From: | jcotton1@*********.net (Joseph Cotton) |
---|---|
Subject: | EXTREMELY off-topic reply... |
Date: | Wed, 5 Jan 2005 09:48:00 -0500 |
> From: Scott Hiller
> Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 2:22 AM
>
> I see the same attention-getting
> common denominator as the guy in California who took
> to the U.S. Supreme Court the notion to strike down
> the phrase "under God" from the US Constitution. He
> obviously has problems with God and conveniently
> forgets that other people may not share his view, and
> that, in striving to excercise HIS constitutional
> right, he was infringing on the rights of others.)
Was it the Constitution or the Pledge of Allegiance? You might keep
in mind (if it was the latter) that phrase was added within fairly
recent memory as a response to the "Red Menace" back in the 50's. I
don't have the Constitution memorized and don't feel like looking it
up right now, but I'm pretty sure the Declaration of Independence
doesn't mention "God" but rather uses phrases like "supreme being" or
"creator"; and it wouldn't surprise me if the Constitution was the
same way.
Also, there is that pesky "no state-sponsored religion" clause in the
Constitution -- this is why military oaths don't require you to swear
to Big Jubu in the Sky, but rather give you the option to just say "I
affirm".
Yes, you do have the right to practice your own religion. The
government does not have the right to force you to go thru the forms
of someone else's, though.