I hate stupid people. I feel the the great bill Engvall got it right on how we should fix the problem. Give them all a sign that says "i'm stupid" and we don't ever have to wonder. They would always have to wear it no matter what they were doing or where they were. They should also have a special sticker that they stick on the back of their cars.
Recently I have learned that I feel very strongly that stupid people should not be allowed to drive when other non-stupid people are on the road. They make driving a living hell here in dc. Do you realize that one stupid person can add 2 hours to a 30 min trip! that is just too much. People should now have to take an iq test, and logic and reasoning skill test before they can operate any vehicle on the motor-ways. Cause well if you are not smart and can not think then I don't want you driving the big SUV next to me.
But stupid people are everywhere, and they are not always a bad thing. As long as you are not in a hurry they can provide wonderful entertainment. Let me tell you a story that happened to me the night I bough my Xbox 360 game Halo3.
I was waiting in the checkout line and realized that I did not have my check card with me, or enough cash to pay for my new very desired video game. However I did have a check, and although I feel that they are growing out of style Best Buy does still in fact take checks as a proper form of money exchange.
So about 20 min later I get up to the check out counter, and I find a kid there about 17 or 18. He looks to me to be American, and after he talked I could say for sure that he grew up here. So moving on now, he takes my game and scans it, and then tells me the price. I then proceed to write my check out for the correct amount. Once this is done I take the check and hand it too him a long with my divers license as I knew he would need it.
My DL is out of state, and for some reason people here in DC and VA seem to find it very confusing, and people always seem to be having a hard time interpreting the meaning of everything on it. I find this amusing as it is from AR, and come on, it is from AR how confusing can it be. So he looks at it then at me, then at the DL again. He hands both check and DL back and asks me to write the DL number on the check. I slightly chuckled to myself as I was realizing that he is having trouble, and perhaps some more will come.
Once this was done I handed it back, and he starts to set up the register to take my check, and he types some things into the computer, which I can see the screen of. I see him get to the "enter DL: state" field on the computer, and he typed in the letters "DL". I found this odd as I could think of no state that had the letters DL as there abbreviation, but that perhaps it was a code that you enter when you have an out of state drivers license.
After hitting the enter key the computer screen read that it had a problem, to which the person asked me if I had any other method that I could pay to which I responded no I do not. he called over his supervisor and updated him on the problem. After a few minuets of deliberation between the two, they tried to enter it in again, and this time the supervisor said that DL was the wrong thing to type, and that my drivers license is from Arkansas. The look of "oh ok" on the checkers face was great, but to make for an even better story, it was followed by a look of confusion.
He then asked me what the abbreviation for Arkansas is. I cooly said "AR" and then had to turn away due to my starting to laugh at realizing what had just happened. You see the Arkansas driver license and the state issued id are the same except on the small picture of the state it says either DL or ID one for drivers license, and the other for identification. This person ignored the big letters on my Id that read "ARKANSAS" and looked only at the DL letter, and then when he realized his mistake, he had to ask the abbreviation.
Now ok this is not that bad, but let me tell you how he pronounced my state. "Are-Kansas" not "are-can-saw" . How does someone who grows up here not know how to say that state. Clinton is from there even. You see if he had his 'i'm stupid" sign I could have helped him through this process of my drivers license a lot better, but he must have left it at home or in the break room.
So anyway I am going to stop now as I am hungry and would like to eat right now.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
One Nation Under God
There are so many things that I want to write about about but there always seems to be something better that comes up.
Today Mitt Romney gave a speech that was to say the least, amazing. He has done something that was is so risky, and yet if you stop and think about it for a moment, and forget all the other political crap you will know that he was right. That he did the right thing, and that his points are correct.
He talked about points that are near and dear to my heart, and also things that i am sure are to many of you as well. He talked about what "middle America" believes, he talked about what the hard working majority of this great country think and know is true.
I am not saying that you should vote for Mitt or not, he is still my choice, but it could change for sure. There are other people that I like a lot that could take my vote. I am saying however that you should think about what he said, and how he said it. You should think about who you want to choose for president.
Anyone who votes for Mitt cause he is a Mormon is a pinhead, and anyone who will not vote for him cause he is a Mormon is a pinhead as well. You should or should not vote for him because of his policies, and because of the nature of his carachter, and today shows a kind of character that I like a lot. He showed that he is not going to run away, and he is going to do what is right, and have faith in the American People.
We are a Nation under God, and we are founded by divine inspiration through the efforts of the founding forefathers. God Bless America, and may God forever have a place in this country, and in the hearts of those that live here whatever religion that they may be.
(below is the speech that he gave and is word for word.)
------------------------------
Governor Romney's "Faith In America" Address (As Prepared For Delivery):
"Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind introduction.
"It is an honor to be here today. This is an inspiring place because of you and the First Lady and because of the film exhibited across the way in the Presidential library. For those who have not seen it, it shows the President as a young pilot, shot down during the Second World War, being rescued from his life-raft by the crew of an American submarine. It is a moving reminder that when America has faced challenge and peril, Americans rise to the occasion, willing to risk their very lives to defend freedom and preserve our nation. We are in your debt. Thank you, Mr. President.
"Mr. President, your generation rose to the occasion, first to defeat Fascism and then to vanquish the Soviet Union. You left us, your children, a free and strong America. It is why we call yours the greatest generation. It is now my generation's turn. How we respond to today's challenges will define our generation. And it will determine what kind of America we will leave our children, and theirs.
"America faces a new generation of challenges. Radical violent Islam seeks to destroy us. An emerging China endeavors to surpass our economic leadership. And we are troubled at home by government overspending, overuse of foreign oil, and the breakdown of the family.
"Over the last year, we have embarked on a national debate on how best to preserve American leadership. Today, I wish to address a topic which I believe is fundamental to America's greatness: our religious liberty. I will also offer perspectives on how my own faith would inform my Presidency, if I were elected.
"There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders, for they, when our nation faced its greatest peril, sought the blessings of the Creator. And further, they discovered the essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom. In John Adams' words: 'We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people.'
"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.
"Given our grand tradition of religious tolerance and liberty, some wonder whether there are any questions regarding an aspiring candidate's religion that are appropriate. I believe there are. And I will answer them today.
"Almost 50 years ago another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for President, not a Catholic running for President. Like him, I am an American running for President. I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.
"Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.
"As Governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution – and of course, I would not do so as President. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.
"As a young man, Lincoln described what he called America's 'political religion' – the commitment to defend the rule of law and the Constitution. When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God. If I am fortunate to become your President, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A President must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.
"There are some for whom these commitments are not enough. They would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs.
"Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience.
Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.
"There is one fundamental question about which I often am asked. What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. My church's beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.
"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.
"I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims. As I travel across the country and see our towns and cities, I am always moved by the many houses of worship with their steeples, all pointing to heaven, reminding us of the source of life's blessings.
"It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions. And where the affairs of our nation are concerned, it's usually a sound rule to focus on the latter – on the great moral principles that urge us all on a common course. Whether it was the cause of abolition, or civil rights, or the right to life itself, no movement of conscience can succeed in America that cannot speak to the convictions of religious people.
"We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America – the religion of secularism. They are wrong.
"The founders proscribed the establishment of a state religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation 'Under God' and in God, we do indeed trust.
"We should acknowledge the Creator as did the Founders – in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history, and during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places. Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our Constitution rests. I will take care to separate the affairs of government from any religion, but I will not separate us from 'the God who gave us liberty.'
"Nor would I separate us from our religious heritage. Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office, is this: does he share these American values: the equality of human kind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty?
"They are not unique to any one denomination. They belong to the great moral inheritance we hold in common. They are the firm ground on which Americans of different faiths meet and stand as a nation, united.
"We believe that every single human being is a child of God – we are all part of the human family. The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced. John Adams put it that we are 'thrown into the world all equal and alike.'
"The consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another, to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God. It is an obligation which is fulfilled by Americans every day, here and across the globe, without regard to creed or race or nationality.
"Americans acknowledge that liberty is a gift of God, not an indulgence of government. No people in the history of the world have sacrificed as much for liberty. The lives of hundreds of thousands of America's sons and daughters were laid down during the last century to preserve freedom, for us and for freedom loving people throughout the world. America took nothing from that Century's terrible wars – no land from Germany or Japan or Korea; no treasure; no oath of fealty. America's resolve in the defense of liberty has been tested time and again. It has not been found wanting, nor must it ever be. America must never falter in holding high the banner of freedom.
"These American values, this great moral heritage, is shared and lived in my religion as it is in yours. I was taught in my home to honor God and love my neighbor. I saw my father march with Martin Luther King. I saw my parents provide compassionate care to others, in personal ways to people nearby, and in just as consequential ways in leading national volunteer movements. I am moved by the Lord's words: 'For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me...'
"My faith is grounded on these truths. You can witness them in Ann and my marriage and in our family. We are a long way from perfect and we have surely stumbled along the way, but our aspirations, our values, are the self-same as those from the other faiths that stand upon this common foundation. And these convictions will indeed inform my presidency.
"Today's generations of Americans have always known religious liberty. Perhaps we forget the long and arduous path our nation's forbearers took to achieve it. They came here from England to seek freedom of religion. But upon finding it for themselves, they at first denied it to others. Because of their diverse beliefs, Ann Hutchinson was exiled from Massachusetts Bay, a banished Roger Williams founded Rhode Island, and two centuries later, Brigham Young set out for the West. Americans were unable to accommodate their commitment to their own faith with an appreciation for the convictions of others to different faiths. In this, they were very much like those of the European nations they had left.
"It was in Philadelphia that our founding fathers defined a revolutionary vision of liberty, grounded on self evident truths about the equality of all, and the inalienable rights with which each is endowed by his Creator.
"We cherish these sacred rights, and secure them in our Constitutional order. Foremost do we protect religious liberty, not as a matter of policy but as a matter of right. There will be no established church, and we are guaranteed the free exercise of our religion.
"I'm not sure that we fully appreciate the profound implications of our tradition of religious liberty. I have visited many of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. They are so inspired … so grand … so empty. Raised up over generations, long ago, so many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer. The establishment of state religions in Europe did no favor to Europe's churches. And though you will find many people of strong faith there, the churches themselves seem to be withering away.
"Infinitely worse is the other extreme, the creed of conversion by conquest: violent Jihad, murder as martyrdom... killing Christians, Jews, and Muslims with equal indifference. These radical Islamists do their preaching not by reason or example, but in the coercion of minds and the shedding of blood. We face no greater danger today than theocratic tyranny, and the boundless suffering these states and groups could inflict if given the chance.
"The diversity of our cultural expression, and the vibrancy of our religious dialogue, has kept America in the forefront of civilized nations even as others regard religious freedom as something to be destroyed.
"In such a world, we can be deeply thankful that we live in a land where reason and religion are friends and allies in the cause of liberty, joined against the evils and dangers of the day. And you can be certain of this: Any believer in religious freedom, any person who has knelt in prayer to the Almighty, has a friend and ally in me. And so it is for hundreds of millions of our countrymen: we do not insist on a single strain of religion – rather, we welcome our nation's symphony of faith.
"Recall the early days of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. 'They were too divided in religious sentiments', what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics.
"Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.
"And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God ... they founded this great nation.
"In that spirit, let us give thanks to the divine 'author of liberty.' And together, let us pray that this land may always be blessed, 'with freedom's holy light.'
"God bless the United States of America."
Today Mitt Romney gave a speech that was to say the least, amazing. He has done something that was is so risky, and yet if you stop and think about it for a moment, and forget all the other political crap you will know that he was right. That he did the right thing, and that his points are correct.
He talked about points that are near and dear to my heart, and also things that i am sure are to many of you as well. He talked about what "middle America" believes, he talked about what the hard working majority of this great country think and know is true.
I am not saying that you should vote for Mitt or not, he is still my choice, but it could change for sure. There are other people that I like a lot that could take my vote. I am saying however that you should think about what he said, and how he said it. You should think about who you want to choose for president.
Anyone who votes for Mitt cause he is a Mormon is a pinhead, and anyone who will not vote for him cause he is a Mormon is a pinhead as well. You should or should not vote for him because of his policies, and because of the nature of his carachter, and today shows a kind of character that I like a lot. He showed that he is not going to run away, and he is going to do what is right, and have faith in the American People.
We are a Nation under God, and we are founded by divine inspiration through the efforts of the founding forefathers. God Bless America, and may God forever have a place in this country, and in the hearts of those that live here whatever religion that they may be.
(below is the speech that he gave and is word for word.)
------------------------------
Governor Romney's "Faith In America" Address (As Prepared For Delivery):
"Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind introduction.
"It is an honor to be here today. This is an inspiring place because of you and the First Lady and because of the film exhibited across the way in the Presidential library. For those who have not seen it, it shows the President as a young pilot, shot down during the Second World War, being rescued from his life-raft by the crew of an American submarine. It is a moving reminder that when America has faced challenge and peril, Americans rise to the occasion, willing to risk their very lives to defend freedom and preserve our nation. We are in your debt. Thank you, Mr. President.
"Mr. President, your generation rose to the occasion, first to defeat Fascism and then to vanquish the Soviet Union. You left us, your children, a free and strong America. It is why we call yours the greatest generation. It is now my generation's turn. How we respond to today's challenges will define our generation. And it will determine what kind of America we will leave our children, and theirs.
"America faces a new generation of challenges. Radical violent Islam seeks to destroy us. An emerging China endeavors to surpass our economic leadership. And we are troubled at home by government overspending, overuse of foreign oil, and the breakdown of the family.
"Over the last year, we have embarked on a national debate on how best to preserve American leadership. Today, I wish to address a topic which I believe is fundamental to America's greatness: our religious liberty. I will also offer perspectives on how my own faith would inform my Presidency, if I were elected.
"There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders, for they, when our nation faced its greatest peril, sought the blessings of the Creator. And further, they discovered the essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom. In John Adams' words: 'We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people.'
"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.
"Given our grand tradition of religious tolerance and liberty, some wonder whether there are any questions regarding an aspiring candidate's religion that are appropriate. I believe there are. And I will answer them today.
"Almost 50 years ago another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for President, not a Catholic running for President. Like him, I am an American running for President. I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.
"Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.
"As Governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution – and of course, I would not do so as President. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.
"As a young man, Lincoln described what he called America's 'political religion' – the commitment to defend the rule of law and the Constitution. When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God. If I am fortunate to become your President, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A President must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.
"There are some for whom these commitments are not enough. They would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs.
"Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience.
Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.
"There is one fundamental question about which I often am asked. What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. My church's beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.
"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.
"I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims. As I travel across the country and see our towns and cities, I am always moved by the many houses of worship with their steeples, all pointing to heaven, reminding us of the source of life's blessings.
"It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions. And where the affairs of our nation are concerned, it's usually a sound rule to focus on the latter – on the great moral principles that urge us all on a common course. Whether it was the cause of abolition, or civil rights, or the right to life itself, no movement of conscience can succeed in America that cannot speak to the convictions of religious people.
"We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America – the religion of secularism. They are wrong.
"The founders proscribed the establishment of a state religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation 'Under God' and in God, we do indeed trust.
"We should acknowledge the Creator as did the Founders – in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history, and during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places. Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our Constitution rests. I will take care to separate the affairs of government from any religion, but I will not separate us from 'the God who gave us liberty.'
"Nor would I separate us from our religious heritage. Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office, is this: does he share these American values: the equality of human kind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty?
"They are not unique to any one denomination. They belong to the great moral inheritance we hold in common. They are the firm ground on which Americans of different faiths meet and stand as a nation, united.
"We believe that every single human being is a child of God – we are all part of the human family. The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced. John Adams put it that we are 'thrown into the world all equal and alike.'
"The consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another, to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God. It is an obligation which is fulfilled by Americans every day, here and across the globe, without regard to creed or race or nationality.
"Americans acknowledge that liberty is a gift of God, not an indulgence of government. No people in the history of the world have sacrificed as much for liberty. The lives of hundreds of thousands of America's sons and daughters were laid down during the last century to preserve freedom, for us and for freedom loving people throughout the world. America took nothing from that Century's terrible wars – no land from Germany or Japan or Korea; no treasure; no oath of fealty. America's resolve in the defense of liberty has been tested time and again. It has not been found wanting, nor must it ever be. America must never falter in holding high the banner of freedom.
"These American values, this great moral heritage, is shared and lived in my religion as it is in yours. I was taught in my home to honor God and love my neighbor. I saw my father march with Martin Luther King. I saw my parents provide compassionate care to others, in personal ways to people nearby, and in just as consequential ways in leading national volunteer movements. I am moved by the Lord's words: 'For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me...'
"My faith is grounded on these truths. You can witness them in Ann and my marriage and in our family. We are a long way from perfect and we have surely stumbled along the way, but our aspirations, our values, are the self-same as those from the other faiths that stand upon this common foundation. And these convictions will indeed inform my presidency.
"Today's generations of Americans have always known religious liberty. Perhaps we forget the long and arduous path our nation's forbearers took to achieve it. They came here from England to seek freedom of religion. But upon finding it for themselves, they at first denied it to others. Because of their diverse beliefs, Ann Hutchinson was exiled from Massachusetts Bay, a banished Roger Williams founded Rhode Island, and two centuries later, Brigham Young set out for the West. Americans were unable to accommodate their commitment to their own faith with an appreciation for the convictions of others to different faiths. In this, they were very much like those of the European nations they had left.
"It was in Philadelphia that our founding fathers defined a revolutionary vision of liberty, grounded on self evident truths about the equality of all, and the inalienable rights with which each is endowed by his Creator.
"We cherish these sacred rights, and secure them in our Constitutional order. Foremost do we protect religious liberty, not as a matter of policy but as a matter of right. There will be no established church, and we are guaranteed the free exercise of our religion.
"I'm not sure that we fully appreciate the profound implications of our tradition of religious liberty. I have visited many of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. They are so inspired … so grand … so empty. Raised up over generations, long ago, so many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer. The establishment of state religions in Europe did no favor to Europe's churches. And though you will find many people of strong faith there, the churches themselves seem to be withering away.
"Infinitely worse is the other extreme, the creed of conversion by conquest: violent Jihad, murder as martyrdom... killing Christians, Jews, and Muslims with equal indifference. These radical Islamists do their preaching not by reason or example, but in the coercion of minds and the shedding of blood. We face no greater danger today than theocratic tyranny, and the boundless suffering these states and groups could inflict if given the chance.
"The diversity of our cultural expression, and the vibrancy of our religious dialogue, has kept America in the forefront of civilized nations even as others regard religious freedom as something to be destroyed.
"In such a world, we can be deeply thankful that we live in a land where reason and religion are friends and allies in the cause of liberty, joined against the evils and dangers of the day. And you can be certain of this: Any believer in religious freedom, any person who has knelt in prayer to the Almighty, has a friend and ally in me. And so it is for hundreds of millions of our countrymen: we do not insist on a single strain of religion – rather, we welcome our nation's symphony of faith.
"Recall the early days of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. 'They were too divided in religious sentiments', what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics.
"Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.
"And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God ... they founded this great nation.
"In that spirit, let us give thanks to the divine 'author of liberty.' And together, let us pray that this land may always be blessed, 'with freedom's holy light.'
"God bless the United States of America."
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
This makes me upset!!
Ok I know that there are a lot of people in the world that believe different things about this that and the other. We all come from different backgrounds and locations. We are all taught differently and have different experiences in life that will alter the way that we think about issues and problems. Is there anything wrong with this? Of course not! You are allowed to think what you want about anything. In this country it is your right to do so.
We are all given the right to free speech in the US. It is a great thing, if we have a problem then we can state our opinion about something. There are some lines that should not be crossed, but in generally we should be allowed to say something and not be punished for it.(generally speaking)
this however is NOT the case in the US today. Some parties are allowed to do and say as they please, and others have to just shut their mouth cause you might offend someone. Is this fair? No it is not, and it is not right at all.
People are so worried about offending people that they will not say what they feel. the term "politically correct" is one of the few things that gets me angry just hearing about it. We the majority of people must shut our mouth cause you the minority might get your feelings hurt. That is what it is like to me when people try to be PC.
Well it is taking every ounce of will power i have to not type every politically INcorrect thing that I can think of. That is not what this is about. (but I may do another blog later with that one.) Instead I want to copy a link.
College in Florida
This is a transcript from the Glenn Beck show and you can see here that people need to quit complaining when the truth is harsh. You know what? I am going to put what they said here on my blog
"Radical Islam Wants You DEAD!"
you may not agree with me, and you know what? I leave the same challenge that the person in the story did. find me one that wants you alive. I submit that you can not find me one.
I feel that Islam is getting an unbalanced treatment. Or more rather that Christianity is getting the brunt of it. We can learn about the Koran in schools and jewish beliefs among others, but I can not talk about Jesus in school. Last I checked Christianity still wins in the US. i could be wrong on that one, but I don't think that I am.
I want to see people speak out about the war in Iraq, I want to see people say they hate Bush, and I want to see people say abortion is wrong. It is the right to say things that makes this a great place to be. If I want to say that I don't like something, or some organization I should be allowed to do so. I should not be allowed to threaten someone, or some organization as that is one of those lines I talked about before.
So if you are all about getting your PC on then DO NOT read my next blog that will be coming. You will not like it, as I am NOT going to be PC about that topic.
Is it really ok to treat some people better than others? Is it really about offending people that makes us be this way? Is it really the few that dictate what the masses can and can not say? Remember to think about what you just read.
p.s. if you don't like this then post about it,and if you agree comment as well. Free speech rocks!!
We are all given the right to free speech in the US. It is a great thing, if we have a problem then we can state our opinion about something. There are some lines that should not be crossed, but in generally we should be allowed to say something and not be punished for it.(generally speaking)
this however is NOT the case in the US today. Some parties are allowed to do and say as they please, and others have to just shut their mouth cause you might offend someone. Is this fair? No it is not, and it is not right at all.
People are so worried about offending people that they will not say what they feel. the term "politically correct" is one of the few things that gets me angry just hearing about it. We the majority of people must shut our mouth cause you the minority might get your feelings hurt. That is what it is like to me when people try to be PC.
Well it is taking every ounce of will power i have to not type every politically INcorrect thing that I can think of. That is not what this is about. (but I may do another blog later with that one.) Instead I want to copy a link.
College in Florida
This is a transcript from the Glenn Beck show and you can see here that people need to quit complaining when the truth is harsh. You know what? I am going to put what they said here on my blog
"Radical Islam Wants You DEAD!"
you may not agree with me, and you know what? I leave the same challenge that the person in the story did. find me one that wants you alive. I submit that you can not find me one.
I feel that Islam is getting an unbalanced treatment. Or more rather that Christianity is getting the brunt of it. We can learn about the Koran in schools and jewish beliefs among others, but I can not talk about Jesus in school. Last I checked Christianity still wins in the US. i could be wrong on that one, but I don't think that I am.
I want to see people speak out about the war in Iraq, I want to see people say they hate Bush, and I want to see people say abortion is wrong. It is the right to say things that makes this a great place to be. If I want to say that I don't like something, or some organization I should be allowed to do so. I should not be allowed to threaten someone, or some organization as that is one of those lines I talked about before.
So if you are all about getting your PC on then DO NOT read my next blog that will be coming. You will not like it, as I am NOT going to be PC about that topic.
Is it really ok to treat some people better than others? Is it really about offending people that makes us be this way? Is it really the few that dictate what the masses can and can not say? Remember to think about what you just read.
p.s. if you don't like this then post about it,and if you agree comment as well. Free speech rocks!!
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