Sometimes you have to speak truth to power. Sometimes before you speak truth to power, you announce the speech. Sometimes, when people want to hear the speech about truth and power, they ask you to travel long distances and advertise the event. Sometimes the Power part of the equation gets nervous, does one of those anticipatory arrest things, and really toss the spanner, mucking things up, and all before a single word is spoken. It's called prophylactic protection of the public from nasty concepts such as preservation of one group's rights in the vast patchwork of humanity.
Apparently, promotion of a particular group can get you arrested in Germany. Promotion of the rights of this group, to their historic, cultural and religious background, celebrated with symbols, gatherings, writings, exchange of ideas, is all very dangerous in today's culture of correctness. This means, one group apparently is no longer "correct".
Still, when speaking truth to power, it also helps that the media, the town crier, the internet bloviators, and whatever passes for Nooz, actually have a record of admissions that all prior statements, while good for circulation figures, are not even close to the concept of truth. Speaking truth to power always is best done when you start from a position of truth. Truth today should demand clear statements of biography, speeches and writings. If those are directed at or about the group that is no longer "correct" you can get arrested for it, pilloried for it, and denigrated without cause for it. In other words, the lie today is Ruler, the Truth a pale semblance of its former Kingship.
Such is the case of Dr. David Duke, an historian, supporter of human rights, outspoken advocate of cultural preservation. Dr. Duke, our David, went into the Coliseum, also known as Cologne, Germany, to speak about his views that the culture of the European, white, Christian peoples is getting the short shrift in today's endless campaigns of political correctness. It's his opinion. He's entitled to it. 'Nuff said. Move along. Nothing to see here.
Except, that's not what happened. Dr. Duke got arrested. His speech was supposedly cancelled, although some brave soul had a copy so everyone that got to the hall heard the contents, but not the proper, from the source, delivery. Dr. Duke was simply going to make a speech about the current dismal state of affairs in teh age of correctness that gets the rights of one group all wrong.
Unfortunately, the media seems to cotton onto Dr. Duke's former, as in no longer a member, membership in a Klan organization and won't let that tidbit go. Dr. Duke is not now in the Klan. Then again, Angela Merkl is not in the Communist Party any longer, but she was for a long time a Communist. Interestingly, she is not introduced as "member, albeit likely formerly, of the Communist Party. How many of us belonged to groups we'd rather forget than admit? Be honest, because someone knows if you're lying. Count me into that group, as I have belonged to some groups I'd rather never admit associating with, and I'm not naming names here either.
All that Dr. Duke wanted to convey is the message that protecting the heritage, customs, symbols and history of the European, and those of European origin, is important. Those are the people that came from Europe, bringing Christianity, along with the customs of their country of origin, and are now found mostly in North America, as well as their home countries of Europe. These are the formerly correct, but now disparaged, majority group of the US, who are discouraged from celebrating with Merry Christmas, public square displays of Creches, and gatherings where foods of the 'home' country are celebrated with similar customs also being part of the festivities.
Sure, a generation ago, White people were sometimes, even often in cases, racist. These days, White people cannot have a part of the public square for a Christmas tree, nor can they greet one another with Merry Christmas. We are so intimidated, we don’t even flinch when we’re told we can no longer greet another with Happy Easter, except inside the church building itself.
Now, I am as against racism, discrimination or someone telling me who I must be nice to when I don't feel particularly like being told in the first place. However, I am also bone weary of the insipid "Happy Holidays" foisted on Christians when the expression works just as well for the Fourth of July, or Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. I don't want the thought police telling me what I can and cannot say in a supposedly free society.
December for Christians is Merry Christmas. It's Happy Christmas. It is the holiday that celebrates the birth of my Lord. After all, Holiday didn't get born in a stable and Holiday didn't upset the Powers that Were back then, resulting in a tortured murder and resurrection that gives meaning to the entire Christmas season in the first place. But, I digress.
The problem with Dr. Duke is that he went into the land of political correctness run well and truly into a whole different zeitgeist run amok, and tried to speak his mind. Using facts. Facts he had unearthed through talking with historians, reading historians, and dropping a few, not so well liked minds. Bishop Williamson could tell the same story. Dr. Duke's mind, which if you take what is said by and about him, has been pretty open. He repeatedly says and writes that every culture has a right and a duty, to preserve and celebrate its history. (The italics is my surmise of what Dr. Duke says and writes.) These are not the views of a monster supremacist, which Dr. Duke is not. Not for decades. Not at all.
He's likely not so happy about his own youthful decisions regarding organizational alliances, because they tend to catapult all that supremacist, propaganda type language. Like most of us, when we realize our membership somewhere is not a hot idea, we are stuck without that big eraser to remove stupid actions of youth from the ‘permanent record.’ He is also consistent over the last decades at least, with the ideals of truth in history, not just that story that best pleases the victors. (Apologies to Napolean.) The big Kahuna of history that The Powers That Are The Real Powers want to remain untouched is the whole issue of who's controlling what for what ends, and to who's benefit. Cui Bene?
Why is it that there is only one religious group that cannot celebrate its own BIG Winter Holiday, using the culturally correct symbols of Creche and Merry Christmas greeting, when 85 percent of us claim that Christian heritage? Why is it that promoting cultural events of import to people of easy sunburning skin, have to be 'amended' in order to be 'acceptable' to Culture Cops? Why is it that even in communities where not a single non-Christian is graduating from the local high school still cannot vote to have a brief non-denominational prayer blessing the newly graduated? Why is a Creche banned but a Menorah blessed? Why can children celebrate Kwanzaa, but not learn about Pentecost (for Christians and for Jews, as both have the same holiday with different focus, but still...) Yes, I do know Kwanzaa is a secular holiday.
Why is the cross around my neck banned when I am wearing it as a sign of my own faith? What exactly is so upsetting to anyone about a simple Christian symbol? (I promised I wouldn't get into how radical Christ really is. That's for another day.) Why is it that my own WASP culture seemingly the target of all this suppression? It appears pretty clearly that Dr. Duke needs us all to pull out the metaphorical slingshot and let a well aimed shot go against these political correctness police and put them out of business.
I know that I am not the most likely person to defend Dr. Duke. I am a Yankee, and Northerners are not too fond of many things Southern. I came of age in the era of Political Correctness. I actually thought it was a good thing, until I read the "Mene Mene tekhel ...", not of Daniel, but of my own heritage being ignored in favor of 'Anything But My Heritage."
As much as I might try, I cannot get past one truth. Dr. Duke is right. I am a White Christian female and I am bone weary of political correctness. My Christianity informs my love for all my fellow humans, and yet I can easily be called a racist for wanting to celebrate my own Christian holidays with people from the lands of my ancestors. My Scottish grandmother taught me about feast days and fast days, and the importance of prayer and love for all in all aspects of life. Mum taught me that Christmas and Easter are not just holidays but signposts on the path to guide us all from birth to death. Today, in the 21st Century, Christianity is the bastard child no one wants to admit belongs at the table where humans share all feasts.
The truth is, I read about a hundred writings of Dr. Duke, including his books. I do my homework. His speech is reasoned, well supported, documented as appropriate, and measured. He is not a supremacist in any sense of the word. He si not a radical. Dr. Duke espouses the support of all groups in celebrating their own customs, culture and holidays. He favors the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday and the celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Every people should celebrate their own culture. It is part of what makes us who we are as a diverse people. Just as it is not right to exclude all but a certain group, it is wrong to exclude any single group from its or their celebrations. Yet, today celebrating or publicly displaying a German Christmas tree or a Palestinian Creche, saying Merry Christmas, or wanting to preserve a display of the Ten Commandments is banned on the false premise that these are promotions of a particular religion. Saying Merry Christmas is First Amendment speech. The Ten Commandments, no matter what the Supremes in DC say, is a foundation of our legal culture. A Christmas Creche is a symbol of the historic birth of Jesus Christ, an event we acknowledge every time we write the year 2011, as it is 2011 AD, Anno Domini. Yet all of this for Christians is no longer encouraged or even allowed.
Why is this? Why is celebrating Christ, Christmas, Lent and Advent such a bad idea for Christians that still make up the majority of Americans? Why does it seem a concerted plan is in effect to make Christians a really invisible part of the fabric of society?
Yes. There it is. I said it. We all need the proverbial slingshot to strike down these idiotic thought police and controllers of the public square that hound out my own people. My own clan cannot gather in most cities to celebrate our own clan holidays, the celebrations of my own tribe, if you will.
Dr. Duke is correct in this. The Caucasians are getting restless, or should be. The Christians are getting restless, or should be. The European settlers that came to the US are getting restless, or should be. We want to celebrate our holidays, in our own parks, with all the trimmings that are closely associated with our own group. White people are also an ethnic group, despite having been told that ethnic for a blonde Swede means someone with brown hair and different religion than we experienced in our own churches as children.
This is how I see the issue. We, members of the now almost former majority of people in the US, are now constrained to avoid talk that is dangerous in the public square. Christian holidays celebrated in ethnic mode for us is obviously dangerous. Were this not so, we'd see blazing signs of Merry Christmas over the Creche right at the side of City Hall in many communities.
We are unable to celebrate Christmas and Easter in the schools and public places we hold dear. If a graduate wants to say a little prayer to bless the proceedings where those stunning sheepskins are passed out, well bless them. Even if a public school is the soon to be alma mater, and the class knows none will be offended, that is. Etiquette means you don’t hurt the feelings of others, but laws ought not control this. If White people want to celebrate European history, or want to eat ebel skeevers, hot-cross-buns during Lent, or Easter Eggs decorated beyond all good taste, well bless them also. (Ebel Skeevers are little doughnut like delights originating in Scandinavian countries, and one of the few non-white foods from the area, unlike potatoes, cod, cauliflower, on white china, jokingly known as Norwegian colorfully haute cuisine.) Pass the latkes, bagels, and requisite schemar, for the other guys too.
It has nothing to do with the segregation or whites only, of prior decades. It has to do with wanting to keep my own valuable heritage, including Christmas trees to light the park. It has to do with wanting Easter dresses, not Spring frocks. It is that recently uncomfortable intersection of Christian holidays and White heritage. We can do this even as we light candles at the Creche, then turn and light Kwanzaa candles. At the same time, our pale faces want to gather together to celebrate our Swedish antecedents, or our German roots. And we don't want the ACLU telling us we can't.
I've heard the speech Dr. Duke gave in the Czech Republic. I've heard the speech that Dr. Duke was to give in Germany. There was nothing in it that warranted his arrest. That is, nothing except the danger to those that want people of one specific ethnic type to forgo their own heritage and move away from the deeply held beliefs that Christianity as celebrated by Christians for millenia in our European homelands, where now it is dangerous to speak of such seditious beliefs. What is so frightening about White People celebrating their own White heritage? If it is good for all groups of whatever ethnic heritage, to celebrate their history, traditions and religious background, then it must be equally good for Caucasians, Christians, and what was formerly disdainfully referred to as the Majority, also to celebrate.
We don't make a swath of humanity cognizant of its heritage by banning that group from the public square. All we need to do is ensure that all groups are allowed to celebrate their heritage. When Christmas comes around, that heritage includes celebration of He who offers riches to all, and whose birth is the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place.
As for Dr. Duke, his image has been highly burnished, albeit falsely, by a controlled press, constantly repeating his long ago group memberships making him little more than a racist cracker, not the PhD holder, well spoken, well researched, clear thinking, and soft spoken person he truly is. His books put the lie to the now outdated unreality that is our press made image of him. For that, we all need a slingshot to let the hot air out of the thought balloons, that form our caricature of Dr. Duke. Remember, if you have changed opinions over the years, you too could be saddled with a life long fondness for Tiddly Winks or the beloved mullet, to say nothing of being tarred with the racist label for insulting some group or other, even in jest.
We also need to deflate those caricature balloons for most figures whose reputation depends on information that might be more than 5 years old. People change, and societies change. Now that the easily sunburned parts of society have opened all sorts of doors, and Christians have meekly turned the other cheek as our Creches and Crosses disappear from hilltops and parks, it is time to reclaim that which we are too close to losing. Most urgently, we cannot remain silent in this thought police arrest of Dr. Duke over in Germany.
What is next? Should we voluntarily start signing up for 'reeducation' centers? Should we preemptively surrender our First Amendment rights? I realize that Dr. Duke was arrested in Germany, and yet they do have a thing called comity, which means Dr. Duke's First Amendment rights traveled with him tucked inside his passport. Shame on Germany for his arrest. Shame on us all for silence in the face of this massive miscarriage of and justice.
If you think I am wrong, well thank you for your opinion. Before you conclude that I am wrong, think on this. What would you do if your bio were so slanted in public that it didn't reflect your present stance on issues? What would you want to have done if you were arrested for your thoughts? What would you do for your brother or sister in the same circumstances?
Well, umm indeed.
Showing posts with label Christian faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian faith. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Should We Be Afraid? Should We Be Very Afraid?
Which of the following scenarios is more likely to occur in your life? What is reasonable fear? Fear of --well, you decide.
You get struck by lightning.
Twice.
You get kidnapped for a ransom. Not nearly as likely in today's economy because no one can afford to pay a ransom..
You are mugged on the street of your hometown. Okay, if you live in Chicago, you might be more likely to experience this than in Center of Nothing Much, or another small town.
You are accosted by missionaries and forced to convert to a cult religion.
You are accosted by members of a religion and told that your own beliefs, which are supposedly the same as your assailant's, are a travesty and you are an embarrassment to your own faith.
You are accused of engaging in religious heresy, condemned to burn somewhere, including but not limited to Hell, for having a friend(s) that are members of an allegedly "heathen" religion. Or a satanic faith.
Yeah. It was that last one. Well, really the last two. And I did it without speaking a single word. But what I wrote, well...
All for saying that we ought, all of us, be kind, courteous and respectful of members of that supposedly heathen, satanic, horrific faith. And, while being courteous, there were also those encouraging words of, if you want someone to share the joy of your own faith or religion, a good way to do that is to show, by your own life example, that your own chosen path is the one of greatest happiness. You know, sort of giving someone something to think about, and to think they might also want what you have. Grass is greener and all of that.
Or if your friend is of a different faith and they don't want to change what they believe, well that is their choice. It's a free country, worship wise, here in these United States. And, truth to tell, we can all learn something from people that aren't all just like us. We can even learn sometimes that people that we thought held one belief about our own religions, did not, do not, and never did, hold those thoughts. But, I digress.
Heaven help me, I actually said that, on top of being courteous, Americans should realize that our own Constitution prohibits us from preventing any group from worship in accordance with their faith. And, if their putting up a house of worship is in all other respects legal, as to zoning and so on, there should be no prohibition on it.
Silly me. I am now, officially, going to Hell. No word on basket, hand basket or Hula Hoop as the mode of transport. But, I am hell bound, for encouraging we all be a little more like Miss Manners. And that we be courteous.
Yes, gulls and buoys, I have been banned by the Christians for supporting the fact of our President issuing a courteous Ramadan greeting to the Muslims among us. And, for supporting the construction of the community center in NYC, because it is legal under zoning laws, and being two blocks away from Ground Zero, could actually help people realize that, if the hijackers really did the deed, there is no reason to condemn 1.5 Billion people for the actions of less than 0.00000001 percent of them.
The Mafia didn't cause us to condemn all Italian Americans. The gangs of LA didn't make us condemn all, well you get my drift.
Anyway, it is now official I am officially persona non grata with people of my own faith, for supporting courtesy directed to people that are not of my faith. And, for the record, I am not going to stop being courteous. I will not dump my friends that are not of my faith. And, I will continue to support the lawful assembly for purposes of worship anywhere in this country. Period. No exceptions.
It do get curiouser and curiouser. But I am not going to fear. Any of them. Except the ones sending me to Hell for believing that all God's children are all God's children. No exceptions there either.
I am consoled though, in remembering the words of Einstein, now that I have been judged. "Whoever undertakes to set himself up as judge in the field of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods."
Fear, it turns out, is an enemy of good manners. And the fear that leads to prejudice can set the gods off on a giggle jag. Let us all laugh at hypocrisy, laugh at prejudice, laugh especially at irrational fears.
You get struck by lightning.
Twice.
You get kidnapped for a ransom. Not nearly as likely in today's economy because no one can afford to pay a ransom..
You are mugged on the street of your hometown. Okay, if you live in Chicago, you might be more likely to experience this than in Center of Nothing Much, or another small town.
You are accosted by missionaries and forced to convert to a cult religion.
You are accosted by members of a religion and told that your own beliefs, which are supposedly the same as your assailant's, are a travesty and you are an embarrassment to your own faith.
You are accused of engaging in religious heresy, condemned to burn somewhere, including but not limited to Hell, for having a friend(s) that are members of an allegedly "heathen" religion. Or a satanic faith.
Yeah. It was that last one. Well, really the last two. And I did it without speaking a single word. But what I wrote, well...
All for saying that we ought, all of us, be kind, courteous and respectful of members of that supposedly heathen, satanic, horrific faith. And, while being courteous, there were also those encouraging words of, if you want someone to share the joy of your own faith or religion, a good way to do that is to show, by your own life example, that your own chosen path is the one of greatest happiness. You know, sort of giving someone something to think about, and to think they might also want what you have. Grass is greener and all of that.
Or if your friend is of a different faith and they don't want to change what they believe, well that is their choice. It's a free country, worship wise, here in these United States. And, truth to tell, we can all learn something from people that aren't all just like us. We can even learn sometimes that people that we thought held one belief about our own religions, did not, do not, and never did, hold those thoughts. But, I digress.
Heaven help me, I actually said that, on top of being courteous, Americans should realize that our own Constitution prohibits us from preventing any group from worship in accordance with their faith. And, if their putting up a house of worship is in all other respects legal, as to zoning and so on, there should be no prohibition on it.
Silly me. I am now, officially, going to Hell. No word on basket, hand basket or Hula Hoop as the mode of transport. But, I am hell bound, for encouraging we all be a little more like Miss Manners. And that we be courteous.
Yes, gulls and buoys, I have been banned by the Christians for supporting the fact of our President issuing a courteous Ramadan greeting to the Muslims among us. And, for supporting the construction of the community center in NYC, because it is legal under zoning laws, and being two blocks away from Ground Zero, could actually help people realize that, if the hijackers really did the deed, there is no reason to condemn 1.5 Billion people for the actions of less than 0.00000001 percent of them.
The Mafia didn't cause us to condemn all Italian Americans. The gangs of LA didn't make us condemn all, well you get my drift.
Anyway, it is now official I am officially persona non grata with people of my own faith, for supporting courtesy directed to people that are not of my faith. And, for the record, I am not going to stop being courteous. I will not dump my friends that are not of my faith. And, I will continue to support the lawful assembly for purposes of worship anywhere in this country. Period. No exceptions.
It do get curiouser and curiouser. But I am not going to fear. Any of them. Except the ones sending me to Hell for believing that all God's children are all God's children. No exceptions there either.
I am consoled though, in remembering the words of Einstein, now that I have been judged. "Whoever undertakes to set himself up as judge in the field of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods."
Fear, it turns out, is an enemy of good manners. And the fear that leads to prejudice can set the gods off on a giggle jag. Let us all laugh at hypocrisy, laugh at prejudice, laugh especially at irrational fears.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Religious Freedom USA?
Lately, we've heard a lot about that troublesome Mosque, the Cordoba Center, in New York City.
Local authorities found that the project, slated for construction near, but not exactly on, the site of the former World Trade Center, was permissible under zoning laws.
Many of the supporters of the project noted that the Imams in New York City have assisted in the very difficult work of mending broken fences, broken walkways, and broken paths to dialogue between Christians, Jews, the non-religious and the Muslims. Add to the mix the fact that this is the month of Ramadan. It is that holy month in the Islamic religious calendar, and as such, has only drawn more attention to the fact that Muslims live and worship in America. And, some want to set up a community center and mosque in New York City.
The outcry against the mosque has been disheartening.
Based upon the terrorism of the few, the most minuscule portion of Muslims in terror activity, the entire population of Muslims have been labeled terrorists. Or violent. Or irrational. Or, and this is a personal un-favorite, Un-American. That last one goes for US citizens and not, without distinction.
Now, this may not make sense to those spouting hatred at an entire population for the acts they had nothing to do with, did not participate, would not participate in, and share no ideology with, those 'terrorists.' But, ever willing to crawl out on a limb, I am crawling here.
If we don't value religious freedom for Muslims, or any religious creed we do not share, or know little about, then we don't value religious freedom for anyone. That includes the Christians.
The Cordoba Center can be built wherever local authorities find that it can be built based on zoning laws.
Whether it is in good taste is another matter, and not one that I am touching with a ten foot pole.
But, please don't protest Islam as Islam. The Imams of New York didn't fly the planes in September, nine years ago. None of them gave the terrorists the papers which allowed those terrorists into this country without much question.
Some of the protests have even stated that our 'Christian' society is being dragged down into the depths of depravity, lo these past decades since Hugh Hefner brought Playboy into the mainstream press, and the Supreme Court still maintains that it cannot define porn, except to say they know it when they see it. And so, our movies, television and other entertainment goes further and further into that territory where the conscience can be, and will be shocked.
Seeing these protests, and hearing the fearful cries that the Muslims want to turn this into a Sharia law driven theocracy, I have to laugh. The Pew Center has conducted surveys of religious thought and distribution of various faiths in the US population, and Christians are still the clear majority. You can view the results here.
If this country becomes ruled by Sharia law, then our lawmakers are really more out of touch than I would think possible.
In other words, we don't have anything to fear from the Cordoba Center in New York. Is building this center a good idea? That is a question that won't be answered for a long time, and after much debate. But, if we don't recognize that Islam as a religion has as much freedom to be part of the US religious landscape, then we shall surely lose all religious faith.
Someone ought to ask the protesters that want Islam run out of the US, for good, one question. What will you do if the government of this nation decides that no religious faith gets any tax, assembly or other benefits? What will happen then?
Where will your mega-churches and blow-dried ministers be then? Where will your leaders, who have blamed everything from tornadoes to hurricanes wiping out major cities on the sins of film makers, parades by certain groups or whatever attack on marriage is the debauchery du jour?
Freedom of religion means freedom for all religions. No one is forcing anyone in the US to participate in any faith. Americans are free to worship in any way they see fit, or not to worship at all. Personal faith cannot be imposed on anyone, and only the individual can make that decision.
That is, unless we go back to state sponsored religion. And then, there will be no individual faith, no choice, no rights. Do we want to start on the path to exclude one religion based on the illegal and reprehensible acts that that religion has already decried?
It could be analogized to government condemning Catholicism due to the criminal actions of the Mafia. There was not overt connection, the Catholic Church decried the criminality of the Mob, and the analogy holds.
Do we want to mark the twenty-first century with a new form of Crusade or Inquisition?
Local authorities found that the project, slated for construction near, but not exactly on, the site of the former World Trade Center, was permissible under zoning laws.
Many of the supporters of the project noted that the Imams in New York City have assisted in the very difficult work of mending broken fences, broken walkways, and broken paths to dialogue between Christians, Jews, the non-religious and the Muslims. Add to the mix the fact that this is the month of Ramadan. It is that holy month in the Islamic religious calendar, and as such, has only drawn more attention to the fact that Muslims live and worship in America. And, some want to set up a community center and mosque in New York City.
The outcry against the mosque has been disheartening.
Based upon the terrorism of the few, the most minuscule portion of Muslims in terror activity, the entire population of Muslims have been labeled terrorists. Or violent. Or irrational. Or, and this is a personal un-favorite, Un-American. That last one goes for US citizens and not, without distinction.
Now, this may not make sense to those spouting hatred at an entire population for the acts they had nothing to do with, did not participate, would not participate in, and share no ideology with, those 'terrorists.' But, ever willing to crawl out on a limb, I am crawling here.
If we don't value religious freedom for Muslims, or any religious creed we do not share, or know little about, then we don't value religious freedom for anyone. That includes the Christians.
The Cordoba Center can be built wherever local authorities find that it can be built based on zoning laws.
Whether it is in good taste is another matter, and not one that I am touching with a ten foot pole.
But, please don't protest Islam as Islam. The Imams of New York didn't fly the planes in September, nine years ago. None of them gave the terrorists the papers which allowed those terrorists into this country without much question.
Some of the protests have even stated that our 'Christian' society is being dragged down into the depths of depravity, lo these past decades since Hugh Hefner brought Playboy into the mainstream press, and the Supreme Court still maintains that it cannot define porn, except to say they know it when they see it. And so, our movies, television and other entertainment goes further and further into that territory where the conscience can be, and will be shocked.
Seeing these protests, and hearing the fearful cries that the Muslims want to turn this into a Sharia law driven theocracy, I have to laugh. The Pew Center has conducted surveys of religious thought and distribution of various faiths in the US population, and Christians are still the clear majority. You can view the results here.
If this country becomes ruled by Sharia law, then our lawmakers are really more out of touch than I would think possible.
In other words, we don't have anything to fear from the Cordoba Center in New York. Is building this center a good idea? That is a question that won't be answered for a long time, and after much debate. But, if we don't recognize that Islam as a religion has as much freedom to be part of the US religious landscape, then we shall surely lose all religious faith.
Someone ought to ask the protesters that want Islam run out of the US, for good, one question. What will you do if the government of this nation decides that no religious faith gets any tax, assembly or other benefits? What will happen then?
Where will your mega-churches and blow-dried ministers be then? Where will your leaders, who have blamed everything from tornadoes to hurricanes wiping out major cities on the sins of film makers, parades by certain groups or whatever attack on marriage is the debauchery du jour?
Freedom of religion means freedom for all religions. No one is forcing anyone in the US to participate in any faith. Americans are free to worship in any way they see fit, or not to worship at all. Personal faith cannot be imposed on anyone, and only the individual can make that decision.
That is, unless we go back to state sponsored religion. And then, there will be no individual faith, no choice, no rights. Do we want to start on the path to exclude one religion based on the illegal and reprehensible acts that that religion has already decried?
It could be analogized to government condemning Catholicism due to the criminal actions of the Mafia. There was not overt connection, the Catholic Church decried the criminality of the Mob, and the analogy holds.
Do we want to mark the twenty-first century with a new form of Crusade or Inquisition?
Saturday, August 14, 2010
President Obama's Ramadan Statement--What's The Big Deal?
President Obama made a statement about Ramadan, saying:
This has angered some, and made others concerned. Others feel that it is just common courtesy in a secular society, which the US has been since its inception, that recognizes that some of the US population are celebrating a holiday. Period. The US is about 80 percent Christian. Of the remaining 20 percent, there are people celebrating a large number of other religions, including Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Islam.
The Muslims have been with us since before the founding of the Republic. In those times, the Muslims that came here often came a slaves. Slaves in any society are not a powerful group, and the small numbers of Muslims were not all centered in discreet communities, but mingled among us, and among the Native Americans.
Muslims are here, were here, and will remain in the US. They are US citizens, and our society values all members of our society, even if that value is truly only found on paper, in a bank account, or is evidenced by lip service.
Those that are angry about the presence of Muslims in the US bring up September 11 as a reason for hating the entire group. Collectively, those that distrust or dislike Muslims, are tarring the entire group for the actions of a fanatic few. Now, I am not addressing the issue of whether or not there were 19 Muslim fanatics that hijacked planes, drove them into buildings and caused those buildings to disintegrate into fine dust, falling to earth at freefall speed, all while the defense systems in this great nation failed simultaneously and spectacularly on that horrific day. In other words, we're not going to discuss who did 911 here and now. Hold that thought for later, please.
Let's get back to the topic at hand.
Considering that Muslims constitute 0.6 percent of the American populace, they are hardly a massively frightening bloc in our society.
The Founders of this nation also recognized that Muslims, or as they called them then, Mahometans, and did not do anything to block or impede their participation in society. Also, many of the early Muslims that came to this nation did convert to Christianity.
From Wikipedia: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States"]Islam in the United States[/url]
[quote]An early Egyptian immigrant is mentioned in the accounts of the Dutch settlers of the Catskills Mountains and recorded in the 1884 History of Greene County, New York. According to this tradition, an Egyptian named "Norsereddin" settled in the Catskills in the vicinity of the Catskill Mountain House. He befriended the Indian chief, Shandaken, and sought the hand of his daughter Lotowana in marriage. Rejected, he poisoned Lotowana and in consequence was caught and burned alive.
In 1776, John Adams published "Thoughts on Government," in which he praises the Prophet Mahomet (Mohammed) as a "sober inquirer after truth" alongside Confucius, Zoroaster, Socrates, and other "pagan and Christian" thinkers.
In 1785, George Washington stated a willingness to hire "Mahometans," as well as people of any nation or religion, to work on his private estate at Mount Vernon if they were "good workmen."
In 1790, the South Carolina legislative body granted special legal status to a community of Moroccans, twelve years after the Sultan of Morocco became the first foreign head of state to formally recognize the United States.[27] In 1796, then president John Adams signed a treaty declaring the United States had no "character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen".
In his autobiography, published in 1791, Benjamin Franklin stated that he "did not disapprove" of a meeting place in Pennsylvania that was designed to accommodate preachers of all religions. Franklin wrote that "even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism to us, he would find a pulpit at his service."[29]
Thomas Jefferson defended religious freedom in America including those of Muslims. Jefferson explicitly mentioned Muslims when writing about the movement for religious freedom in Virginia. In his autobiography Jefferson wrote "[When] the [Virginia] bill for establishing religious freedom... was finally passed,... a singular proposition proved that its protection of opinion was meant to be universal. Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word 'Jesus Christ,' so that it should read 'a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion.' The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend within the mantle of its protection the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo and infidel of every denomination." While President, Jefferson also participated in an iftar with the Ambassador of Tunisia in 1809.[/quote]
If you explore the areas of engineering, architecture and the sciences, many of the developments were first done in Muslim nations, such as Iran. The same can also be said of the many contributions of engineers, doctors, scientists and architects here in the US.
From [url="http://www.muslimsinamerica.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=28"]Muslims In America, a non-profit organization[/url]:
Muslims were retained to assist the US Cavalry in the rearing, breeding and management of horses. In 1775 Peter Salem fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. On our side. Morocco was one of the first countries to recognize the US as independent.
[quote]In 1797 the Treaty of Tripole in Article 11 reads:
Article 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
The treaty was signed at Tripoli on November 4, 1796 and at Algiers on January 3, 1797, finally receiving ratification from the U.S. Senate on June 7, 1797 and signed by President John Adams on June 10, 1797.[/quote]
In all, there are many pages of facts about the contributions of Muslims in the development of this nation. Sure, they weren't as many or as powerful as the Christians, but back then, it was more likely that a Muslim would be from Africa, and as such, they would most likely be slaves. Slaves generally hold little if any power in themselves due to their status as slaves.
At present, we are a secular nation. It is not in the American character to go after a group, to criticize a group, or to ostracize a group based upon their religion. I don't fear Islam at all in America. I believe that the greatest threat to this nation is anti-Christian behavior and policies, which is totally off topic here.
One of my heroes in the building of the United States is Thomas Jefferson.
[quote]n 1791 Thomas Jefferson led the fight for religious freedom and separation of church and state in his native Virginia. This brought him into conflict with the Anglican Church, the established church in Virginia. After a long and bitter debate, Jefferson's statute for religious freedom passed the state legislature. In Jefferson's words, there was now "freedom for the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mohammedan, the Hindu and infidel of every denomination." The bill guaranteed, in Jefferson's own words, "that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever." It guaranteed, too, that no one should suffer in any way for his "religious opinions or belief." Introduced in 1779, the bill did not become law until 1786, when, through the leadership of Legislator James Madison, it was enacted by the General Assembly. When the First Amendment to the Constitution went into effect in 1791, Jefferson's principle of separation of church and state became part of the supreme law of the land. [/quote]
As a result of his efforts to make America an inclusive society, guaranteeing freedoms and rights to all, we have the First Amendment. That simple paragraph is the very bedrock of freedom in this country.
The reality is that this is a nation that doesn't prevent any religion from existing here, nor does the US ever prevent anyone from practicing their religion. The reality is also that, for the less than one percent of the populace that Islam represents in the US, they cannot be a threat to the Christian nature of this country unless we allow them to take over our laws. The problems that Europe has had with Islamization of their laws and the effects upon their culture have come about because the nations there did not stand up and insist that Islamization not occur, when matters such as removal of Christian symbols, or demeaning Christian morals and values arose. A small issue such as retaining the word "God" in the pledge is simply this. No one can take away our right to hold "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, unless we stand silently by and allow it.
The only way Sharia law will come to the statute books of the US is if legislators are crooked enough to allow it to happen. Or, if the people are silent enough not to cause the discomfort to legislators forcing laws to remain in an American vs. Sharia form and focus. Reelection fears drive more policy than anything else. Make an elected official fear for his/her job, and they will do whatever they are able to hold their office.
I don't have a problem with Presidential recognition of various religious holidays. It is a political act and statement, akin to kind words and playing nice with the other kids on the ball field. I would be more offended if he hadn't said anything nice about this major holiday of Islam. After all, we are trying to win hearts and minds, and political fluffery like this is pretty non-offensive when you think about it.
Presidents have always recognized other religions than what is the majority in the nation. We are still a Christian nation, judging by the identification of the majority of the populace (approximately 80-85 percent), identifying themselves as Christian, whether by true belief in the chapter by chapter, verse by verse variety, or the more culturally popular, Rapture-Crapture variety.
Now, most all of the Christians aren't going to be the hard-line variety. Like Judaism, which in this country is usually referring to cultural members of the Jewish community, rather than strict followers of that faith, Christian identification in surveys often allows those that label themselves as such, based on family background, not current church affiliation or belief in their hearts and souls.
Every year, the President acknowledges the Jewish faith at Yom Kippur and Hanukkah. He recognizes the Christians at Christmas and Easter. (Arrrgh! on Easter, but I digress based on my views relating to the whole false doctrine of Rapture, but I digress. Again.) Presidents have noted Buddhism and Hinduism. Our leaders have also given polite statements and speeches regarding religions such as the Baha'i faith, or the Sikh religion when leaders of those faiths show up at the White House.
Do Presbyterians get upset when the Pope is given the red carpet treatment while the Moderator of the General Assembly merely gets a handshake in the Oval Office? I think not.
Mr. Obama's statement was not an endorsement of the Muslim faith, but a nod to note that we can open our hearts to the people that believe in Islam, because that is a civilized thing to do in a secular country with a prohibition on any particular state religion.
Of course, none of this stops any of presently irate Christians that view Mr. Obama's statement as an endorsement of Islam, from letting Muslims know how they feel in a polite fashion. If they believe that Islam is missing something in its doctrines, because Christians believe that Christ is the only one way to God, that's okay. Christians are free in this country to witness, without even speaking a word, through their daily actions. I am not encouraging these enraged Christians to go and preach every day to every Muslim they meet or know.
I am only saying that sometimes the most effective witness a member of any community of faith has is to show, by their actions, what their faith is about. If one is a faithful Christian, the believing that Christians have 'something' others will never experience without getting what real Christian faith, then let actions speak louder than words.
So, let Mr. Obama be nice to the Muslims. And may the month of Ramadan be a blessing to us all.
On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I want to extend our best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world. Ramadan Kareem.
Ramadan is a time when Muslims around the world reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another, and to God. This is a time when families gather, friends host iftars, and meals are shared. But Ramadan is also a time of intense devotion and reflection—a time when Muslims fast during the day and pray during the night; when Muslims provide support to others to advance opportunity and prosperity for people everywhere. For all of us must remember that the world we want to build—and the changes that we want to make—must begin in our own hearts, and our own communities.
These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings. Ramadan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity and racial equality. And here in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country. And today, I want to extend my best wishes to the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world—and your families and friends—as you welcome the beginning of Ramadan.
I look forward to hosting an Iftar dinner celebrating Ramadan here at the White House later this week, and wish you a blessed month.
May God’s peace be upon you.
Photo courtesy of LA Times
This has angered some, and made others concerned. Others feel that it is just common courtesy in a secular society, which the US has been since its inception, that recognizes that some of the US population are celebrating a holiday. Period. The US is about 80 percent Christian. Of the remaining 20 percent, there are people celebrating a large number of other religions, including Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Islam.
The Muslims have been with us since before the founding of the Republic. In those times, the Muslims that came here often came a slaves. Slaves in any society are not a powerful group, and the small numbers of Muslims were not all centered in discreet communities, but mingled among us, and among the Native Americans.
Muslims are here, were here, and will remain in the US. They are US citizens, and our society values all members of our society, even if that value is truly only found on paper, in a bank account, or is evidenced by lip service.
Those that are angry about the presence of Muslims in the US bring up September 11 as a reason for hating the entire group. Collectively, those that distrust or dislike Muslims, are tarring the entire group for the actions of a fanatic few. Now, I am not addressing the issue of whether or not there were 19 Muslim fanatics that hijacked planes, drove them into buildings and caused those buildings to disintegrate into fine dust, falling to earth at freefall speed, all while the defense systems in this great nation failed simultaneously and spectacularly on that horrific day. In other words, we're not going to discuss who did 911 here and now. Hold that thought for later, please.
Let's get back to the topic at hand.
Considering that Muslims constitute 0.6 percent of the American populace, they are hardly a massively frightening bloc in our society.
The Founders of this nation also recognized that Muslims, or as they called them then, Mahometans, and did not do anything to block or impede their participation in society. Also, many of the early Muslims that came to this nation did convert to Christianity.
From Wikipedia: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States"]Islam in the United States[/url]
[quote]An early Egyptian immigrant is mentioned in the accounts of the Dutch settlers of the Catskills Mountains and recorded in the 1884 History of Greene County, New York. According to this tradition, an Egyptian named "Norsereddin" settled in the Catskills in the vicinity of the Catskill Mountain House. He befriended the Indian chief, Shandaken, and sought the hand of his daughter Lotowana in marriage. Rejected, he poisoned Lotowana and in consequence was caught and burned alive.
In 1776, John Adams published "Thoughts on Government," in which he praises the Prophet Mahomet (Mohammed) as a "sober inquirer after truth" alongside Confucius, Zoroaster, Socrates, and other "pagan and Christian" thinkers.
In 1785, George Washington stated a willingness to hire "Mahometans," as well as people of any nation or religion, to work on his private estate at Mount Vernon if they were "good workmen."
In 1790, the South Carolina legislative body granted special legal status to a community of Moroccans, twelve years after the Sultan of Morocco became the first foreign head of state to formally recognize the United States.[27] In 1796, then president John Adams signed a treaty declaring the United States had no "character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen".
In his autobiography, published in 1791, Benjamin Franklin stated that he "did not disapprove" of a meeting place in Pennsylvania that was designed to accommodate preachers of all religions. Franklin wrote that "even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism to us, he would find a pulpit at his service."[29]
Thomas Jefferson defended religious freedom in America including those of Muslims. Jefferson explicitly mentioned Muslims when writing about the movement for religious freedom in Virginia. In his autobiography Jefferson wrote "[When] the [Virginia] bill for establishing religious freedom... was finally passed,... a singular proposition proved that its protection of opinion was meant to be universal. Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word 'Jesus Christ,' so that it should read 'a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion.' The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend within the mantle of its protection the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo and infidel of every denomination." While President, Jefferson also participated in an iftar with the Ambassador of Tunisia in 1809.[/quote]
If you explore the areas of engineering, architecture and the sciences, many of the developments were first done in Muslim nations, such as Iran. The same can also be said of the many contributions of engineers, doctors, scientists and architects here in the US.
From [url="http://www.muslimsinamerica.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=28"]Muslims In America, a non-profit organization[/url]:
Muslims were retained to assist the US Cavalry in the rearing, breeding and management of horses. In 1775 Peter Salem fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. On our side. Morocco was one of the first countries to recognize the US as independent.
[quote]In 1797 the Treaty of Tripole in Article 11 reads:
Article 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
The treaty was signed at Tripoli on November 4, 1796 and at Algiers on January 3, 1797, finally receiving ratification from the U.S. Senate on June 7, 1797 and signed by President John Adams on June 10, 1797.[/quote]
In all, there are many pages of facts about the contributions of Muslims in the development of this nation. Sure, they weren't as many or as powerful as the Christians, but back then, it was more likely that a Muslim would be from Africa, and as such, they would most likely be slaves. Slaves generally hold little if any power in themselves due to their status as slaves.
At present, we are a secular nation. It is not in the American character to go after a group, to criticize a group, or to ostracize a group based upon their religion. I don't fear Islam at all in America. I believe that the greatest threat to this nation is anti-Christian behavior and policies, which is totally off topic here.
One of my heroes in the building of the United States is Thomas Jefferson.
[quote]n 1791 Thomas Jefferson led the fight for religious freedom and separation of church and state in his native Virginia. This brought him into conflict with the Anglican Church, the established church in Virginia. After a long and bitter debate, Jefferson's statute for religious freedom passed the state legislature. In Jefferson's words, there was now "freedom for the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mohammedan, the Hindu and infidel of every denomination." The bill guaranteed, in Jefferson's own words, "that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever." It guaranteed, too, that no one should suffer in any way for his "religious opinions or belief." Introduced in 1779, the bill did not become law until 1786, when, through the leadership of Legislator James Madison, it was enacted by the General Assembly. When the First Amendment to the Constitution went into effect in 1791, Jefferson's principle of separation of church and state became part of the supreme law of the land. [/quote]
As a result of his efforts to make America an inclusive society, guaranteeing freedoms and rights to all, we have the First Amendment. That simple paragraph is the very bedrock of freedom in this country.
The reality is that this is a nation that doesn't prevent any religion from existing here, nor does the US ever prevent anyone from practicing their religion. The reality is also that, for the less than one percent of the populace that Islam represents in the US, they cannot be a threat to the Christian nature of this country unless we allow them to take over our laws. The problems that Europe has had with Islamization of their laws and the effects upon their culture have come about because the nations there did not stand up and insist that Islamization not occur, when matters such as removal of Christian symbols, or demeaning Christian morals and values arose. A small issue such as retaining the word "God" in the pledge is simply this. No one can take away our right to hold "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, unless we stand silently by and allow it.
The only way Sharia law will come to the statute books of the US is if legislators are crooked enough to allow it to happen. Or, if the people are silent enough not to cause the discomfort to legislators forcing laws to remain in an American vs. Sharia form and focus. Reelection fears drive more policy than anything else. Make an elected official fear for his/her job, and they will do whatever they are able to hold their office.
I don't have a problem with Presidential recognition of various religious holidays. It is a political act and statement, akin to kind words and playing nice with the other kids on the ball field. I would be more offended if he hadn't said anything nice about this major holiday of Islam. After all, we are trying to win hearts and minds, and political fluffery like this is pretty non-offensive when you think about it.
Presidents have always recognized other religions than what is the majority in the nation. We are still a Christian nation, judging by the identification of the majority of the populace (approximately 80-85 percent), identifying themselves as Christian, whether by true belief in the chapter by chapter, verse by verse variety, or the more culturally popular, Rapture-Crapture variety.
Now, most all of the Christians aren't going to be the hard-line variety. Like Judaism, which in this country is usually referring to cultural members of the Jewish community, rather than strict followers of that faith, Christian identification in surveys often allows those that label themselves as such, based on family background, not current church affiliation or belief in their hearts and souls.
Every year, the President acknowledges the Jewish faith at Yom Kippur and Hanukkah. He recognizes the Christians at Christmas and Easter. (Arrrgh! on Easter, but I digress based on my views relating to the whole false doctrine of Rapture, but I digress. Again.) Presidents have noted Buddhism and Hinduism. Our leaders have also given polite statements and speeches regarding religions such as the Baha'i faith, or the Sikh religion when leaders of those faiths show up at the White House.
Do Presbyterians get upset when the Pope is given the red carpet treatment while the Moderator of the General Assembly merely gets a handshake in the Oval Office? I think not.
Mr. Obama's statement was not an endorsement of the Muslim faith, but a nod to note that we can open our hearts to the people that believe in Islam, because that is a civilized thing to do in a secular country with a prohibition on any particular state religion.
Of course, none of this stops any of presently irate Christians that view Mr. Obama's statement as an endorsement of Islam, from letting Muslims know how they feel in a polite fashion. If they believe that Islam is missing something in its doctrines, because Christians believe that Christ is the only one way to God, that's okay. Christians are free in this country to witness, without even speaking a word, through their daily actions. I am not encouraging these enraged Christians to go and preach every day to every Muslim they meet or know.
I am only saying that sometimes the most effective witness a member of any community of faith has is to show, by their actions, what their faith is about. If one is a faithful Christian, the believing that Christians have 'something' others will never experience without getting what real Christian faith, then let actions speak louder than words.
So, let Mr. Obama be nice to the Muslims. And may the month of Ramadan be a blessing to us all.
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