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Ok, I got so much feedback, e-mails, comments on the Independents web site, phone calls (And three stools down!) I wasn’t sure whether to continue these discussions? And if I did, should it be about the “Wall” (between church and state) or that “Backside” (of our little county seat)?
Both cry out for another go at ‘em. Though the wall could (should) be a series in it’s own right. However, I don’t want to (publicly) remain a “right wing” religious nut for too long. I’ve only got three regular readers as it is. One of ‘em just might be a “left wing” liberal (and I don’t want to lose even that One?).
But I feel strongly enough about that dad gum wall, I’m gonna take another whack at it.
Some readers thought I mighta been advocating turning the “state” loose to start or endorse a religion. That couldn’t be further from my intent! If I can get it down here (in under 800 words!) perhaps I can make my feelings a little clearer?
What’s been driving me crazy (for decades) is the “Few” (often "One") raisin’ so much cain about being “offended” by Any religious display on “government” property. Pardon me, but this is a frivolous bunch of crap!
Generally some “One” files suit, sparkin’ assistance by the ACLU (personal definition: Anti Citizen Lawyers Union). The supposed problem gen’rally centers around their being offended, insulted or “marginalized” simply by display of religious beliefs (is that possible?!). Whether by an overt display of belief in God, or someone nearby merely praying. What a bunch of hooey!
First of all, there is no “government” land. It’s ALL, Our Land! You and I own every scrap of “government” land. The use of that land for the display of religious beliefs or speaking about them or praying on them is not simply one of our rights. It was meant to be a “Primary” right. Written about as such by (virtually) every one of this countries founders. Many of whom espoused the belief that the bible should be a “primer” in every school (!).
Read your constitution! Separation of church and state (grown into that “Wall”!) Only bans the government from “Establishing” a religion. Oh! And NOT prohibiting the “free exercise” thereof! Nothing More.
Today’s complainers (and courts, lawyers, legislators) just want attention. Or to exercise some nebulous “power” over the rest of us. “Offense” taken, has little to do with it.
Example: There’s a cross out in New Mexico. Been there for decades, as a display honoring fallen soldiers. Maintained by a few veteran volunteers at no cost to anyone else, no one had any problem with it.
I believe originally it wasn’t even on “government” land? At some point, a national park was established, which ultimately surrounded the land with the cross.
Now here’s where my contention that most folks so “offended”, Aren’t..., Not Really!
Several years ago some feller decided it “offended” him. So he filed suit to git it removed. (I’ll let you guess who jumped right in to assist him in relievin’ his sufferin’).
This feller who filed suit, lived a good ways away (in another state!). Had he driven past the cross? Stumbled upon it in the dark while campin’ nearby? Had someone started sendin’ him unwanted pictures of it daily?
Nope...! Near as I can find out, he’d never seen it! But it “offended” him, nonetheless!! (his folks shoulda taught him tolerance!).
We’ve got people so “offended”, that the ten commandments can’t be displayed in a courthouse! Doesn’t seem to matter that our entire system of laws trace their roots directly back to them!
Moses is carved in stone down there on our supreme court. But that’s been ruled “Ok” (by judges) because he represents a “historical”, Not religious character. (What!?)
He’s cradling two stone tablets. But that’s “Ok”, ‘cuz they’re blank. Therefor they, “...don’t represent the ten commandments...”(!). So I surmise the atheists (and assorted whiners) are ‘spose to be ignorantly “Un-Offended”? Apparently remaining blissfully unaware those stone tablets of (clearly invisible) laws were written..., by the hand of God! Talk about convoluted logic!
We tolerate our courts, legislators and whiners dictating how (and where) we exercise our constitutionally guaranteed rights to “Free Expression” of Our Religions. Why?!
Everything I’ve studied of our founders writings emphasizes the importance of the (indisputable) fact that this land was founded as a Christian Nation.
Free exercise of (y)our religious beliefs is denied every time any “One” amongst us is allowed to curtail that exercise, Anywhere on American Soil!
I Don’t Know About You..., maybe We oughta file the suits right back at the whiners.
Cal Teeple, founder of the Observational Cogitation Consortium is found three stools down Or At: wayneindependent.com/cal Or At: calteeple@gmail.com He may be accosted, ignored or contacted at all three.
Ok, I got so much feedback, e-mails, comments on the Independents web site, phone calls (And three stools down!) I wasn’t sure whether to continue these discussions? And if I did, should it be about the “Wall” (between church and state) or that “Backside” (of our little county seat)?
Both cry out for another go at ‘em. Though the wall could (should) be a series in it’s own right. However, I don’t want to (publicly) remain a “right wing” religious nut for too long. I’ve only got three regular readers as it is. One of ‘em just might be a “left wing” liberal (and I don’t want to lose even that One?).
But I feel strongly enough about that dad gum wall, I’m gonna take another whack at it.
Some readers thought I mighta been advocating turning the “state” loose to start or endorse a religion. That couldn’t be further from my intent! If I can get it down here (in under 800 words!) perhaps I can make my feelings a little clearer?
What’s been driving me crazy (for decades) is the “Few” (often "One") raisin’ so much cain about being “offended” by Any religious display on “government” property. Pardon me, but this is a frivolous bunch of crap!
Generally some “One” files suit, sparkin’ assistance by the ACLU (personal definition: Anti Citizen Lawyers Union). The supposed problem gen’rally centers around their being offended, insulted or “marginalized” simply by display of religious beliefs (is that possible?!). Whether by an overt display of belief in God, or someone nearby merely praying. What a bunch of hooey!
First of all, there is no “government” land. It’s ALL, Our Land! You and I own every scrap of “government” land. The use of that land for the display of religious beliefs or speaking about them or praying on them is not simply one of our rights. It was meant to be a “Primary” right. Written about as such by (virtually) every one of this countries founders. Many of whom espoused the belief that the bible should be a “primer” in every school (!).
Read your constitution! Separation of church and state (grown into that “Wall”!) Only bans the government from “Establishing” a religion. Oh! And NOT prohibiting the “free exercise” thereof! Nothing More.
Today’s complainers (and courts, lawyers, legislators) just want attention. Or to exercise some nebulous “power” over the rest of us. “Offense” taken, has little to do with it.
Example: There’s a cross out in New Mexico. Been there for decades, as a display honoring fallen soldiers. Maintained by a few veteran volunteers at no cost to anyone else, no one had any problem with it.
I believe originally it wasn’t even on “government” land? At some point, a national park was established, which ultimately surrounded the land with the cross.
Now here’s where my contention that most folks so “offended”, Aren’t..., Not Really!
Several years ago some feller decided it “offended” him. So he filed suit to git it removed. (I’ll let you guess who jumped right in to assist him in relievin’ his sufferin’).
This feller who filed suit, lived a good ways away (in another state!). Had he driven past the cross? Stumbled upon it in the dark while campin’ nearby? Had someone started sendin’ him unwanted pictures of it daily?
Nope...! Near as I can find out, he’d never seen it! But it “offended” him, nonetheless!! (his folks shoulda taught him tolerance!).
We’ve got people so “offended”, that the ten commandments can’t be displayed in a courthouse! Doesn’t seem to matter that our entire system of laws trace their roots directly back to them!
Moses is carved in stone down there on our supreme court. But that’s been ruled “Ok” (by judges) because he represents a “historical”, Not religious character. (What!?)
He’s cradling two stone tablets. But that’s “Ok”, ‘cuz they’re blank. Therefor they, “...don’t represent the ten commandments...”(!). So I surmise the atheists (and assorted whiners) are ‘spose to be ignorantly “Un-Offended”? Apparently remaining blissfully unaware those stone tablets of (clearly invisible) laws were written..., by the hand of God! Talk about convoluted logic!
We tolerate our courts, legislators and whiners dictating how (and where) we exercise our constitutionally guaranteed rights to “Free Expression” of Our Religions. Why?!
Everything I’ve studied of our founders writings emphasizes the importance of the (indisputable) fact that this land was founded as a Christian Nation.
Free exercise of (y)our religious beliefs is denied every time any “One” amongst us is allowed to curtail that exercise, Anywhere on American Soil!
I Don’t Know About You..., maybe We oughta file the suits right back at the whiners.
Cal Teeple, founder of the Observational Cogitation Consortium is found three stools down Or At: wayneindependent.com/cal Or At: calteeple@gmail.com He may be accosted, ignored or contacted at all three.
