58. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays,
While there are many different religions, many would be offended if other
religious symbols were used in or on government buildings, such as the Jewish
“Star of David”, the Turkish “Crescent”, and Statue’s of Buddha etc.
We are a nation of many beliefs, with each citizen
welcome to worship, as they desire.
Our citizens of “any faith” deserve justice in our courts,
to imply that “only” Christian’s deserve justice, is not how our nation was
founded.
But, if we are not going to put the Star of David, or any other
religious emblem, on our buildings then we are not going to put the Christian
Cross on any government building.
Do you want, “Pray to Allah”
on our paper money? Why not?
That was why in 1776 the
founding fathers realized our nation was founded by those of many religious
beliefs, and didn’t want a government-sponsored religion as what is the correct
belief.
Now I had some ancestors fined for refusing to pay tithes, who
were whipped for being Quakers, who were locked in prison for being Quakers.
They did not get religious freedom, from my Pilgrim ancestors, who came here
for religious freedom! and insisted everyone believe as they did. Hypocrites?
You bet.
Other Religions do not change anything of their dogma, so as to
not offend Christians, why should we Christians be afraid we might offend
non-Christians? So Merry Christmas it is for me. I will respect all
persons of any religion or no religion, as they are Free Americans to believe
anyway they want.
Shall all citizens be taxed to support all churches? Shall
citizens be fined, and even placed in stocks for not attending church? See
already you now believe differently than what laws were enforced in the
Massachusetts Colonies in the early 1600’s. That is exactly why we have freedom
“of/and from” religion as established by the Bill of Rights.
What if you would refuse to swear on the Christian Bible in
court, since that is not your religion, should you be denied your rights to a
fair trial? Of course not. Do you want to swear on the Koran?
Suppose we establish that the Catholic religion is the correct
religion, and that all children must carry Rosary Beads, and start each day in
school, (as I experienced in my childhood, and since I refused to participate,
of course I was picked on), with a prayer to the Virgin Mary, nothing wrong
with that, Right? Of course NOT. Any forced religion in any
school is wrong, based upon our Bill of Rights that forbid any establishment of
any particular Religion.
All businesses have the right to be open, or closed on
whatever days they wish if you don’t like it, don’t shop with them. If you want
the Commandments in force in our buildings, take the print of that with you on
your person, and in your heart. Now I’m pretty fair about any worship any human
being wants to practice, it makes no difference to me, as long as no one tries
to force their beliefs on me.
Would you want your child to
be forced to pray on the Koran? Or
any other forced particular religion? “NO?”
So we have the freedom to choose which religion we want to embrace, and to
guide your children to your believe, “in YOUR Home and Church”.
There are an estimated 50 Million Muslims in Europe,
and their birth rate greatly exceeds the birth of non-Muslims in the
communities. The Muslims are demanding that their laws are above the laws of
the other European communities, that they have a right to kill non-conforming
women, who refuse to follow Shari Law. Anyone who complains about this is
threatened with Death. We must not allow this to happen in America. Still do
not believe we must eliminate all Muslims in the world?
The Muslims demand that the Muslim diet must be
served in the local schools, so now Non-Muslim children are being fed the same
diet to appease the Muslims, that is already happening in the United States in
California. Enough of this!
Want us
to follow the 10 Commandments? Then shall we close all business on the “Sabbath?”
which day is the “Sabbath?” Saturday, or Sunday? Well let’s recognize both days
considered to be the Sabbath, and to be fair to all, should we force all
businesses to close on both days? Of course not.
The 11th Commandment jokingly is “In God we trust, all others pay cash”,
that one everyone believes in.
Too many religious persons
consider “their religion” is the correct version, and if only everyone believed
in “their” version, life would be perfect. Sorry, this is a nation of
many people with various beliefs, and each of us has a “right” to our own
beliefs “in private”.
Now should we convict, and punish anyone who covets thy
neighbor’s house or wife? Half of us would be in jail. Or “you shall have no
other gods before me” just how would you enforce that upon our citizens of
different beliefs.
What about “If you have
looked at someone in lust, you have already sinned” not part of the 10
Commandments, but still in the bible. We cannot force all citizens in this
nation to adhere to some of your beliefs. That’s why the First Amendment of our
Bill of Rights, and was included for good reason to allow all of us to worship
and believe as we wish. FREE as you believe.
Shall we remove all statues
everywhere in the nation? As stated in the Second commandment. The 10
Commandments contain items that are specifically Religious rules, and as such
not all laws should command all citizens of different religions to honor those
commandments.
As late as the 1930’s in some states, it was illegal for a man
to get a vasectomy, or for a woman to have her tubes tied as a means of birth
control. It was illegal in Conn., and Mass. to buy birth control devices. This
was for religious reasons, forced upon other citizens who may not agree with
that religion. This is wrong. I remember in Michigan in the 1930’s buying
Condoms was a hush hush item.
I was told in 1967 in a drug store in Dallas, TX that I could
not buy razor blades on Sunday. I promised the clerk, that “Either he accepted
my money for this purchase, or I’d walk out with them, without paying”, he took
my money. This is forced religion again. WRONG. “No so called Blue
Laws” Worship your God in your way, and let others worship their God or not, in
their way.