Jefferson would be rolling in his grave.

From May 19, 2007

Newt Gingrich spoke to the graduating class of Liberty University today just a few short days after the University's founder, Jerry Falwell, died of heart trouble. A crowd of 17,000 gathered in the University's football stadium to hear the former speaker of the house, who is also considering a run for the presidency. But the words spoken by Gingrich were very disheartening, perhaps even for some religious individuals against the message of discrimination.

"A growing culture of radical secularism declares that the nation cannot profess the truths on which it was founded," Gingrich said. "In hostility to American history, the radical secularists insist that religious belief is inherently divisive and that public debate can only proceed on secular terms," he said.

It is amazing to me that these students and full-grown adults could propose such moronic claims. These are full-blown lies. It takes no more than 10 minutes to do enough effective research to learn the true goals of our founding fathers - to create a secular nation that does not govern by religion. This should also be obvious, since they were fleeing from the religious oppression of English monarchs when they arrived on what was to be United States soil. But, to be more rigorous, here is an exerpt from the Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

There you go, in black and white, we are not founded on religious ideology. As for religion being inherently divisive, well that speaks for itself, doesn't it? Looking only at Christian religions, we have today: Mormonism, Catholicism, Evangelicanism, Church of Christ, Pentacostal, and Jehovah's Witnesses just to name a few. How's that for divisive? Oh, and then Newt also wants to avoid debate on secular terms. Well, okay then. That means we should also throw out debating on any logical or reasonable terms as well, since there is nothing reasonable or logically sound about "faith" or any other religious dogma. Hell, why even debate at all? We will just ask Bush to ask God what to do. Then when he hears the little voice in his head tell him to invade Iraq or veto scientific research, we will know it is the right thing to do! All right!

It seems that the religious sect of our country is dead set on their goal of abolishing the constitution and replacing our republic with a theocracy.

Don't get me wrong, folks. I am all about these nuts being able to have their little parties and get-together and talk about how the Earth is 6,000 years old and all that nonsense, but why do these people have to completely divorce themselves from the reality of our country's humble beginnings? I have too much respect for our founding fathers, our country, capitalism, secularism, and most of all freedom to allow these fundamentalist zealots to pass around these ridiculous lies. Freedom in our constitution does not mean only freedom of religion, but also freedom from religion. Keep your religion out of my children's school, out of my town hall, and out of my constitution!

For the moderate Christians that might read this, I hope you can find it in your hearts and minds to examine the message of some of your colleagues. The attack on civil rights has to stop. Tell your churchgoing brothers and sisters to stand up for freedom, and preach your messages without altering the great nation that Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, and others founded over 200 years ago.