Internal Terrorism and Christian Fundamentalists

The Founding Fathers assembled the constitution to carefully balance the government. It is a masterwork in taking into account the unscrupulous nature of humans, because even the most righteous of humans may attempt to subvert democracy for the good of all. The clever way the checks and balances are set up balances the system so that no one person, or group of people, however well meaning, can control all of the government.

The system relies on the citizens believing that equality is a good thing, and wanting freedom for all. It counts on the majority of elected officials not to intentionally undermine the Constitution. We are rapidly getting to the point where an extremely vocal group of citizens is working very hard to abolish the Constitution.

The far right Christian Fundamentalists attack the constitution from every angle possible.

Can’t get their greedy self-interested puppet candidate elected fair and square? Fix the election, exclude those citizens whom you don’t consider human enough.

Can’t get the far right federal judges appointed the legal way, ignore the Constitution, make rules up as you go. They need not be consistent, just as long as they get the job done.

Can’t get complete control of the Congress lull them into expanding the powers of the Executive Branch until we have a dictator.

Don’t like it when a Governmental Agency says something you disagree with shout bloody murder until it’s funding is cut and your puppet President orders rolling heads.

Don’t like what someone else says? Call them unpatriotic. Accuse them of treason.

Don’t like what someone else believes call them a Devil-Worshipper, and malign their beliefs. That’s what free speech is for, right? The Devil is part of Christian mythology and they can keep it.

This is the terrorism we need to fear. Alkida doesn’t need to attack us from without we are quite nicely destroying ourselves from within, one line of the Constitution at a time. The part that horrifies me; is most Americans don’t give a damn.

I’m tired of hearing about how unfair everyone is to Christian Fundamentalists. Whenever the fundamentalists want to force their views -about religion, moral and ethical standards, or their biased interpretation of the constitution- it’s a matter of free speech or first amendment rights. That’s fine; everyone is entitled to his or her religious beliefs and to speak their mind.

Those rights belong to everyone in this country. The rest of have the right not to care or listen.

According to the Christian Fundamentalists, whenever anyone else disagrees in any way with the Christian Fundamentalists, it’s the Christian Fundamentalists who are being oppressed. Even if the other guy just wants to worship as he sees fit in his own home. If it’s not based in Middle Eastern Dogma it somehow violates the rights of the Christian Fundamentalists. No one is demanding they believe anything they don’t want to.

Meanwhile, Christian Fundamentalists demand loud and long that their religious beliefs be forced on children in public schools. On jurors, defendant and plaintiffs in courthouses. It does not matter that people of other faiths also pay taxes, serve in the military and work in the community.

If you believe your cat Snuggle-Poo-Cuddle-Whampas is the High Priest and current mortal incarnation of Ugafoo-Nagufa the Great God of Frozen Peas and Canned Applesauce that is your right. You are allowed to believe, pray, establish a non-profit ministry and go door-to-door spreading the word.

However no one else is required to listen, they can shut the door in your face, toss your beautiful pamphlet in the recycle bin and refuse to donate to your cause. And just because no one else sees your truth, doesn’t mean you are being oppressed.

Let us suppose for a moment that you gain a vast following for Snuggle-Poo-Cuddle-Whampas, and your religion becomes the most widely followed religion in the country. You still can’t require your version of world history, ethics, morals and Dogma be posted in every school, courthouse and post office. And those who disagree with you are still entitled to their beliefs and opinions.

Unless you abolish the First Amendment and get Congress to agree to the establishment of a State religion. But in that sad case our beautiful democracy will be gone. You will have done exactly as Alkida wants. The United States will be destroyed, and Theocracy will rein the same oppression and terror it has since the beginning of the Christian era.

So much for “Love thy Neighbor” and “Peace on Earth”.
A few words from Jefferson.

Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. -Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. -Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814

And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerve in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding, and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated reformer of human errors. -Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, April 11, 1823

Still think all the founding fathers wanted a Chrisitan state?

And my favorite:

But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. -Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

And it does me no injury that my neighbor believes there is one God, until the day my neighbor tries to burn me at the stake.