You know what? I don't think I've bitched enough lately.

[ysobelle]

Here's my take on it.

I vacillate wildly between thinking the world's utter shite and thinking it's just dandy. Between people being uncontrolled animals and start struggling to shine. But the one constant I have between the two is that there's some kind of balance somewhere, and I have to do what I can to tip that boat to the light side, Luke. I may be the lone idealist (I'm not, but the notion is Romantic), but I have to rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Tomorrow night, Wednesday, that is, I’m supposed to go to Ludwig’s Garten for a Democratic MeetUp. Part of me is totally jazzed about this event. I mean, I’ve been out of the loop for so long now—I saw the point of discussion on the MeetUp page about getting Gen. Clark to run and I thought, "Oh, must be something local." Er, no. He may be the sudden dark horse that grabs attention and steals the Dem Presidential candidate field. Thank G-d I had the sense to listen to NPR beforehand. Now I can go in tomorrow only slightly drippy behind the ears. I still don’t know whom I support, but I also think it’s too early to decide, anyway. And I have to admit, I want to see who looks strongest, first. I’m leaning towards Kucinich, just because he raises the Wellstone flag, but we’ll see. I saw a flash of teeth from Dean, but he looks like my sister’s father-in-law, which is entirely too surreal for me.

I can’t understand social apathy. I can’t understand, "Who cares?" My best friend, whom I adore, frequently says, "Oh, I don’t watch the news. I don’t want to know what’s going on." How can anyone live that way?

Apropos of nothing, I can’t wait til Clue’s coat comes in. It’ll be a while, but oh, it’ll be gorgeous.

Anyway.

The Patriot Act. The Pledge of Allegiance. Prayer in schools. Bible verses in court. I don’t get it. When did this all become okay? I was talking about this with ulfur_engil the other night, and on the Wench board many weeks ago. It’s hard, talking to people who’ve grown up Christian, to explain to them that, for example, the minute you say "under G-d," you really are saying which G-d you mean. Jews don’t really talk about G-d in public unless it’s a religious discussion. Buddhists don’t really have the concept. Pagans have too many concepts. Atheists and agnostics, well…. So really, it’s the Christians who’re left responsible. I think it was a mistake in the first place putting the damned phrase in.

From http://fact.trib.com/1st.religion.alert.html


Congress strongly disapproves removing "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance


In separate resolutions, both the Senate and the House urged legal action to appeal the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision which ruled that the words, "under God" in the Pledge is unconstitutional. An appeal for an en banc hearing before the full appellate court was turned down by the Ninth Circuit.

The words "under God" was inserted into the Pledge in 1954 at the height of paranoia about the godless communists. The pledge was writen by Baptist minister Frances Bellamy in 1892 and all references to religion were deliberately left out.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found the insertion of the religious statement a violation of the Establishment Clause.

In another move, On March 3, an amendment to the Constitution was introduced in the Senate that would allow the addition of "under God" to the Pledge.

Source:Freethought Today, April 2003

I have to admit I had forgotten exactly what the First Amendment says. So how about repeating it here, Nikk? Why, sure I will!

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.


It’s ironic, isn’t it? The same people shouting about their right to say whatever they please about religion in schools are usually intent on violating the same Amendment they’re invoking. I mean, I’m all over Civil Disobedience, and I’m all for knowing which laws I support and which I think are wrong, but by G-d, if you’re going to scream about your Constitutional rights, don’t fucking do it while trampling mine.

Ah, I’m rambling.

I did just join another MeetUp, though. Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Sigh.

Comments

[ktnboo.livejournal.com]

All I can say is a hearty "I agree!"