Recently I blogged about H.CON.RES.274, the latest attempt by our nation’s Christian Elite to impose their religious beliefs, disguised in ”heritage” doublespeak, on the rest of us. In Clearing the calendar for Christianism, I also casually mentioned that the crazies at American Family Association had issued an “action alert” – and offered an online tool with which you could contact your congress member about the bill. I thought I was sooooo clever, using AFA’s own form to protest the bill. Though, in my own defense, how could I have possibly known that my congressman (or his staff) doesn’t actually *read* mail from constituents?
August 26, 2010
Dear (Lynn),
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for our national motto, “In God We Trust”. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue. Like you, I believe it is imperative that America uphold its long rich history of strong family values and moral integrity.
Since its founding, the United States has been a beacon of democracy, protecting people of all faiths to freely practice their religion. The religious foundations of faith on which America was built are critical underpinnings of our Nation’s most valuable institutions and form the inseparable foundation for America’s representative processes, legal systems, and societal structures. This heritage of faith has also been incorporated into many of our nation’s traditions and symbols, such as the use of the Bible to administer an oath, the pledge of Allegiance, and the official adoption of “In God We Trust” as our national motto in 1956.
You may be pleased to learn that I am a co-sponsor of H. Con. Res. 297, a resolution reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States. The resolution reaffirms that trust in God is embedded in the fabric of the society and history of our nation, while rejecting any notion that the Constitution requires the exclusion of God from public life and governance. In addition, the resolution supports and encourages the public display of “In God We Trust” in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. As a co-sponsor of H. Con. Res. 297, I urge its quick consideration by the House Judiciary Committee and enactment into law.
Please be assured that I will continue working in Congress to guarantee that religion and family values maintain a strong place in American life. Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope you will remain in touch in the future on other issues of importance to you.
Sincerely,
GARY G. MILLER
Member of Congress
So, my congressman is hard at work making sure that [cough] “religion” maintains a strong place in American life. Of course, anybody who follows this stuff knows that “religion” means “Christian” (the same way that “Judeo-Christian” means Christian). This is especially true when these same Christian Nationalists are – simultaneously – busy at work spreading the false meme that Islam “isn’t a religion, but a political ideology.” Gosh, within a stone’s throw of my house – and also in Mr. Miller’s district – are Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu families. Hmm. I wonder if they’re practicing “political ideologies” instead of religions, too.
Do these assholes not know that there are hungry children in this country? How dare they spend one minute of the day thinking about reaffirming what motto we have?
Nance — not too thrilled with pix of Obama on vacation either; yes, I know. . . .
Nance: “Do these assholes not know that there are hungry children in this country?”
Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses? Perhaps hungry children should hurry up, die and decrease the surplus population. After all, the “right to food” is found nowhere in the Constitution. Plus, we’re busy “Restoring Honor” to America.
[/cynicism and snark] :]
“Gosh, within a stone’s throw of my house – and also in Mr. Miller’s district – are Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu families. Hmm. I wonder if they’re practicing “political ideologies” instead of religions, too.”
Actually, this country was founded by people whose political ideologies had a lot more to do with keeping Britain’s nose out of their business and its hands out of their coffers, not religious freedom.
The men who came up with the Declaration of Independence weren’t members of cults or Puritans, although a lot of people think they were. They were pretty mainstream, middle to upper class burghers with an independent streak, some education and some free-thinking ideas about god that wouldn’t have gone down very well in most mainstream American churches nowadays.
I’d love to see a debate between Beck and Jefferson, for instance. Or Sam Adams (love his beer) and Falwell.
How in the world anyone can think that America is a xtian nation when you see what everyone watches on TV, at the movies, writes on their FB pages, and what they tweet about … Then there are the comments on the Right Wing blogs … Don’t get me started.
Lill: “I’d love to see a debate between Beck and Jefferson.”
I think I can top that. Thanks for the reminder. I guess. :S
Particularly interesting would be a debate between Jefferson and Oliver DeMille, creator of TJEd (Thomas Jefferson Education: Education to Match our Mission), a popular classical approach to education (which exploits and corrupts the name and memory of Jefferson) used by Christian homeschoolers to groom their children as Servant Leaders, assigned by Providence, to Restore Honor and Liberty to America. Hmm. Restore honor? Restore liberty? Why are those slogans ringing a bell this weekend? :)
Here’s a video to scare the demons out of you.
Watch it with a Sam Adams in hand.
You’re welcome. :)
I love how he “sincerely” wants you to “remain in touch” [laughing]. Reminds me of liesSeth Godin’s post about …
~Luke
I still haven’t figured out what the Beckster wanted. Are we all supposed to be Mormons now?
The upside as this has developed, is that we’ve got plenty to work with now. Lynn’s right to emphasize religion as political ideology and vice versa, because it’s never been more naked and out in the streets, shameless flagbearers using what god gave them to run it up their poles and see who salutes. All we need do is be the boy at the Emperor’s parade, pointing it out in public for all to see and mock until it, um, shrivels and withers. ;-)
This might help Nance know what Beck is really saying and what we should say back: