Musings of a Dumb Ass

Musings of a Dumb Ass January 16, 2006................. I get e-mails and forwards. I usually don't open them but you can tell what the subject matter is anyway. There's always the steady flow of those 'by god, if you're gonna be here then you need to do it like we do or get out' , or those Andy Rooney or Bill Cosby or Doomp Hilton or who knows who that follows with a helping of arrogant balderdash (those guys never say that and would appreciate no one suggesting they did) and the never ending entries about not letting God in here or there. They're all tiresome and generally without merit, but some are inherently dangerous, particularly those dealing with God. It would appear the senders honestly feel a danger to whatever they deem spiritual and want to make sure they say and do all that can be done to save God. Saving God is OK with me but I don't think God needs to be saved and if he's around, then he'll remain around in spite of what any mortal does or doesn't do. It would seem those who forward and promote protection for what ever they believe actually want to force all others to have a dose of what they have whether the recipient wants it or not. And therein lies the danger. Those who pretend or believe they are denied freedom of worship in reality are working toward a cleric government, in our case, a Christian based government. I for one absolutely want no part of such government. To date the only cleric government that hasn't been a failure in human rights and not been agressive to their neighbors is the Vatican ( the country the pope lives in). There is no religious persecution or discrimination in these United States by the government, and this government does recognise God, it just doesn't recognise religion, and that's the problem with many in this country. It's really a simple proposition. The government is disallowed any direction by any religion and likewise isn't allowed to direct any religion, but must protect the rights of freedom of religion and worship for all its citizens. And it is so guaranteed by the constitution. In the governments recognition of God by the presence on its money and prayer in its being, it must also not recognise any sect or denomination which can get tricky. There may not be any scripture from any religion posted on any property owned or occupied and supported by taxpayers money. The reasoning behind that is simple enough. Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Christians and a host of others all pay taxes in this country and the embracement of any sect or kind of religion would be an immediate case of discrimination against everyone except those of the faith recognised. The Christians are quick to point out the majority rule thing, but even though we are a republic majority rule, that certainly does not allow the majority to rule at the expence or loss of rights to any one in the minority. I would hope those who are desirious of whatever they believe to be the standard for everyone else would stop and consider how many wars and deaths in Gods name have occured over the last 2000 years and how stifling religious rule is to those who must live under it. Remember, Galileo spent the last years of his life under arrest because he published a manuscript correctly saying the earth was not the center of the universe and in fact revolved around the sun, in direct contradiction to what the Catholic church believed at the time and expected all others to accept. Tonight would be a good time for all that believe to get down on their knees and thank who ever they believe in that we live in a country that protects your right to be any thing you please, and more importantly cannot be allowed to be driven by the church of any, at any time. Lastly, if any believes that church and state should be intertwined in any way, I would suggest a very close look at the ones who pray to the God of Abraham through Islam in Iran, then ask themselves if that's what they really want before they forward any more e-mails asking for government practice of whatever they believe, and think you should to.....................