Why Aren't These Republicans Called Out On The Separation of Church and State?
Why Aren't These Republicans Called Out On The Separation of Church and State?
#1Why Aren't These Republicans Called Out On The Separation of Church and State?
Posted: 1/5/12 at 6:03pm
I see and hear these fools spout about God, The Bible, prayer in school, etc. constantly but I've never heard anyone really press them and ask if they understand that in this country we have a separation of church and state and that not everyone who lives here believes the same things they do. Why are they allowed to clearly go against the Constitution in regards to this without being called on it?
#2Why Aren't These Republicans Called Out On The Separation of Church and State?
Posted: 1/5/12 at 6:10pm
Jordan - I'm about as liberal as they come but "separation of Church and state" is discussed no where in the Constitution. Some of the founders actually believed our government should have theological elements - thank God that's also not in the Constitution. Separation between Church/State is a concept that many founders including Jefferson discussed, but they never wrote it anywhere in the Constitution.
In the Bill of Rights, the first amendment does provide for freedom of worship and the prohibition of the government establishing a religion. This second clause of the freedom of religion section is used by many as a form of separation of church/state, but it's stated no where explicitly.
That said, I agree with you and believe many of their statements, beliefs, opinions, and actions fly directly in the face of the Establishment Clause...but unfortunately America has enough fundamentalists that they get away with it. Those demographics appear to be changing and I do wonder how much longer it will work.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
Updated On: 1/5/12 at 06:10 PM
#2Why Aren't These Republicans Called Out On The Separation of Church and State?
Posted: 1/5/12 at 6:14pm
No, you're right. My 5th Grade social studies slipped my mind for a few moments. lol
(I should not go on the Jeff Foxworthy show!) But you know what I mean... :)
#3Why Aren't These Republicans Called Out On The Separation of Church and State?
Posted: 1/5/12 at 6:38pmHa no problem. I did know what you mean and think it's a very legitimate question. As our country becomes less religious, I think it's only a matter of time before more of the bible-pushing politicians get voted out of office. Perhaps I'm a bit overly optimistic but I really think we could see gay marriage and other social issues the neoconservative, religious argue against being brought up at the federal level at some point in the not too distant future (relatively speaking).
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
#4Why Aren't These Republicans Called Out On The Separation of Church and State?
Posted: 1/5/12 at 6:41pmWhile I hope that happens, my main question is why they're not called out on it, though. There are plenty of reporters (BIG NAME REPORTERS) who frequently interview all of these people yet they never seem to ask them this. You can bet your ass when it comes time for the main debates this year I'll be writing in, calling in, etc. hoping to get that question asked to whoever is running.
#5Why Aren't These Republicans Called Out On The Separation of Church and Sta
Posted: 1/5/12 at 6:53pm
Telling someone that they can't govern based on their faith is an attack on their first amendment right to practice and profess their faith! How dare you?
(That is, only if they're Christian.)
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#6Why Aren't These Republicans Called Out On The Separation of Church and Sta
Posted: 1/5/12 at 8:18pm
"... I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State." Thomas Jefferson, letter to Danbury Baptist Association, 1802
One is of course free to disagree with Jefferson that the Establishment Clause and Freedom of Religion Clause of the First Amendment "build a wall of separation between Church and State."
But I share the view of the U.S. Supreme Court in Everson v. Board of Education, 1947, that Jefferson was correct (albeit there and elsewhere the Court has found chinks in that wall).
Let's also put this in perspective. The Constitution also doesn't explicitly guarantee a right to privacy. Nevertheless, as many American politicians, including most of the Republican nominees for president need to be reminded, the courts, with very good reason now recognize privacy as a constitutionally guaranteed right.
Updated On: 1/5/12 at 08:18 PM
Videos