at least i'll be true to myself. I really don't understand where some of us get off with this bullshit "We gotta be more like them in order to win them over" stuff.

I suppose we should start displaying The "Stars and Bars" and telling "N***** Jokes" in order to woo Racist ReTHUGs over to "our side"? What about getting that Anti-Semite vote? And well, we may as well start working to overthrow Roe v. Wade, too, hadn't we?

Wrong. You gotta take a stand someplace.

And where do hear anyone "laughing" about Bush being a religious fanatic? I'm sure as fuck not laughing.

Go back and tell Dobson it didn't work, we're wise to him.

[ErinGoBraghLess]

8. Take a stand?

And a hearty good morning to you too! If you want to be like Ivory Soap and rely on your purity to save you, that is your choice. You can reduce yourself and marginalize yourself while you smugly congratulate yourself on the sanctity of your beliefs. But you will have no impact on the world and your contribution will be meaningless. Do you not understand that there are millions and millions of Dems who go to Church and believe in Jesus and angels and Heaven, etc? These people vote too. So you can spend your day in mental anguish over the fact that there is a National Christmas Tree, but you won't accomplish anything.

It doesn't mean you want to fellate Bush personally just to acknowledge that Dems can be religious too.

[BiggJawn]

10. "National Christmas Tree"..that's rich...

Interesting that you used an example of a Christian-Co-opted PAGAN symbol...As far as I'm concerned, Bush can go light the "National Jack-O-Lantern" on Hallowe'en, too...

As for the rest of it, Well....OK, I'm not gonna launch into a pissing contest with you because I perceive that neither of us will convince the other of anything.
But i will leave you with one thought: it's true, I don't believe in Jesus, but neither do I worship "Satan", either.

[Bridget Burke]

11. Who smugly congratulates themselves n the sanctity of his beliefs?

I believe you've described Bush & CO quite well. Nobody's worried about the Christmas Tree--it's got good pagan roots. Stop reading those Right Wing "Christian" sites.

And those kneepads really come in handy for praying, don't they?

[ErinGoBraghLess]

12. kneepads

You don't need knee pads to pray because you can pray anywhere, just like you don't need knee pads for that other activity either. Just got to find other positions. :)

I didn't mean to tick anyone off. Just saying that I know a lot of Dems who go to church and are still smart caring people. It doesn't mean we're brainwashed ignorant hillbillies just because we believe in Jesus.

I admit I had a lot of fun in my younger days doing all sorts of things I wouldn't want my kids to do now. But can't a person grow up?