Constitution 101...installment #1. "seperation of church and state

I find it interesting that it is rarely the Christians who are filing protest over others beliefs but are the victim of the attacks. I have seen displays for Ramadan, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah, without my Christian friends say anything about it. They do get upset at a news story that talks about the Holiday season with out mentioning Christmas but then does a feature on Ramadan or Kwanzaa. My granddaughter came and told me about Kwanzaa and how they had learned about it in school, yet they could not have a Christmas Program, because some one might be offended. In a world History course my daughter learned about the Major faiths of the world and the text book only had a paragraph on Christianity (mainly the Spanish Inquisition) while the other religions had a sub chapter on them. She learned about socialism, Communism, and Monarchies but all she learned about Capitalism was the Robber Barons. We need to be teaching our children about our country and what made it great.

Never ever have I heard of a child being sent home from a public school for wearing a necklace or anything that displays their religious beliefs. If this has happened where you live then I would be furious. All applies to all faiths where I live it is about each faith respecting another not one being better than another. It all boils down to everyone believes in a high authority than the human race. I refuse to stop saying Merry Christmas or I would like to buy a Christmas tree. Just recently I said to my husband I am going to start selling kwansa trees. Nothing more than a pine tree with a new name. If you are of that faith you buy it if not go down the road and buy a Christmas tree, a little further maybe another type of tree. Name them as you want but I will not allow my rights to be trampled on. I also do not believe that the schools teach that gay and lesbian lifestyle is morally right they explain how people are different and do not teach hatred. They talk about both creationism and evolution and they do not go deep into either one of them. As for the environmentalism as you call it that is not a faith but indeed a concern of many americans that carry different faiths. I speak for my childrens publics schools which I have been involved in now for 26 years. I can not speak of others around the states.

An environmentalist is a person who may advocate the sustainable management of resources and stewardship of the natural environment through changes in public policy or individual behavior. In various ways (for example, grassroots activism and protests), environmentalists and environmental organizations seek to give the natural world a stronger voice in human affairs.

"Their intention was not to keep our faith in God out of the government...just to keep government from regulating our faith" wow, I don't think I have ever seen it worded so comprehensively, thank you for that spally, you rok!

I am not against religion in public life. In fact I am all for freedom of religion. But it hurts me, being a singer, when I hear that in some Malls they cannot even sing Christmas Carols. So do not think that I am against religion in public life because I am not. I am referring to others. It hurts me when I read that because of political correctness they call an Easter Concert a Spring Concert, and a Christmas Concert a Winter Festival. I do not want that the only time you want to hear Hark the Herald Angels Sing or Christ the Lord is Risen Today is when you go to a Christian School.

I know your not oposed to it.

You guys aren't so hung up on keeping religion out of public view up there, at least that was my experience in my time up there. Some people here seem to have almost a rabid reaction to even the mention of god in public. It is indeed sad when kindergarden class has to rename a christmas play to a "holidat play" or a "winter play" to avoid offending one or two people.

I hope to post more of these. People seem averse to actualy reading the constituion. either out of intimidation or apathy, so, to borrow a religious phrase, if you can't get Mohamehd to the mountain, then you bring the mountain to Mohamehd.

Could you give a bit of detail as to what beliefs are different? I'd love to answer but I don't want to mistake your meaning.

I'm sorry, like I said I really wanted to answer your question, but I have even less idea what you're talking about now than I did before! We dumped Christmas when we declared our independence?? In what universe? Separation of the sexes?? What are you talking about? Are you in the US?

When we finally declared our independence one of the first things we dumped was Christmas. We considered it a custom of England and not wanting anything to do with England, it was out the door. No celebration, no special masses, just another day of the week. And then there's the church taxes, when the Sabbath starts and what can be done on it and separation of the sexes and so on.

I think you may have taken this a little personaly. It was not directed at you specificly, this has come up many times before with others as well over a long period of time, so don't take it to heart, ok? it wasn't an attack at all. :) I do need to correct a typo of mine though, the letter was to the Danbury Baptist association association, I had pasted some other text as reference and missed some when deleting it. Here is a copy of Jefferson's Letter: [i] Gentlemen The affectionate sentiments of esteem & approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful & zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more & more pleasing. Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state. [Congress thus inhibited from acts respecting religion, and the Executive authorised only to execute their acts, I have refrained from presenting even occasional performances of devotion presented indeed legally where an Executive is the legal head of a national church, but subject here, as religious exercises only to the voluntary regulations and discipline of each respective sect.] Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties. I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem. (signed) Thomas Jefferson Jan.1.1802.

and even in correcting my typo I have another typo....sigh....lol.

They sell keyboards at Walmart, x.