Thursday, July 29, 2004 - Apache Junction, Arizona, USA
A DISTINCT DANGER
For over 200 years, the United States of America has held the ideal of religious freedom and the separation of church and state to be two of the fundamental pillars of our Constitution.
George Washington said, “The United States should have a foundation free from the influence of clergy.”
John Adams said, “The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.”
Thomas Jefferson said, “History furnishes no example of a priest ridden people maintaining a free civil government. Their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose.”
With the coming election of 2004, we sit on the brink of seeing not only the Constitution of the United States destroyed, but also the freedoms contained therein that every American holds close to their hearts. How can I say this? Because our country is heading down a road from which there will be no return if we do not act now.
The symptoms are visible to anyone who takes the time to look around. First, we had the Supreme Court of the United States select the president of this country on a 5-4 vote only four short years ago. Think it can’t happen again? If George Bush is reselected, the vote next time will not be so close.
The Senate introduced a Constitutional amendment that for the first time in US history would discriminate against a selected minority. The only reason it did not make it through was because the majority of Republicans in the Senate still do not subscribe to the views of the religious right. This is not the case in the House of Representatives.
In the House, bill after bill is being introduced by right wing Republicans aimed at strengthening their power and making it easier for them to be re-elected. Here are just a few:
H.R. 2357: In a bill drafted by attorneys working for Pat Robinson’s American Center for Law and Justice, the religious right took aim at campaign finance reform. The bill would have allowed churches to collect money for political campaigns. It was supported by the most of the same right wing organizations that supported the Federal Marriage Amendment including, The American Family Association, The Family Research Council, Focus On The Family, and TV preachers like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.
The bill was narrowly defeated on October 2, 2002, by a vote of 178-239. Since that time, the religious right have increased their number by 18 representatives in the elections of 2002. The bill was reintroduced in January of 2003 and today sits in the House Ways and Means Committee with 160 sponsors, awaiting an assured majority for passage.
H.R. 3799: The Constitution of the United States does not mention the word “God” anywhere within its pages. The Constitution Restoration Act of 2004 was introduced on the House floor on February 11th, 2004. It would ban all federal court cases challenging state-sponsored acknowledgement of “God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government.” It would also overturn all existing rulings in this area and establish a mechanism for impeaching federal judges who dare to uphold church-state separation.
H.R. 2045: “The Ten Commandments Act” has 116 sponsors in the House. It would deny federal courts the ability to hear cases involving government display of the Ten Commandments and other religious symbols.
H.R. 3313: The bill requiring no federal court to be able to hear arguments against the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed the House early this month and is on its way to the Senate, where it will probably suffer defeat. If, however, in November’s election, the Senate strengthens its right wing Republican membership, you can bet the House will reintroduce this bill and pass all like-minded pending legislation. That is, IF the House regains the control that right wing Republicans now enjoy.
If George Bush gets re-elected with a strong majority in the House and Senate, America is in deep trouble. No less then three members of the Supreme Court are due to retire, most likely within the next four years. If Bush gets to select those three justices, right wing Republicans will control all THREE branches of the government. There is no doubt that Bush will nominate three justices similar to his good friend, Justice Antonin Scalia.
Justice Scalia is a frightening individual. Here are a few of his comments pertaining to American Law:
“Government...derives its moral authority from God. It is the minister of God with powers to 'avenge' to 'execute wrath' including even wrath by the sword.”
“America's Founding Fathers never meant to exclude God from the public forums and from political life."
The Texas Republican Party Platform reads:
"While it is true that the United States of America was founded on the sacred principle of religious freedom for all, that liberty was never intended to exalt other religions to the level that Christianity holds in our country's heritage."
"Our Founders expected that Christianity -- and no other religion -- would receive support from the government as long as that support did not violate peoples' consciences and their right to worship. They would have found utterly incredible the idea that all religions, including paganism, be treated with equal deference."
"Our party pledges to exert its influence to ... dispel the ‘myth’ of the separation of church and state."
My question to you is, IS THIS THE AMERICA YOU WANT TO LIVE IN?
If not, vote these people out of the House, out of the Senate, and most assuredly, elect John Kerry president of the United States of America. This November’s election is not only important, it’s CRITICAL to the continued freedoms our country still enjoys.
©2004 Marcia Ellen "Happy" Beevre
For over 200 years, the United States of America has held the ideal of religious freedom and the separation of church and state to be two of the fundamental pillars of our Constitution.
George Washington said, “The United States should have a foundation free from the influence of clergy.”
John Adams said, “The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.”
Thomas Jefferson said, “History furnishes no example of a priest ridden people maintaining a free civil government. Their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose.”
With the coming election of 2004, we sit on the brink of seeing not only the Constitution of the United States destroyed, but also the freedoms contained therein that every American holds close to their hearts. How can I say this? Because our country is heading down a road from which there will be no return if we do not act now.
The symptoms are visible to anyone who takes the time to look around. First, we had the Supreme Court of the United States select the president of this country on a 5-4 vote only four short years ago. Think it can’t happen again? If George Bush is reselected, the vote next time will not be so close.
The Senate introduced a Constitutional amendment that for the first time in US history would discriminate against a selected minority. The only reason it did not make it through was because the majority of Republicans in the Senate still do not subscribe to the views of the religious right. This is not the case in the House of Representatives.
In the House, bill after bill is being introduced by right wing Republicans aimed at strengthening their power and making it easier for them to be re-elected. Here are just a few:
H.R. 2357: In a bill drafted by attorneys working for Pat Robinson’s American Center for Law and Justice, the religious right took aim at campaign finance reform. The bill would have allowed churches to collect money for political campaigns. It was supported by the most of the same right wing organizations that supported the Federal Marriage Amendment including, The American Family Association, The Family Research Council, Focus On The Family, and TV preachers like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.
The bill was narrowly defeated on October 2, 2002, by a vote of 178-239. Since that time, the religious right have increased their number by 18 representatives in the elections of 2002. The bill was reintroduced in January of 2003 and today sits in the House Ways and Means Committee with 160 sponsors, awaiting an assured majority for passage.
H.R. 3799: The Constitution of the United States does not mention the word “God” anywhere within its pages. The Constitution Restoration Act of 2004 was introduced on the House floor on February 11th, 2004. It would ban all federal court cases challenging state-sponsored acknowledgement of “God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government.” It would also overturn all existing rulings in this area and establish a mechanism for impeaching federal judges who dare to uphold church-state separation.
H.R. 2045: “The Ten Commandments Act” has 116 sponsors in the House. It would deny federal courts the ability to hear cases involving government display of the Ten Commandments and other religious symbols.
H.R. 3313: The bill requiring no federal court to be able to hear arguments against the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed the House early this month and is on its way to the Senate, where it will probably suffer defeat. If, however, in November’s election, the Senate strengthens its right wing Republican membership, you can bet the House will reintroduce this bill and pass all like-minded pending legislation. That is, IF the House regains the control that right wing Republicans now enjoy.
If George Bush gets re-elected with a strong majority in the House and Senate, America is in deep trouble. No less then three members of the Supreme Court are due to retire, most likely within the next four years. If Bush gets to select those three justices, right wing Republicans will control all THREE branches of the government. There is no doubt that Bush will nominate three justices similar to his good friend, Justice Antonin Scalia.
Justice Scalia is a frightening individual. Here are a few of his comments pertaining to American Law:
“Government...derives its moral authority from God. It is the minister of God with powers to 'avenge' to 'execute wrath' including even wrath by the sword.”
“America's Founding Fathers never meant to exclude God from the public forums and from political life."
The Texas Republican Party Platform reads:
"While it is true that the United States of America was founded on the sacred principle of religious freedom for all, that liberty was never intended to exalt other religions to the level that Christianity holds in our country's heritage."
"Our Founders expected that Christianity -- and no other religion -- would receive support from the government as long as that support did not violate peoples' consciences and their right to worship. They would have found utterly incredible the idea that all religions, including paganism, be treated with equal deference."
"Our party pledges to exert its influence to ... dispel the ‘myth’ of the separation of church and state."
My question to you is, IS THIS THE AMERICA YOU WANT TO LIVE IN?
If not, vote these people out of the House, out of the Senate, and most assuredly, elect John Kerry president of the United States of America. This November’s election is not only important, it’s CRITICAL to the continued freedoms our country still enjoys.
©2004 Marcia Ellen "Happy" Beevre
Comments:
Just two more years 'till I can vote. I sure as hell won't vote for Christian fascist Republicans like Bush.
Paul: Good for you guy!! Remember to read up on House Representatives and Senators, it would be wise also to check into state congressional individuals also. This is a fight for our very way of life!!
Vlad: Bush isn't as bad as the people driving him. He a very pliable man, easily pushed by others. Getting re-elected is more important to him than his country, however. In two years, the entire House and part of the Senate will be up for election again. You're vote will be exceptionally meaningful because they don't expect young people to vote. You GO guy!! :)
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Vlad: Bush isn't as bad as the people driving him. He a very pliable man, easily pushed by others. Getting re-elected is more important to him than his country, however. In two years, the entire House and part of the Senate will be up for election again. You're vote will be exceptionally meaningful because they don't expect young people to vote. You GO guy!! :)
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