RE: vision2020-digest Digest V01 #250

["Tom Hansen" <thansen@moscow.com>]

I agree with you, Mike.  In fact, if you research the development of the US
Constitution (History Channel researched it nicely),  you will find that
reference to a higher being was purposely reflected in it.  The only
controversy was how to refer to this higher being.  Alot of the
representatives wanted "God" in the constitution.  However, when you look
even further back in history you will find that one of the primary reasons
why people ventured to the new world was to escape religious persecution.
They also wanted people to have the right to pursue their own beliefs and
religions.  Thusly, these representatives decided upon the words "their
Creator".

Take care and take pride,

Tom Hansen


>-----Original Message-----
>From: Mike Rush [mailto:mike.rush@veriomail.com]
>Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 7:03 PM
>To: Earth Life; vision2020@moscow.com
>Subject: Re: vision2020-digest Digest V01 #250
>
>
>You are soooo wrong!!
>
>The founding fathers knew exactly the place of religion in public life...It
>was the center of the moral leadership which they expoused.
>
>Why do you think they stated " We hold these truths to be
>self-evident, that
>all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
>certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the
>pursuit of Happiness." in the Declaration of Independance?  The Creator
>(God) endowed unalienable Rights (given by God).  If they were
>given by man,
>man could take them away... but man can't because he isn't God.  These men
>knew exactly where the power of thier rights came from.
>
>Your statement...'This seems a contradiction to the "separation of church
>and state" ammendment to the Constitution' just shows how little you know
>about your OWN Constitution.  I would like you to tell me where in the
>United States Constitution these words appear...They dont!!
>
>Please refrain from stating that seperation of church and state is in the
>Constituion.  The Consitition does have a non-establishment clause in
>article I ( which I will include for you ).
>
>Amendment I
>
>Congress shall make no law respecting an ->establishment<- of religion, or
>prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
>or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
>petition the government for a redress of grievances.
>
>These men did not want a state sponsored religion to be corrupted by the
>power of government.  They wanted the religion they practiced to
>be based on
>the Book they knew, and quoted often in personal writings ( the
>Bible if you
>didn't know).
>
>Please, in the future, at lease READ the Constitution before you determine
>the constitutionality of anything............
>
>
>Mike Rush
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Earth Life" <onewildearth@hotmail.com>
>To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
>Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 9:20 AM
>Subject: Re: vision2020-digest Digest V01 #250
>
>
>> America is indeeed a melting pot of cultures, ideas, languages, food,
>music,
>> political ideologies, religions and other things that make us diverse.
>> America's "culture" is influenced by all Americans.  It is not corporate.
>> It is not consumerism.  It is not your way or my way.  It is Freedom and
>the
>> ability to choose the lifestyle most suited for the individual.  There
>> certainly are laws which attempt to restrict a person's personal life
>> choices, but they are made by people who are unaccepting of
>other people's
>> point of view.
>> English is our national language, but it does not mean others can not
>speak
>> spanish, russian or martian.
>> Our constitution has given us unalianable rights.  Free speech, the right
>to
>> assemble and the separation of church and state are crucial for insuring
>> that Americans have the freedom to not comform to supposed religious
>> foundings.
>> We are not a Christian nation.  God means many things to many people.  A
>> person may believe in God, but that does not mean that person is
>Christian.
>> It does seem odd to me that many of our national identities (money,
>national
>> athem) contain the word "God" in them.  This seems a contradiction to the
>> "separation of church and state" ammendment to the Constitution.
> That is,
>> it seems unconstitutional.  Thus the controversy over school prayer and
>the
>> like.  If this issue was not important, I doubt the founders of America
>> would have included that ammendment in the Constitution.  But obviously
>they
>> saw the importance of keeping religion out of government.  Perhaps
>religious
>> or moral views are imposible to separate from political leanings, but it
>is
>> important to be aware of the fact that our founders specified the desire
>to
>> keep religion out of politics.
>> In my opinion, we cannot aspouse to be a free and democratic country if
>our
>> policies limit the freedom people have in regards to lifestyle choices.
>As
>> long as that person is not hurting another, that person should be allowed
>> that freedom.
>> We all have our ideas of what it means to be an American.  Stand up for
>your
>> beliefs, but don't force them on another person.  If someone agrees with
>> what you say, it's probably because they appreciate your lifestyle, not
>> because they are made to conform.
>>
>> Garrett Clevenger
>>
>> "What are we doing to our Home?!:("
>>
>>
>>
>> >From: vision2020-digest-request@moscow.com
>> >Reply-To: vision2020@moscow.com
>> >To: vision2020-digest@moscow.com
>> >Subject: vision2020-digest Digest V01 #250
>> >Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 18:38:28 -0700 (PDT)
>> >
>> ><< message2.txt >>
>> ><< message4.txt >>
>>
>>
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