Wednesday, August 21, 2019

opinion and principle

 Well seems like the " squad " has an agenda of their own. Following Israels' rejection of them and then relenting, I hear this; as the first Muslim-American congresspeople. Now hold on there just a minute! Muslin-American? What is that supposed to mean? Your religion and your nationality are different things altogether. You can be Muslim in any country but you can only be an American in America! In fact Article VI clause 3 of the constitution forbids a religious test as a requirement to hold any federal office or be a federal employee. So why do these ladies call themselves Muslim-Americans? The simple reason being they want to push their own religious agenda! Under the guise of public service and representing their constituents, they are promoting Islam. Can Sharia law be far down on their list of religious " freedoms " protected under that same constitution? Yes, that's what I hear when I hear, Muslim-American. I've never heard anyone claiming to be a Catholic -  American, Methodist-American, Jewish- American, Hindu-American or any other Religious sect - American!
 I'm walking out on the limb here and saying it outright, we are one nation under god. That God can be whomever or whatever you wish it to be. Remember the first amendment?" Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise therof: " We take that to mean the separation of church and state. That meaning comes from Thomas Jefferson saying that first amendment built a wall of separation between government and religion. He was saying that government shall not interfere with religion! In his inaugural address he  said in part,
 " Let us then, fellow citizens, unite with one heart and one mind, let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty, and even life itself, are but dreary things. And let us reflect that having banished from our land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered, we have yet gained little if we countenance a political intolerance, as despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions. . . [E]very difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all republicans: we are all federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union, or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated, where reason is left free to combat it.” 
 So what does all that mean? Jefferson is saying that religion was necessary for the welfare of the government and the people. When he says, having banished from the land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered, what is he talking about? Religion interfering in government! He makes the point that not every difference of opinion is a difference of principle. He even talks about name calling! 
 And now we have this squad attempting to interject their religious beliefs into government. A religion I dare say that shows little tolerance towards those that fail to practice the faith in accordance with their laws! Yes, Islam is an ideology. They would change the Republic established by our forefathers. Jefferson warns us about that while protecting the rights of the people. This is expressed when he says, " If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union, or to change its' Republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated, where reason is left free to combat it. " So yes we have allowed them to stand as monuments of safety, just as Jefferson proclaims. They should serve as a reminder to us all. Reason is left to combat the error of their opinion! My only concern is that so many seem to have lost all reason! Remember there is never to be a religious test to serve in government. But now those that were elected, enjoying that freedom, would change that very standard given the choice! Their agenda is to change that fundamental principle. Indeed they would impose a religious test on every citizen if they could! 
 Thomas Jefferson in that same inaugural address also said, religion was necessary for the welfare of government and the people. He was saying that that religion and government are not separate things. He was saying you can't use religion to govern. The government was not to interfere in the practice of religion either. In Jeffersons'  day church services were held in the senate building, indeed religious services were held in many federal buildings. Jefferson and the others saw no conflict there. His view wasn't a separation of church from state. He did believe that religion, enforced by the state, had caused much blood and suffering! But reason should prevail was his idea, his and many others at that time. A difference of opinion is not a difference of principle! And what is the primary principle here? Religion shall not make law.  

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