America has always been and should remain a secular society. A true Democracy can not, by definition, promote one religion over another, and I fear our politics are becoming increasingly influenced by the fundamentalist right; an authority that is only adding fuel to the fire of our current war over terrorism.
Internationally, America's reputation is under fire. Protests against our politics are not isolated events being reared by only the Islamic nations. Many of our more liberal minded neighbors in Europe are withdrawing their support of our political agendas, proclaiming us to be not only greedy Imperialists, but also terrorists, whose religious sentiments are clouding our judgments and inflicting our diplomatic relations with bias. Never before in our nation's history have we failed in such matters of international affairs, as we have suffered now under the Bush administration. Never before has evangelism so flourished in our country, commingling in politics to such a degree, that it has become nearly synonymous to the notion of 'The United States of America' abroad. These are critical times in which we unwitteningly reside, and support from the United Nations is vital to our survival and security. Our military is already too thinly dispersed to protect us from a pending WWIII. A war that is frighteningly becoming a 'Holy war' with the intent on perpetuating and fulfilling biblical prophecies, that is dismantling our goals of instigating true democracies--secular societies promoting individual freedoms and equal rights.
When any nation makes a statement that associates them with a singular religious belief, that nation is no longer democratic. America was founded by such religious freedoms, and we need to uphold this political theory to remain the refuge to the many oppressed peoples escaping such authoritarian governments. It is only through secularism, can we remain impartial judges and leaders. In contrast to the many oppressed nations that we do defeat, we can not allow religion to dominate our political policies. To do so, may only be construed as hypocrisy for which we stand, and by this, disjointed we will crumble.
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» left by Susan Thom(8,103) Susan Thom (131 days 6 hours ago.)
hi jennfer,
you are so bright.
it's sad to live in a country that has so much to give, and yet, gives so little. and by that i mean, our relations are not good with anyone. it's not a good place to be. 4,000 "men", mostly 18-22 year olds, have died, and the money we have spent coulod have cleaned up OUR world first, before invading anothers'.
thanks for sharing,
best regards,
sue Respond to this comment
» left by Jennifer Cuddy(1,232) Jennifer Cuddy (131 days 5 hours ago.)
thank you, Susan! and yes, i'm afraid that we are fighting a neverending battle, and especially if we become engaged in a war with Iran. All we have done, is created a safehaven for even more terrorist camps to form in disorganised Iraq, uniting them all against us. We have destroyed not only the country of Iraq, but have attacked also their nations pride, by allowing the destruction of ancient manuscripts and art that had been housed in vitally important museums. We dismantled their police, creating enormous unemployment, and thereby creating enemies with the very people who'd hoped to rebuild the country with the aid of Americans. we've destroyed their economy, and raped their contractors of rebuilding rights; instead hiring foreign ( or American) contractors who only abuse the system by taking advantage of the money to be made in the reconstructing. money that should by all means be granted only to Iraqi's. it's truly a disgusting war about greed. It seems we've gone out of our way to infuriate them, when the initial plan was to institute a democratic system there. it was all a dirty lie, in a dirty war of lies.
» left by Robert Melaccio, Sr.(4,558) Robert Melaccio, Sr. (130 days 19 hours ago.)
Yes our nation was founded under religious freedom. Our law was never written to separate God from government, nor exclude God from the works of those in government who profess to be believers and of any faith and even unbelievers who say they practice the Golden Rule. When we talk about separtation we talk strictly about evangelizing and the forcing our religion on others. Sadly, the one world perspective and ideology of idealists from the League of Nations all the way back through history for "The New World Order" while noble is corrupt by the nature of man. As for believers in the end times. We all hold beliefs. They manifest in our lives. Understanding those beliefs is crucial to harmony among men. As one who I consider a very intelligent person, where have we seen this in the works of man or their agencies and institutions?. Love of neighbor is the cornerstone of the three main religions, all practiced by man. Where dow e see that love? If we were to study those beliefs as theory, science, reality we would find much that would lend us to think about the possibilty of an End Time. Yet in my opinion we are more inclined as humans to accept what
we choose and another. Great Job. I hope i stirred your thought process? I look forward to more writings. Respond to this comment
» left by Jennifer Cuddy(1,232) Jennifer Cuddy (130 days 10 hours ago.)
We shouldn't need a book to tell us the difference between right and wrong. all we need are logic, critical thinking skills and applied ethics to govern. as history teaches us, only disastrous consequences have resulted from organised religions taking part in government.
» left by Jennifer Cuddy(1,232) Jennifer Cuddy (129 days 20 hours ago.)
everyone has good and bad in them, which is why we need critical thinking skills to applied ethics; all religious preferences aside.
» left by Robert Melaccio, Sr.(4,558) Robert Melaccio, Sr. (129 days 20 hours ago.)
I had to run on an "ethics" call. Sorry I didn't finish. Yes I agree. What I was trying to say is what you said. It is when we get religion involved and trying to tell people to live by thier beliefs that we go astray. Yet, we must ponder if they are the believers they profess to be then that should all be demonstrated in their works.
» left by Jennifer Cuddy(1,232) Jennifer Cuddy (129 days 19 hours ago.)
believers in Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, or even Agnostics, Atheists..
it doesn't matter what they profess to believe, it is their actions that are important. ethics preceeds monotheism.
» left by James P Krehbiel(1,391) James P Krehbiel (128 days 13 hours ago.)
Jennifer, Your article mirrors my stab at THE MYTH OF MORAL SUPERIORITY. We are currently no different than the Christian missionaries of old who imperialistically snuffed out entire cultures in the name of promoting Christianity and democracy. Now, we have an Americanized, homogenized version of Iraq, where we have eradicated vestiges of their culture in the process of promoting our form of democracy. We have corruptly hired firms that benefit our government and personnel while sabotaging contractors from Iraq. The Iraq infrastructure suffers due to the ravages of this war. Meanwhile, the Reverand Parsley and others (touted by some searchwarp writers) would like to create genocide by eliminating all Muslims. So, there is your HOLY WAR. How hypocritical is this. These are the GOOD Christians that are enmeshed in our political process. How sick is this?
» left by Jennifer Cuddy(1,232) Jennifer Cuddy (128 days 9 hours ago.)
yes, i read that article of yours today. good to know that there are kindred spirits out there who can see through all of this madness.
i have no idea who Reverand Parsley is..but that kind of distorted mindset does not surprise me, as i see it in many of the fundamentalist fanatics who've propelled us into this war in the first place.
President Bush has just used the fanaticism of these people to gain power.
» left by jamespkrehbiel from scottsdale, az (127 days 17 hours ago.)
Reverend Parsley is a lunatic fringe pastor who is associated with the John McCain campaign. He has been revered by some on this site. He has called for a Holy War against Islam and calls for the eradication of all Muslims.
» left by Jennifer Cuddy(1,232) Jennifer Cuddy (127 days 13 hours ago.)
since when has John McCain become religious? this is a very critical election coming up. note the dispersion of red state/blue state maps in previous times.
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