11.10.2004
Redefining "Values" (DemocraticUnderground.com)
November 9, 2004
By Tim Keane
Born-again Christians did indeed have a huge and probably deciding role in electing George Bush to a second term, and as a result we may have as many as four conservative appointments to the Supreme Court during the next four years; the first may be only weeks or months away.
This provides an enormous opportunity for Democrats to redefine the "Values" issue and stop the born-again conservative movement from trying to rewrite history by stating that this country was founded on Christian values.
You see, this is the United States of America, and its values were established by the great men who founded this incredibly progressive nation. This country was founded on a whole new set of values never seen before - it was founded on American Values.
While many of the Founding Fathers were indeed of Christian faith, they understood that separation of church and state was critical to ensuring the freedoms of the citizens of this new and hopeful nation - so critical that it is included as part of the first of our American Values: the First Amendment.
Regarding the combination of government and religion Thomas Jefferson went so far as to say:
I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature... Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make half the world fools and half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the world.
(More ... Redefining "Values", by Tim Keane - Democratic Underground) ¶ 20:51
By Tim Keane
Born-again Christians did indeed have a huge and probably deciding role in electing George Bush to a second term, and as a result we may have as many as four conservative appointments to the Supreme Court during the next four years; the first may be only weeks or months away.
This provides an enormous opportunity for Democrats to redefine the "Values" issue and stop the born-again conservative movement from trying to rewrite history by stating that this country was founded on Christian values.
You see, this is the United States of America, and its values were established by the great men who founded this incredibly progressive nation. This country was founded on a whole new set of values never seen before - it was founded on American Values.
While many of the Founding Fathers were indeed of Christian faith, they understood that separation of church and state was critical to ensuring the freedoms of the citizens of this new and hopeful nation - so critical that it is included as part of the first of our American Values: the First Amendment.
Regarding the combination of government and religion Thomas Jefferson went so far as to say:
I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature... Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make half the world fools and half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the world.
(More ... Redefining "Values", by Tim Keane - Democratic Underground) ¶ 20:51
