One more item of political statements for the day:

Texas Republicans argued over whether their state convention was mainstream or filled with "religious zealots" Saturday as delegates approved a party platform that called for the repeal of the state lottery, declared the United States a Christian nation and favored posting the Ten Commandments on public property.

The Republican platform also reaffirmed the state party's belief that the nation needs to "dispel the myth of the separation of church and state."

The party also added a new emphasis on fighting terrorism. The planks included a call to use "terrorist profiling" to determine who could be searched at airports; the revoking of student visas and deportation of persons from countries that have not declared themselves as allies in the war on terrorism; and the arming of airplane pilots.

How outrageous is that? If anyone I know elects someone because of their belief of any of the above crap, I'm not sure I would consider them sane. Go move to a facist nation if you want it that way. :-/ (I do support arming pilots, but beyond that, it's all crap)

Link is here: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1445856
In case you think that church and state should not be seperate, let me remind you about the free exercise clause of the first amendment. 8->

Anyway, friends don't let friends vote republican.

8 thoughts on “”

  1. some of my stances on some of the issues mentioned. (of course, my personal views aren't really relevant and I'm not trying to convince you to hold similar ideas, but I'm gonna comment anyway)

    lottery: if stupid people want to throw their money away, so be it. that's their problem. And if it generates a profit for the state, that's gravy.

    posting the Ten Commandments: I see nothing wrong with that at all. it's not as if by posting them they are FORCING people to follow them (although the majority of the commandments are covered under the legal system…. not killing, etc.).

    1. That establishes a governmental preference of religion. If they make it available to post any religious tenets people request up, I don't see too much of a problem. But pretend you're wiccan, and you're going to a courthouse to defend yourself on a speeding ticket, and you're wearing the pentagram, and you see the 10 commandments on a wall. Wouldn't you feel intimidated that the judge might show religious predjustice?

      1. the government is made up of people, and people will always have preferences. The speeder would have the same predjustices against them whether or not the 10 commandments sign was up on the wall or not because the judge would have his same ideas either way.

        1. true, but it is quite intimidating, wouldn't you think? It indicates a clear governmental predjustice.

          Besides, it says in the constitution not to, pretty much plainly, and the seperation from church and state quote came from benjamin franklin, originally. Maybe there's something they know, that we don't? They knew how religious predjustice starts, and they want to prevent it from happening again.

          Just because you trust that noone will take it any farther than that doesn't mean it will work that way. If you've seen the republican platform lately, it affirms that's just the beginning. I'm sure they'd rather strike the establisment clause of the first amendment.

          Personally, I'd have no problem if governments didn't have a constant desire for more power than they already have, at any cost, but they do. The reality of things is that it goes far beyond just displaying a set of religious tenets, unfortunate as it may be.

        2. The most staunch supporters of the ten commandments being in places are usually pretty fanatical too. Check this out:
          http://www.aclu.org/news/w041197a.html

          MONTGOMERY, AL — Judge Roy Moore displays a plaque of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom and opens his session with prayer. And the judge, according to the a report by the Associated Press, invites others to pray with him — as long as they are not Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists.

          "They do not acknowledge the God of the holy Bible on which the country was founded," Moore says. "My duty under the Constitution is to acknowledge the Judeo-Christian God."

          "We are not a nation founded upon the Hindu god or Buddha."

          When you think of the possibilities of allowing something, think of the abuses too. This case eventually ended in requiring the Judge to cease leading prayers before sessions, and

          Judge Price gave Judge Moore the opportunity to remedy the violation by placing the plaques in a "larger display of non-religious and/or historical items." Price noted that such a display could be put in place "within a matter of minutes." Judge Price stated, however, that if Judge Moore does not develop an appropriate display, "then the plaques of the Ten Commandments must be removed."

  2. Another day in the life. If you want to see some seriously messed up ideas, spend an afternoon reading the UN's website. I haven't done it it years, but I still clearly recall their master plan to have a 1 world government and disarm the entire planet.
    Yes, I'm a strong supporter of gun ownership.

    1. I support gun ownership too. Hell, I support every amendment to the constitution ever made except the income tax one. :-/

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