Monday, November 22, 2010

47 YEARS AGO

Some notice taken today in the main news media of the forty-seventh anniversary of that fatal day in Dallas, but not much.

One of the items in the news though, was excerpts from Sarah Palin's new book, in which she supposedly criticizes JFK for "running away from his religion" when he ran for President in 1960, and praises Mitt Romney for not running away from his religion during his run for the presidential nomination (seemed to me he avoided any mention or notice of his Mormonism).

Sounds like maybe she's positioning Romney for her vice presidential candidate, or maybe she wants to be the power behind his presidential bid, or just get his powerful financial backing and that of his fellow Mormons.

But in the meantime, she's dissing a prince of my people. And misunderstanding, once again, what this country and its "Founding Fathers" stood for—vis a vis the seperation of church and state. As well as misunderstanding who JFK was, and what he stood for. All in all a typical Palin play.

6 comments:

Robert G. Zuckerman said...

"Some day a real rain will come and wash all the scum off the streets" and all the lying hypocrits off their pedestals and thrones.

JIm said...

The first amendment forbids the establishment of a religion. It does not provide for the separation church and state. The concept of separation comes from Jefferson's famous letter to the Baptist ministers. Jefferson's letter obviously does not carry the same weight as the first amendment. The Founding Fathers frequently referred to religious concepts in their discourse, meetings and correspondence.

PS I could not let such incorrect self rightousness pass unchallenged.

January 1, 1802



Gentlemen:

The affectionate sentiments of esteem and appreciation which you are so good to express toward me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist Association, give me the highest satisfaction. My duties dictate a faithful and 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 and more pleasing.


Believing with you that religion is a matter that lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative 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. (emphasis added) 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 his natural rights, convinced that 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 high respect and esteem.



Thomas Jefferson



1st Amendment

"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"

Lally said...

So, who one that bet about how long it would be before...?

Anonymous said...

the prominant founding fathers were deists. deists regected organized religion. and the magical thinking that organized religion imposes on ther flock, like virgin birth, and ressurection. they embraced the teachings of jesus because the teachings uplift the consciousness of the individual who implements the principles expressed in them.
" my religion is doing good" thomas paine

Robert G. Zuckerman said...

Jim, you open by saying the first amendment prohibits the establishment of a religion, then you paste in the first amendment that says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" so...what's your point?

JIm said...

Robert,
The Constitution prohibits the establishment of a state religion and the interference with one's practice of religion. It does not explicitly prohibit things like vouchers that can be used in religious schools and the collaboration of the state and religious organizations doing charitable works. Of course schools are or should be a local matter.