The Founding Fathers believed that our rights as human beings come from God, not from the kind or the state. Thus, they rejected the notion that power came through the monarch to the people; but rather, directly from God.
The Declaration of Independence contains four references to God: as lawmaker, as Creator, as Supreme Judge, and as Protector. The Declaration of Independence represents both the genesis and heart of American liberty. Our rights come from our Creator, not the government, sovereign, or King.
Source: Rediscovering God in America, by Newt Gingrich, p. 29-30 Dec 31, 2006
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. Amendment I begins: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
The language clearly prohibits the establishment of an official national religion, while at the same time protecting the observance of religion in both private and public spaces. In fact, two of the principal authors of the First Amendment, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who were also our third and fourth presidents, respectively, both attended church services in the Capitol building, the most public of American spaces. During Jefferson's presidency, church services were also held in the Treasury building and the Supreme Court. Therefore, these Founding Fathers clearly saw no conflict in opposing the establishment of an official religion while protecting the freedom of religious expression in the public square.
Source: Rediscovering God in America, by Newt Gingrich, p. 31-32 Dec 31, 2006
# Each day's session of the Supreme Court starts with the invocation: "God save the United States and this Honorable Court."
# The National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner" contains the words "Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation."
# The National Motto is "In God we Trust."
# The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag contains the words "one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
# The Declaration of Independence includes the phrase: "with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence."
A cross that was first erected in 1934 in the Mojave Desert Preserve by a group of veterans to commemorate fallen veterans is now being challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Veterans say the white cross is meant to represent the Fallen Soldier Battle Cross, which consists of a rifle and bayonet that are a symbol intended to replicate the cross on the battlefield to honor those who died in battle. In 2002, Congress designated the cross as a “national memorial commemorating United States participation in World War I and honoring American veterans of that war.”
After a 17 year fight a judge eventually said the veterans memorial near San Diego is constitutional and can remain.
"When the cross is considered in the context of the larger memorial and especially the numerous other secular elements, the primary effect is patriotic and nationalistic, not religious," wrote U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns.
"The Court finds the memorial at Mt. Soledad, including its Latin cross, communicates the primarily non-religious messages of military service, death and sacrifice," he said.
“We heard from someone who attends these football games ... that the game last Friday was opened with a prayer and that they had seen this happen last season as well,” said Rebecca K. Glenberg, legal director for the Virginia ACLU. “The Supreme Court has made it quite clear that public high school football games cannot be opened with an official prayer.”
In Wichita, Kansas, a local newspaper ran an apology after referring to a "Christmas tree", rather than a "community tree" at the city's Winterfest celebration.
In Denver, a Christian church float was barred from the city's parade while Chinese lion dancers and German folk dancers were welcomed.
In parts of Florida, fir trees have been banned this year from government-owned property.
A mayor in Massachusetts issued a formal apology to anyone offended by a press release that mistakenly described the town of Somerville's holiday party as a "Christmas party".
Schools in Florida and New Jersey have banned all carols and elsewhere in
Washington state a school principal banned a production of A Christmas Carol mainly because Tiny Tim prays: "God bless us, every one."
In one New Jersey school district, where the singing of Christmas carols has long been abandoned, officials have this year forbidden children's orchestras to play songs such as Silent Night because that might remind people of their Christian content.
Why do we let the small minority of politically correct anti-Religious have their way? Are we afraid to Stand up for God?
I don't know what it will take to wake up America?
We seem to be like the frog who was put in the pan of water and then the fire is turned on:
First the water is cool,
then it gets warm,
then it gets hot,
then it begins to boil, by then it is too late. Your cooked!
I hope it is not to late, but the water sure is getting warm?
GOD BLESS AMERICA
How true and could not say it better myself. Good Job Mike.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we need to start a ride across the nation titled something like Paul Revere's riders shouting a call to patriots across this great land to stand up and demand change.