America

[Tonio]

"The fact remains that our nation was founded on certain Judeo-Christian principals." Trevor, I've heard this said for 20 years and I still can't agree with it. I can't find anything in the Bible that resembles the concepts of freedom and democracy as embodied in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. And marriage is not an exclusively Christian practice either.

Why does everyone frame the debate as Christians versus atheists and agnostics? What about Hindus and Buddhists, for example?

[vraiblonde]

I'm curious about something. Do the people who are so concerned about keeping religious phrasing in our various government entities (money, schools, Pledge and so on) think that if these things are removed, God will no longer look upon us with favor and the Chinese will come and enslave us?

I ask because someone (I think BK) posted that God favored the US and gave several examples of our God-given superiority. So I'm interested in what people think would happen if we took "In God We Trust" off the money, the "Under God" out of the Pledge, etc. Do you think God would be mad and punish us? I mean, that's probably not such a stretch - he had no mercy for the Jews when they neglected to give Him appropriate reverance.

[Christy]

It wouldn't make a hill of beans (in the eyes of God) if God were removed from our money or taken out of the Pledge. It's simply a matter of how far do we have to go in this country to please those who get their panties in a bunch over just about everything. I just find it a complete waste of time and energy that could be well spent focusing on something more productive.

[watercolor]

:claps::claps::claps::claps::claps:

THANK YOU CHRISTY!!!!!!!!!

[grandpa]

vrai, please change that picture, it does you no justice.

[Christy]

I swear, within the next few years, every friggin religious related event will sound a bit like this.

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular
persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2002, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is
the only "AMERICA" in the Western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance
of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Have a good day friend!

[Tonio]

That's hilarious, Christy! It sounds exactly like it was written by a team of lawyers. It brings home my point about schools not letting students put up religious posters because of fear of lawsuits.

Hey, I have an idea--a 10-year ban on lawyers running for public office! Probably not legal, but I don't give a damn.