Comments on: Goode Behavior

[halozcel]

Jefferson said All men created equal,not two women equals one man.Jefferson said Liberty,not woman has no right to divorce her husband.Jefferson said pursuit of happiness,not veiled slavery.

[gcrumpley-2009]

Amen to shalom_11.

I too am a Unitarian Universalist who feels my values of tolerance and religious freedom is in the minority.

I'm pleased to see Keith Ellison choose a Koran (Quran) Thomas Jefferson's library. Jefferson was also a Unitarian who fought to maintain America's guiding principle of religious freedom. He authored the 1786 Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom instituting separation of church and state in Virginia. As the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and as our third president, we might think Jefferson enjoyed some special protections against criticism. In fact, Jefferson faced the same challenges to his tolerant views that we do today. In fact, certain evangelicals, who were also his political opponents, tried very hard to make Jefferson's religion a factor in elections.

I hope we will remember to thank the all the Veterans who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. In the same spirit, I hope that many of Goode's ilk remember that these hard-won freedoms include freedom from religious oppression by the majority -- whatever majority that may be.

For those who wish to rule this country based on the unfounded belief that America is and has always been a "Christian Nation", please consider this before dragging this great nation further down the road to Theocracy: Britain was just such a nation with its own state sponsored church -- and we fought heart and soul for our independence from that tyranny.

[infidel57]

Contrary to what EdHale posted, Madison, Jefferson, Franklin, Paine and, probably, Washington, were deists. They were also responsible for the type and nature of the government which came about after the American Revolution. It is EdHale who is trying to rewrite history with a Christian spin, a violation of the Ninth Commandment. Our founders were too close in time to the Inquisition and "witch" killings to have anything to do with a state religion. Jefferson and Madison in particular were much hated by the Jerry Falwells and Pat Robertsons of their day.

[operaguy2]

The problem is that people are vouching for the truth and honesty of their character on any mythical book in the first place. It's a complete contradiction, and scary.

American is NOT a "profoundly religious country". While there are some people who go to church every weekend (about 19-30%), the political foundation itself is atheistic -- "non-god." It is BECAUSE the political structure is atheistic that it allows anyone to personally think, discuss and even preach anything they should choose, including the irrational ideas of religion.

Those taking office ought to be greateful they do not have to enforce laws according to religion, not squabbling about their various irrational beliefs, which is embarassing.

John Donohue
Pasadena, CA

[edhale-2009]

I might add that Christians every day are "attacked" for simply practicing their faith. When was the last time Ms. Couric reported on that?

Mr. Ellison has a right, of course, to "practice" his faith. But just as Christians are criticized for the distinctive elements of their faith, Muslims and other minority religions should be no more protected than others from challenges to the presuppositions of their faith.

The fact of the matter is that the Koran contains an explicit command to its adherents to do violence against non-muslims, where the Holy Bible explicitly commands His adherents to refrain from violence against those who would persecute us.

That the majority of muslims are ignorant of the teachings of the Koran and therefore by virtue of their conscience submit to God's common grace and NOT do violence is further evidence that it is the Chrisian God of the Bible, and not Allah of the Koran who supresses Evil.

While Representative Goode's comments are unfortunate - because they are ill-timed and like spitting into the wind - they ring true. Muslims faithful to their teachings of their scripture cannot represent American Values. any more than one can be a faithful Roman Catholic and be a practicing Homosexual or an Abortion physician. That there are many who claim to be both just means that they are ignorant about what a faithful Roman Catholic is...

[edhale-2009]

Of course people are suprised that

..."America is about the only nation founded without one dominant kind of faith. The Founders believed that every religion should be practiced without prejudice."

Because that statement is NOT TRUE. The founders did NOT believe that every religion should be practiced without prejudice, only that the instition of the the State shall not dictact religious praxis or define the minutia of orthodoxy.

The Founding Fathers of this great nation were Christians (not deists as many who have endeavored to re-write our history have claimed) but were wearied of the protestant / catholic wars of the European continent and in Great Britain and the conflation of the sword of the State with the Sword of the Church.

Study your history people. Do not let the likes of Ms Couric rewrite your history. The principles prominent in the thoughts of our founding fathers was distinctively Christian and they held the Holy Bible as the supreme authority in their lives and considered it the very Word of the Creator. The separation of Church and State did not mean that they were of two different realms, but only that they had different roles to play, each as ministers of God's truth and Administers of God's grace.

[airmanc5]

Isn't freedom of speech a wonderful thing? when you see a Veteran today walk up and shake their hand and say thank you.
Remember the News Media does not give us freedom of the press, or freedom to worship as we see fit, nor does the poet give us freedom of speech. The veterans are the ones that give us this. They are the true protectors of the Bill Of rights and the constitution

[brettlawless]

So many people are ignorant. The scary thing is that most of them are members of Congress.

[petersemkiw]

Dear Katie,I think that Mr.Ellison should be held up as an example of America's tolerance and pluralism,and not insulted for being different. Even though we may have different ideas about religion,the greatness of America is that it is the land of freedom, tolerance,pluralism,and human rights.And although we take these freedoms for granted sometimes,especially if,like us, we have been born and raised in the United States, we dont have to look too far around our global village to see the places where governnments don't support these human rights. And it is very interesting to know that Thomas Jefferson collected the works of many different religions.Thomas Jefferson was a learned philosopher statesman,a scientist, and an architect, and vitally interested in literature, the arts, and every phase of human activity. As you may know, one of his cherished ambitions was attained when he was able to bring about the founding of the University of Virginia. The writing of the Declaration of Independence,except for minor alterations by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin and others made upon the floor of the Continental Congress,was wholly the work of Thomas Jefferson!These were just some of his accomplishments. Thank God we had Thomas Jefferson among our country's Founding Fathers,who honored and protected,for us and for future generations of Americans, our inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!

[jcorbin1958]

Why pray, if you don't know whether it's worth it or not? Oh ye of little faith!

[shalom_11]

Amen to that sista

I am Unitarian Universalist/agnostic and I feel like a minority. I pray for big things in my life such as the war and ill family and friends. I don't know whether its even worth it, but I do it anyway. I am so thankful that I am not discriminated for my beliefs even though I live in a very small, conservative town. Hopefully I will find a religion that suits me when I am an adult, and I hope people become a little more open minded.