PickledCherub
Friday, November 05, 2004
You can't spell "Constitution" without G O D
Yes, this election was a big bummer for all of us New England Liberals (although, truth be told, I'm more of a transplanted North Atlantic Liberal), but the biggest bummer for me personally is this: Americans don't know our own Constitution. News stories I've read recently about the "re"-election of Bush almost always include something about how happy people are because they believe that the President will put God back into the Constitution.
Now, I am the first to admit that I do not know the Constitution by heart. So the first thing I did was find an online version of it, and search for the texts "God," "Jesus," and "Faith." Guess what? There is no God in the Constitution. However, the Declaration of Independence has the phrases "Nature's God," "Creator," and "divine Providence." Looks like our Founding Fathers stepped lightly around even mentioning God in the Declaration of Independence. And then there's the good old First Ammendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Let's face it, people. The United States of America is a secular nation. Structurally, at least, if not in practice.
This whole mess makes me want to study Constitutional Law.
Otherwise, life is OK. The I.U.D. has been a bit painful at times. I find that I can manage the pain with breathing and relaxation. Things have been going well with Chris. He has been living here for less than three months, but it works. Steve's girlfriend is going to have a baby in six months or so, which means he'll be staying in Portland. And settling down, too. I missed the 2GQ party last night. I forgot about it. Seems strange that I'd forget something like that. I did go to Embers with Bryan and Chris and Marian, and we danced and danced. Tonight is a party at Steve's house, and I'm going to go to that eventually. I need to eat something first.
Oh, dear friends, we'll get through these times together.
Now, I am the first to admit that I do not know the Constitution by heart. So the first thing I did was find an online version of it, and search for the texts "God," "Jesus," and "Faith." Guess what? There is no God in the Constitution. However, the Declaration of Independence has the phrases "Nature's God," "Creator," and "divine Providence." Looks like our Founding Fathers stepped lightly around even mentioning God in the Declaration of Independence. And then there's the good old First Ammendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Let's face it, people. The United States of America is a secular nation. Structurally, at least, if not in practice.
This whole mess makes me want to study Constitutional Law.
Otherwise, life is OK. The I.U.D. has been a bit painful at times. I find that I can manage the pain with breathing and relaxation. Things have been going well with Chris. He has been living here for less than three months, but it works. Steve's girlfriend is going to have a baby in six months or so, which means he'll be staying in Portland. And settling down, too. I missed the 2GQ party last night. I forgot about it. Seems strange that I'd forget something like that. I did go to Embers with Bryan and Chris and Marian, and we danced and danced. Tonight is a party at Steve's house, and I'm going to go to that eventually. I need to eat something first.
Oh, dear friends, we'll get through these times together.
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