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Faith-Based Bullshit
Feb. 5th, 2009 07:38 pmOne of the rare non-stimulus related stories in the news today concerns Obama's creation of a new faith-based office in the White House.
Now there are a lot of things in politics these days that are upsetting me. The aforementioned Stimulus discussion, particularly the Republican's asinine efforts to limit it to tax-cuts. One idiot cabinet appointee after another proving to be incapable of following tax law. The closure of Guantanamo Bay leading people to freak out about what's going to happen with the prisoners.
Nothing, however, has gotten me as irate as this business about the faith-based office. I realize that it's a relatively minor issue in the grand scheme of things, primarily an expenditure of tax dollars in a direction I'd prefer it didn't go. Compared to 900 billion dollars or the Secretary of Treasury's inability to use Turbo Tax effectively it's small fries.
But I just happen to believe that there's no place in government for religion. If we're going to be a country that embraces the First Amendment's devotion to Freedom of Religion, religion cannot be allowed to have a role in state. Even before Bush came along it already had too firm a hold on our government, from having "In God We Trust" on our treasury notes to virtually requiring elected officials to attend church services prior to calling on God in their vows.
This is a step in the wrong direction and for President Obama to take it pisses me off.
So I write about it here, publicly. I urge those of you who treasure the First Amendment to write to the President and/or his staff. Or call them: Comments: 202-456-1111. Hell, do both.
I've already written a comment using the stupid web form. Word of warning for those of you who might do the same; Don't hit enter in the text box. It'll just send the message, incomplete.
I know some of you who might be inclined to agree with me that this Faith-Based Office is a bad move might be rolling your eyes at me and thinking, "What good does that do? He's not going to listen to me!" And yeah, chances are you're right. We small people don't have much of a voice. But I'll tell you one thing that's certain. If you say nothing, there's a snowball's chance in hell of change. If you do speak, who knows? Something may actually happen.
We've had eight years of a President who didn't give a damn what we thought. Let's try harder to make this one hear our voices*. It's time for action, not just complaints.
*Naturally, given how strongly I feel about this issue, I don't want you to call the President and tell him you agree. On the other hand, if you do support him in this you really ought to do it anyway. Hell, tell me. Try to change my mind. The time of "Good versus Evil," "I'm right and therefore you're automatically wrong" is over. I, for one, want to understand why you disagree with me. That's how people learn and how changes are made. Never sit in silence, content to quietly fume at the injustice of the world. Act.
Now there are a lot of things in politics these days that are upsetting me. The aforementioned Stimulus discussion, particularly the Republican's asinine efforts to limit it to tax-cuts. One idiot cabinet appointee after another proving to be incapable of following tax law. The closure of Guantanamo Bay leading people to freak out about what's going to happen with the prisoners.
Nothing, however, has gotten me as irate as this business about the faith-based office. I realize that it's a relatively minor issue in the grand scheme of things, primarily an expenditure of tax dollars in a direction I'd prefer it didn't go. Compared to 900 billion dollars or the Secretary of Treasury's inability to use Turbo Tax effectively it's small fries.
But I just happen to believe that there's no place in government for religion. If we're going to be a country that embraces the First Amendment's devotion to Freedom of Religion, religion cannot be allowed to have a role in state. Even before Bush came along it already had too firm a hold on our government, from having "In God We Trust" on our treasury notes to virtually requiring elected officials to attend church services prior to calling on God in their vows.
This is a step in the wrong direction and for President Obama to take it pisses me off.
So I write about it here, publicly. I urge those of you who treasure the First Amendment to write to the President and/or his staff. Or call them: Comments: 202-456-1111. Hell, do both.
I've already written a comment using the stupid web form. Word of warning for those of you who might do the same; Don't hit enter in the text box. It'll just send the message, incomplete.
I know some of you who might be inclined to agree with me that this Faith-Based Office is a bad move might be rolling your eyes at me and thinking, "What good does that do? He's not going to listen to me!" And yeah, chances are you're right. We small people don't have much of a voice. But I'll tell you one thing that's certain. If you say nothing, there's a snowball's chance in hell of change. If you do speak, who knows? Something may actually happen.
We've had eight years of a President who didn't give a damn what we thought. Let's try harder to make this one hear our voices*. It's time for action, not just complaints.
*Naturally, given how strongly I feel about this issue, I don't want you to call the President and tell him you agree. On the other hand, if you do support him in this you really ought to do it anyway. Hell, tell me. Try to change my mind. The time of "Good versus Evil," "I'm right and therefore you're automatically wrong" is over. I, for one, want to understand why you disagree with me. That's how people learn and how changes are made. Never sit in silence, content to quietly fume at the injustice of the world. Act.
