Screaming Penguin

Be advised of what the current government of the United States of America is on course to create, an ideological state based on a particular religion. Hey why not, why should Iran have all the fun? Besides the egregious destruction of due process and most civil rights by the "USA Patriot Act" you also currently have "Faith Based Initiatives" and a host of other ideological nonsense from the Bush Administration. Some great examples of the thinking and the tact of the administration: Marriage Protection Week and Protection from Pornography Week (both of which are full of logical fallacies). This is wrong on so many profound levels its insane. Regardless of ANY persons views concerning morals and religion and more specific topics such as homosexuality and pornography ALL logical persons should be able to see the affront to freedom that LEGISLATING these issues or getting the state involved at all with these topics creates. This fact is why the United States founders MADE IT CLEAR that religion should play no part in government (despite what "conservatives" will often proclaim that this nation was "founded on god", that is flat out false). In addition to the obvious attack on ACTUAL freedom and UNCONSTITUTIONALITY of the tact of the current administration another serious issue is emerging. State and local administrations are taking a queue and example from a federal administration that bolsters state supported religion and making bold moves to force religion into government. Take for example the debacles of the "Ten Commandments" around the country at local courthouses and especially the Supreme Justice of Alabama and his misguided quest to FORCE this religious symbol into government. These are places that religions is BEING ADDED into courthouses and council meetings and even legislation BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOSTERED BY THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. Look around for yourself and see the landscape of religious oriented legislation in the United States on both a federal and state levels. Many people are apparently in favor of religion in government (or we would not have so many bills out there) but the little fact that its unconstitutional seems to be being overlooked or simply avoided? Again, religion may be all well and fine but it is NOT ALLOWED by design in the current Constitution of the United States of America. This is NOT a nation "founded on god", quite clearly the contrary, founded on fleeing religious persecution and SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. Now it does present a problem if the administration and so many people misunderstand this tenet of the country and invoke and inject religion into government. The government is after all "by the people, for the people". So I would suggest that those that want a religious nation, specifically a CHRISTIAN nation (to stop the dancing around and copping out to call it spiritual or religions in general, the fact is its CHRISTIAN) should deal with reality and FORM ONE or CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. We should quit trying to equate freedom and separation of church and state and just deal with it. If certain people want a religious nation then they should have one. However to continue down the path of purported freedom and separation of church and state yet *really* be a "Christian Nation" is only detrimental to both sides. Other countries have religious states. These nations are simply willing to OWN UP TO IT. Those in the United States that want the government to legislate Christianity could take a cue from those other nations. This means the PRESIDENT should take a cue from these nations and own up to it. What are those other nations? Well it turns out that the United States actually has an office of International Religious Freedom that determines violators of freedom of religion and hence just who those nations are. This office works closely with the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (why there are 2 orgs and how they interact etc is not clear). From the mandate for the office of International Religious Freedom of the United States: Given the U.S. commitment to religious freedom, and to the international covenants that guarantee it as the inalienable right of every human being, the United States seeks to:

• Promote freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries;
• Assist newly formed democracies in implementing freedom of religion and conscience;
• Assist religious and human rights NGOs in promoting religious freedom;
• Identify and denounce regimes that are severe persecutors of their citizens or others on the basis of religious belief.

This "office" also determines that said nations that are the severe violators or "Countries of Particular Concern" are: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, China, North Korea, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Laos and Burma. Again I submit that the United States might need to put some focus on the United States. And those that still insist on a religious symbolism and doctrine forced into government despite national and INTERNATIONAL law should simply form a separate religious nation apart from the United States OR change the constitution of the United States to reflect this religious, Christian religious, nature. Either way and whichever "side" you are on concerning this issue, everyone should at the very least be AWARE of the issue and the actions of the current administration to force religion into government without any consitutitional change AND under the pretense of "Faith Based" non affiliated religion that is in reality Christianity all the way. BE AWARE that these actions, spearheaded by the Bush administration in large part, create a society in which people that are NOT of the Christian faith are required to read Christian doctrine and symbolism in public places, required to recite Christian doctrine in public schools, required to provide money to further Christian causes and in general severely discriminated against in society. Freedom of religion does not mean freedom to practice any Christian demonimination you want, it means FREEDOM PERIOD, freedom OF, freedom FROM, the state NOT INVOLVED AT ALL. Those who do not recognize this are profoundly misguided and or ignorant.