With Newdow's pledge flap hopefully going to the Supreme Court soon, this email I got from a friend seemed timely. Here's what it says:
Somewhere along the way, the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court have misinterpreted the U. S. Constitution.
America's founders did not intend for there to be a separation of God and state, as shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledge God in their state constitutions:
Alabama 1901, Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution.
Alaska 1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas 1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.
Colorado 1876, Preamble. We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe.
Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.
Delaware 1897, Preamble. Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.
Florida 1885, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...
Georgia 1777, Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance .. establish this Constitution.
Idaho 1889, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
Illinois 1870, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to chose our form of government.
Iowa 1857, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings establish this Constitution.
Kansas 1859, Preamble. We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties...
Louisiana 1921, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.
Maine 1820, Preamble. We the People of Maine ..acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of_the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity ... and imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776, Preamble. We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble. We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe ... in the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction ..
Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom establish this Constitution.
Minnesota, 1857, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:
Mississippi 1890, Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845, Preamble. We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness ... establish this Constitution ...
Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ...
Nebraska 1875, Preamble. We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom .. establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864, Preamble. We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom establish this Constitution ...
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. VS.. Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New Jersey 1844, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
New Mexico 1911, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty
New York 1846, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868, Preamble. We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those ..
North Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852, Preamble. We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common ..
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble. Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty ... establish this
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences..
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing
South Carolina, 1778, Preamble. We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties ...
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas 1845, Preamble. We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
Utah 1896, Preamble. Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777, Preamble. Whereas all government ought to ... enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ..
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI ... Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator .. can be directed only by Reason ... and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other ...
Washington 1889, Preamble. We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution ..
West Virginia 1872, Preamble. Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble. We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility ..
Wyoming 1890, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties .. establish this Constitution.
After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!
"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." - William PennSo I went to this
State of California site and clicked on Preamble, and sure enough the words are there. I won't vouch for the other 49 states, but I wonder how many of this blue state's libs are aware that our own state constitution specifically recognizes God.
I sure didn't know it before today, and I'm not even a lib.
Here's the full text of California's Preamble:
We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this
Constitution.
The people who wrote those words would weep today.
15 comments:
"I wonder how many of this blue state's libs are aware that our own state constitution specifically recognizes God."
There is a substantial difference between recognizing the existence of God and asking children to pledge allegiance to America while invoking God. The "under God" wording was added to the pledge during the Cold War, when our country was trying to invoke religion to rally our nation against the godless communists. The time has come to remove it.
Furthermore, you are mischaracterizing the ACLU's stance. Not surprising.
For every instance that the ACLU has acted to prevent the government from establishing religion, the ACLU has rallied in defense of religious liberty.
December 22, 2004: ACLU of New Jersey successfully defends right of religious expression by jurors.
December 14, 2004: ACLU joins Pennsylvania parents in filing first-ever challenge to “Intelligent Design” instruction in public schools.
November 20, 2004: ACLU of Nevada supports free speech rights of evangelists to preach on the sidewalks of the strip in Las Vegas.
November 12, 2004: ACLU of Georgia files a lawsuit on behalf of parents challenging evolution disclaimers in science textbooks.
November 9, 2004: ACLU of Nevada defends a Mormon student who was suspended after wearing a T-shirt with a religious message to school.
August 11, 2004: ACLU of Nebraska defends church facing eviction by the city of Lincoln.
July 10, 2004: Indiana Civil Liberties Union defends the rights of a Baptist minister to preach his message on public streets.
June 9, 2004: ACLU of Nebraska files a lawsuit on behalf of a Muslim woman barred from a public pool because she refused to wear a swimsuit.
June 3, 2004: Under pressure from the ACLU of Virginia, officials agree not to prohibit baptisms on public property in Falmouth Waterside Park in Stafford County.
May 11, 2004: After ACLU of Michigan intervened on behalf of a Christian Valedictorian, a public high school agrees to stop censoring religious yearbook entries.
March 25, 2004: ACLU of Washington defends an Evangelical minister's right to preach on sidewalks.
February 21, 2003: ACLU of Massachusetts defends students punished for distributing candy canes with religious messages.
October 28, 2002: ACLU of Pennsylvania files discrimination lawsuit over denial of zoning permit for African American Baptist church.
July 11, 2002: ACLU supports right of Iowa students to distribute Christian literature at school.
April 17, 2002: In a victory for the Rev. Jerry Falwell and the ACLU of Virginia, a federal judge strikes down a provision of the Virginia Constitution that bans religious organizations from incorporating.
January 18, 2002: ACLU defends Christian church's right to run “anti-Santa” ads in Boston subways.
"The ACLU will continue working to ensure that religious liberty is protected by keeping the government out of the religion business."
Wouldn't you agree that the government should not be in the religion business?
Do you feel that the government should not have "Christian" and "Non-Christian" prisons (like what is currently happening in Florida)?
Do you feel that blasphemy, adultery, or idolatry should NOT be criminalized?
If so, you can join the ACLU by clicking here:
http://www.aclu.org/Contribute/Contribute.cfm?color=3
You're mistaken. *I* didn't mischaracterize the ACLU's stance--that was part of the quote from the email I got. I merely repeated it.
Not surprising you can't tell where my quoting ends and begins.
Also, I don't see that recognizing one nation "under God" is all that different from having a constitution that recognizes "almighty God". Let's remember that as a teacher I'm sworn to uphold both the US and the California constitutions.
How's the ACLU doing on supporting the 2nd Amendment lately?
Isn't that the mission of the NRA?
The 2nd Amendment is in the Bill of Rights, right there next to the 1st Amendment. Sounds like a job for the ACLU to me...but apparently not.
No, it is not.
"Except for lawful police and military purposes, the possession of weapons by individuals is not constitutionally protected."
http://www.aclu.org/PolicePractices/PolicePractices.cfm?ID=9621&c=25
ACLU POLICY
"The ACLU agrees with the Supreme Court's long-standing interpretation of the Second Amendment [as set forth in the 1939 case, U.S. v. Miller] that the individual's right to bear arms applies only to the preservation or efficiency of a well-regulated militia. Except for lawful police and military purposes, the possession of weapons by individuals is not constitutionally protected. Therefore, there is no constitutional impediment to the regulation of firearms." --Policy #47
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
--The Second Amendment to the Constitution
"Since the Second Amendment. . . applies only to the right of the State to maintain a militia and not to the individual's right to bear arms, there
can be no serious claim to any express constitutional right to possess a firearm."
U.S. v. Warin (6th Circuit, 1976)
The 6th Circuit? Come now.
We'll just disagree that the 2nd Amendment allows only militias to have weaponry. There's much dispute about the interpretation of the US v. Miller ruling.
I am only repeating the ACLU's policy.
Getting back to the original topic:
Wouldn't you agree that the government should not be in the religion business?
For example: Do you feel that the government should not have "Christian" and "Non-Christian" prisons (like what is currently happening in Florida)?
Also: Do you feel that blasphemy and idolatry should NOT be criminalized?
I forgot....
Do you feel that abortion should be criminalized (women and doctors)?
I'm not going to get into a case-by-case, is-this-right-or-wrong debate here. The point of *THIS* post was to show that God is specifically mentioned in all 50 state constitutions, at least according to the email I got (and I confirmed California's).
If you want to support the ACLU, have at it. I do not, although every once in awhile they get something right.
Fair enough.
But... wouldn't you agree that the government should NOT be in the religion business?
Can I get that much out of you?
I'm sorry, Suzi. I doubt you could be more correct. Unfortunately.
But why should we have a cross on a city seal? One can make a fledgling argument that the 'God' being referred to can stand for any number of divine powers that people may believe in. That many people automatically take it for the Christian God is merely because of the ubiquity of said belief in America. If we were to put a cross on a governmental entity (such as a city), we would be limiting the number of interpretations of the word 'god.'
I don't have a problem with the idea of religion in government per se. I mean, everybody's got to have some sort of belief, right, even it means no belief at all? But I guess I have a fear of its misuse if placed in the wrong hands.
The cross was on top of a Spanish mission, which was one of a few symbols on the LA city seal. Someone complained recently, the mission (and its cross) were removed.
Perhaps we should rename some of our cities, too, to purge us of this Christian horror. We'll start with our oldest, St. Augustine, FL, and move across to Corpus Christi (body of Christ), TX, and over to California, where we'll have to rename San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Jose, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San Leandro, San Rafael, Santa Cruz, etc.
Didn't Christ say, "Give unto Ceaser what is Ceaser's and give unto God what is God's." ? Did he not say, "My Kingdom is not of this world."? Did he not warn about the system of things? Don't you read the Scripture's?
You warp the meaning of Christ's words.
His words told us how we should live our lives as individuals; I don't know that he ever told us how to govern ourselves as a people.
Even still, I don't see how paying taxes, which is the basis of your first quote, refers at all to "warn[ing] about such things". And the fact that His kingdom not being of this world says *nothing* about *our* recognition of His guidance and blessings in our constitutions.
You have to do a lot better than merely tossing out a couple Biblical quotes and stating that they prove some amorphous point of yours.
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