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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

I Tried to Ignore This Bit of Treason, But Just Couldn't.
Current mood: rebellious

Below is a recent op-ed piece by Chuck Norris (yes, Walker Texas Ranger, and the guy on the late-night infomercials). These days, when Chuck isn't selling exercise equipment‚ he's not kicking the hell out of bad guys. No, these days, he's kicking the hell out of the US Constitution and the ideals for which America stands.

I didn't want to get into anything like this tonight -- I just wanted to relax, research early BMW K-Series motorcycles, and get Pumpkin's cage ready for the kittens (she's been restless and complaining quite a bit tonight) -- but I made the mistake of reading the column (Thanks AASHOM :-/) and couldn't let that crap hang out there without making some comments/corrections.

Please take some time to read Chuck Norris' column, as follows. I will address some of his points below (properly addressing all the errors would -- quite literally -- require writing a book, and I have too many books projects already).

Atheists in the Capitol's foxhole by Chuck Norris
World Net Daily
Posted: July 20, 2009
© 2009

I'm a fighter for the freedoms of speech and religion. They are our constitutional rights – what the First Amendment is all about. But those freedoms don't give atheists the entitlement to eliminate or revise America's religious heritage in the new $621 million taxpayer-..provided Capitol Visitors Center, or CVC, in Washington, D.C.

In July, the House and Senate passed identical resolutions, approving the engravings of the National Motto ("In God We Trust") and the Pledge of Allegiance in prominent places in CVC – 580,000 square feet facility under the Capitol where 15,500 guests visit each day.

Spearheading the measures were leaders like Rep. Daniel Lungren, R-Calif.; Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va.; and Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who have also drawn attention to the oversight of religious heritage in the CVC. The YouTube video of Rep. Forbes addressing the House on this matter ("Our Judeo Christian Nation") has received to date more than 2.5 million hits, making it one of the most widely viewed floor speeches in YouTube history. Some of the 19 omissions and inaccuracies in the CVC can also be seen on Sen. DeMint's YouTube posting "War on God."

Forget for a moment the fact that the national motto is on all of our currency. Forget for a moment the fact that the pledge is recited every day in a myriad of settings across this land. Forget for a moment the fact that the Capitol is exceedingly rich in religious history and usage, including its usage for church services all the way up through the Civil War – in 1867 the Capitol was the largest church in Washington with 2,000 people attending weekly. (Rick Tyler, the founding director of Newt Gingrich's Renewing American Leadership, has done an excellent job documenting the Capitol's religious history and the subsequent inaccuracies and omissions in the CVC.)

How could anyone have anything against the engraving of our nation's motto, which is above the very speaker's rostrum in the House of Representatives..? How could anyone have anything against the same for the Pledge of Allegiance, which has been recited each day since its inception in both houses of Congress?

Engraving the motto and pledge in the CVC sounds so basic and reasonable, doesn't it? Apparently not to the Freedom from Religion Foundation, the nation's largest group of atheists and agnostics, who filed suit in an effort to prevent the engraving of "In God We Trust" and the Pledge of Allegiance within the CVC.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is suing to prevent these engravings because, it says, that "both the motto and the words 'under God' in the pledge were adopted during the Cold War as anti-communism measures. Engraving them at the entrance to the U.S. Capitol would discriminate against those who do not practice religion and unfairly promote a Judeo-..Christian perspective." (I guess that also transforms our currency with "In God We Trust" on them into Christian tracts?) How preposterous!

Some members of Congress who supported the measure are already denouncing the lawsuit as ludicrous.

"This lawsuit is another attempt by liberal activists to rewrite history and deny that America's Judeo-..Christian heritage is an essential foundation stone of our great nation," said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.

Rep. Daniel Lungren, R-Calif., said he was expecting a lawsuit but called the claims "patently absurd."

And Rep. Forbes recently stated in an official memo from his offices:

This lawsuit sheds light on the lengths that a small minority will take to remove our nation's faith history from this generation and future generations of Americans. I, along with many members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, intend to fight this unabashed and dangerous effort to silence our nation's history. Truly even our Pledge of Allegiance and our national motto are not spared from these efforts. Our Declaration of Independence states that our rights are "endowed by our Creator." If the plaintiffs in this lawsuit are successful, they will succeed not only in removing the history for which our fathers and founders sacrificed so much, but also in removing the very source our founders believed provided our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Eliminating or revising our Christian heritage seems to be in vogue these days at America's historic sites. In 2006, tour guides at the Jamestown Settlement, the replica of the first (1607) English colony in America, were caught intentionally leaving out its Christian heritage when discussing the purpose for the colony. In early 2007, the government explained that the inscription "In God We Trust" was "accidentally left off" the initial minting of the new presidential dollar coins, only to correct the mistake by placing the words on the very edge of the coins – and not until major public pressure was placed upon them did our Congress require the treasury to place the words back upon the face. In mid 2007, the Architect of the Capitol removed any mention of God from the flag-folding ceremonies at veterans' funerals and earlier attempted to remove "God" from congressional flag certificates. And in late 2007 the chaplain of my organizations discovered that someone in the hierarchy of the Washington Monument had deliberately altered its display of the capstone replica, so that the visiting public would have absolutely no idea that the Latin words "Laus Deo" (meaning "Praise be to God") were actually inscribed on the very top of the monument as a celebratory finish and dedication (see the live Fox News story from the Washington Monument).

Religious revisionism has even come to the doors of the White House, as our own president denied our country's Judeo-..Christian heritage and make up when he spoke in Turkey on April 6: "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation."

Is it merely coincidental that so many acts of revisionism have occurred over the last couple years at governmental and historical sites? Is it merely coincidental that the more modern memorials in Washington (like the Roosevelt and World War II memorials) bear virtually no religious inscriptions at all, while all the former ones do? Is it merely coincidental that the new CVC is the next fighting ground to erase any display of America's Judeo-..Christian heritage?

So, could the lawsuit by the Freedom of Religion Foundation prevail and prevent the engravings in the CVC? Are you kidding? Mark my words: If a few liberal judges get the case, and we the people do nothing, it will. And then that precedent will be used to extend their next argument that our national motto "In God We Trust" is unconstitutiona..l.

That is why I am encouraging Americans to write or call the Architect of the Capitol's communications officer at (202) 228-1793 and also their representatives.... to inform them about what they think of the national motto and the Pledge of Allegiance being engraved within the CVC. While you're at it, remind them that you, the taxpayer, paid for that $621 million facility and that you think some corner of its 580,000 square feet deserves to be dedicated to a permanent display of the Capitol's rich religious history.

Atheists might not be found in every foxhole, but the bunker called the Capitol Visitors Center has a couple in there right now. I think it's time that Americans let them know that the motto and pledge are not only at the heart of our country, but that whitewashing God from the walls of history is actually an unfair promotion of atheism and an injustice to all that is America.



Alrighty, then, let's skim over and see if I can refute anything without even opening a reference book...

"I'm a fighter for the freedoms of speech and religion."

Really... let's see about that.

"...those freedoms don't give atheists the entitlement to eliminate or revise America's religious heritage in the new $621 million taxpayer-..provided Capitol Visitors Center, or CVC, in Washington, D.C."

That's simply what is known as rhetoric. Actually, here's what the First Amendment says about this: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech..." Let's break this down a little here:

1. The First Amendment deals with Congress making federal law. That's the first thing you need to realize. It doesn't apply to anything else. You don't have a "right" to just say whatever you want anywhere at any time -- that's not what it says. In this case, Congress passed a law specifying the inclusion of a specific god on a government, taxpayer-funded, facility. Not all gods, a specific god.

2. The Founding Fathers were horribly aware of what happens when a religion gets governmental power. For instance, King George was not only the head of the British government, he was also head of the state church. This nation was initially colonized (at Plymouth) by people trying to escape persecution from that Christian government (And they, somewhat ironically -- yet predictably -- proceeded to carry on the Christian traditions of religious intolerance, oppression, violence and genocide when they got here). The other initial colonization, in Virginia, was state-sponsored and included the official state religion. The Christian traditions were carried on there, too, as anyone other than an Anglican (and even Anglicans who weren't quite Anglican enough) suffered from the usual traditional Christian recipe of oppression and abuse. This carried on right into the days of the American Revolution. Not long beforehand, Alexander Hamilton (AKA "The Father of the Constitution") worked to help stop the imprisonment and human rights abuses leveled at Baptists by the Anglican establishment. Mixing religion and politics was realized as a bad thing by many at the time (adherents to the majority religion tend not to acknowledge that). If you want to understand why freedom of religion, especially expressed as a separation of church and state, is so important, study the religious happenings of colonial America (yes, the witch burnings, but a bunch more than that).

As far as "eliminat[ing] or revis[ing] America's religious heritage," there's no desire on the part of the FFRF to do that. The track record of the actions of religionists is exactly what causes people to realize what a detriment religion is to humanity. For the most part, in our society religion, not athiesm, creates atheists. This why rationalists/humanists/ atheists/Brights/etc. encourage education and critical thinking skills, and why people like you oppose it. The revisionist shoe is on the other foot.

"In July, the House and Senate passed identical resolutions, approving the engravings of the National Motto ("In God We Trust") and the Pledge of Allegiance in prominent places in CVC – 580,000 square feet facility under the Capitol where 15,500 guests visit each day."

Yes, where 15,500 impressionable people visit and take the engravings on public buildings as being statements of governmental stances. Absolutely, Chuck. Thank you. Please see the discussion of the First Amendment above.

"The YouTube video of Rep. Forbes addressing the House on this matter ("Our Judeo Christian Nation") has received to date more than 2.5 million hits, making it one of the most widely viewed floor speeches in YouTube history."

He is citing YouTube as a source of legitimacy. Do I even need to comment on that?

"Forget for a moment the fact that the national motto is on all of our currency."

Speaking of forgetting, Chuck: You forgot to mention the source of this "national motto." Was it the Declaration of Independence? Nope. Was it the Constitution? Nope. Any of the works of the Founding Fathers? Nope. Actually, Congress passed that law in 1956, in the midst of the Cold War/McCarthyism era. Religionists strike when their enemies are weak or otherwise occupied. Speaking of which...

Chuck, you forgot to mention the motto on the first US coinage, from 1792. It read: "Liberty: Parent of Science and Industry." Now why would you leave that out, Chuck? Maybe it is pure coincidence that you are a biblical creationist, meaning that you are anti-science? Hmmm... is this the sort of thing you mean by historical revision?

And when did US currency get the "IGWT" added? First, on coins in 1864 (notice the timing, again during a period when Americans were weakened and distracted by political turmoil). It didn't show up on paper money until the 1960s. At that point, the legislative (notice I didn't say "legal") establishment of it as a "national motto" several years prior made its inclusion hard to argue with.

"Forget for a moment the fact that the pledge is recited every day in a myriad of settings across this land."

And a horrible pledge it is, substituting a colorful piece of cloth for the source of our nation's strength (that would be the Constitution, Chuck). And the "under God" part wasn't even an original part of it, Chuck. You forgot that, too.

"Forget for a moment the fact that the Capitol is exceedingly rich in religious history and usage, including its usage for church services all the way up through the Civil War – in 1867 the Capitol was the largest church in Washington with 2,000 people attending weekly."

That's wonderful, but irrelevant. It has nothing to do with Congress passing a law. (SEE NOTE 1)

"How could anyone have anything against the engraving of our nation's motto, which is above the very speaker's rostrum in the House of Representatives..?"

Oooh, this one is simple: They could READ, THINK, and APPLY KNOWLEDGE! That is generally the best way to "have anything against" anything.

"How could anyone have anything against the same for the Pledge of Allegiance, which has been recited each day since its inception in both houses of Congress?"

I have stated before, and will happily do so again, that our Pledge of Allegiance is an embarrassment and an offense against the Constitution. It needs to be rewritten to reflect the legitimate source of American ideals (SEE NOTE 2).

"Engraving the motto and pledge in the CVC sounds so basic and reasonable, doesn't it?"

The reader is supposed to offer an empty-headed nod here. Sorry, not me. Not to adopt an ad hominem approach here, but a creationist using any variation of the word "reason" has to make rational people either piss their pants or get mighty angry. What is basic and reasonable is challenging governmental actions that go against the Constitution and try to drag America down into a morass of irrationalism, dishonesty, oppression, and tribalistic power-grabbing.

"The Freedom From Religion Foundation is suing to prevent these engravings because, it says, that "both the motto and the words 'under God' in the pledge were adopted during the Cold War as anti-communism measures. Engraving them at the entrance to the U.S. Capitol would discriminate against those who do not practice religion and unfairly promote a Judeo-..Christian perspective." (I guess that also transforms our currency with "In God We Trust" on them into Christian tracts?) How preposterous!"

Yes, Chuck, "how preposterous?" You left that out. How is it preposterous?

"'This lawsuit is another attempt by liberal activists to rewrite history and deny that America's Judeo-..Christian heritage is an essential foundation stone of our great nation,'" said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa."

No, Steve. It is a group of people who respect the Constitution and the "great nation" it created trying to keep it from being further corrupted and weakened. (SEE NOTE 3)

"This lawsuit sheds light on the lengths that a small minority will take to remove our nation's faith history from this generation and future generations of Americans. I, along with many members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, intend to fight this unabashed and dangerous effort to silence our nation's history. Truly even our Pledge of Allegiance and our national motto are not spared from these efforts. Our Declaration of Independence states that our rights are "endowed by our Creator." If the plaintiffs in this lawsuit are successful, they will succeed not only in removing the history for which our fathers and founders sacrificed so much, but also in removing the very source our founders believed provided our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Wow, where do I start with this one?

1. "[L]engths a small minority will take to remove our nation's faith history from this generation and future generations of Americans." Yes, we call them Christians. They want people now and in the future to believe their revisionist histories. See the tactic here: Oppress the "small minority." This is the sort of mob-rule thinking that religionists like (but only when they are in the majority in a given situation). It might be pointed out that the "small minority" that Steve King wishes to marginalize and oppress is actually now a larger demographic group than Jews. I would not be surprised if he has a problem with that "small minority," too.

2. "I, along with many members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, intend to fight this." Well, duh, Einstein. Of course you do: It challenges your efforts to grab power. The very existence of your caucus exposes your intentions. Guys like this lend credence to the "Revenge of the C Student" theory of politics.

3. "Truly even our Pledge of Allegiance and our national motto are not spared from these efforts." You bet your ass! If it is anti-Constitution -- and, thereby, anti-American -- every effort needs to be made to correct the offense. If you'll pardon the irony of the phrasing: Thank god someone has the nerve to stand up for America.

"Eliminating or revising our Christian heritage seems to be in vogue these days at America's historic sites. In 2006, tour guides at the Jamestown Settlement, the replica of the first (1607) English colony in America, were caught intentionally leaving out its Christian heritage when discussing the purpose for the colony."

Hmmm... I'd like to have more specifics on this 2006 action, Chuck. I doubt you'd actually want a realistic version of that part of colonial history discussed with visitors. That history is not exactly a real member-getter for you folks. Your version would probably have George Washington stepping off the Mayflower in 1492 onto American soil and singing God Bless America with a flag with 50 stars waved behind him by smiling native children wearing crosses around their necks while they spoke the Pledge of Allegiance in perfect (American) English (Actually, that sounds like a Creation Museum display... if you put the kids on dinosaurs).

"In early 2007, the government explained that the inscription 'In God We Trust' was 'accidentally left off' the initial minting of the new presidential dollar coins, only to correct the mistake by placing the words on the very edge of the coins – and not until major public pressure was placed upon them did our Congress require the treasury to place the words back upon the face."

LOL. "Major public pressure." Man, did you write that with a straight face? I never even heard about this and I pay more attention to current events and governmental matters than most Americans. Anyone want to wager some of those dollars where the "pressure" came from?

Ooh! Actually, I'm glad you brought up coins, Chuck. Here are four I just broke free from my piggy bank. Let's take a look at them: http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/19/l_e7af44fcc52d4220b41fa4113b0b44bc.jpg



On the top are two quarters; one from 1991 and one from 2002. Look at the top of the 1991. In big letters, at the top of the coin: "LIBERTY" In small letters: IGWT. Now look at the 2003 edition: LIBERTY and IGWT in almost identical size letters, and LIBERTY is lower on the coin. The fact that one is higher than the other is very symbolically important (SEE NOTE 4).

Under the quarters, as if the conspiracy needed more exposure, are two nickels. The first, from 1984, shows LIBERTY and IGWT at the same height and font size (treasonous in itself, if you ask me). The 2008 nickel, lo and behold, has IGWT at the top of the coin, in a nice, easy-to-read, all-upper-case serif font. "Liberty" not only gets demoted to the lower part of the coin, it also gets put in harder-to-read script (SEE NOTE 5).

What makes this all the more offensive is the fact that this is being done on a coin on which Thomas Jefferson appears. "Why does that matter?" you ask. I will allow a copy and paste excerpt from www.jesus-is-savior.com to address that:

the following quotes from Mr. Jefferson make it quite clear that he was NO Christian:

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"It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

"History I believe furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance, of which their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose. " — Thomas Jefferson to Baron von Humboldt, 1813

"Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites" –Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782.

"Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and importers led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus."

"The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for enslaving mankind and adulterated by artificial constructions into a contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves...these clergy, in fact, constitute the real Anti-Christ."

"And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding, and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated reformer of human errors." –Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, April 11, 1823

"Religions are all alike – founded upon fables and mythologies."
"I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature."

Somehow, Chuck, you managed not to mention any of the above in your discussion of coinage-as-legitimacy points. Back to your column...

"In mid 2007, the Architect of the Capitol removed any mention of God from the flag-folding ceremonies at veterans' funerals and earlier attempted to remove "God" from congressional flag certificates."

Wonderful! I do hope that words like Freedom and Liberty and other American ideals are included in these things, though. When it comes time for the flag-folding ceremony at my national cemetery funeral, I want someone to read the Constitution and note that THAT is what America is about and THAT is what we veterans took an oath to protect "against all enemies, foreign and domestic" (Write that down, Diane, and make sure we put it in my will).

Actually, Chuck, I am surprised you didn't mention anywhere that the military oath of enlistment includes mention of your God. You even could -- and, I am sure, would -- have left out the fact that it was not so until about the time your god was forced onto paper money, nearly 200 years after the founding of our nation.

"And in late 2007 the chaplain of my organizations discovered that someone in the hierarchy of the Washington Monument had deliberately altered its display of the capstone replica, so that the visiting public would have absolutely no idea that the Latin words "Laus Deo" (meaning "Praise be to God") were actually inscribed on the very top of the monument as a celebratory finish and dedication (see the live Fox News story from the Washington Monument)."

LOL. This is classic. Being a fan of online videos, Chuck, I am sure that you have seen videos of Muslims exclaiming a phrase as they blow up Americans. That phrase you have heard (as have I) is "Allahu Akbar." It translates as "God is great." Quite similar to your beloved Washington Monument inscription, no? Perhaps we should inscribe Allahu Akbar on the Washington Monument -- in the names of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, of course.

"Religious revisionism has even come to the doors of the White House, as our own president denied our country's Judeo-Christian heritage and make up when he spoke in Turkey on April 6: 'We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.'"

You know, I have read something similar to what the President said somewhere... Oh yeah, in the official treaties of the United States of America. Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli, negotiated under Washington and signed by Adams after being read aloud to, and unanimously passed by, the US Senate in June 1797, states quite clearly:

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As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

Here's an image of that treaty, as approved by many of our nation's founders: http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/76/l_7779e28d9784482ca305b456515841f6.gif


[Read Article 11. This treaty was unanimously approved by the US Senate and signed by President John Adams in 1797.]


Umm... Chuck... Our current President has actually read the Constitution and was a Constitutional professor. He may know a little bit more about US law than you; just maybe. Yes, I know your religion warns you to beware of learned men. But you don't need a PH.D. to read. Try it.

"Is it merely coincidental that so many acts of revisionism have occurred over the last couple years at governmental and historical sites? Is it merely coincidental that the more modern memorials in Washington (like the Roosevelt and World War II memorials) bear virtually no religious inscriptions at all, while all the former ones do? Is it merely coincidental that the new CVC is the next fighting ground to erase any display of America's Judeo-..Christian heritage?"

Ooh, I think you meant to say: "Is it merely coincidental that so many acts of revisionism have occurred since the Founding Fathers have passed away? Is it merely coincidental that the political rise of religious fundamentalists has coincided with the rewriting of American laws to include their god? Is it merely coincidental that nations based on religions are breeding grounds of violence, intolerance, oppression, and a lack of freedom? Is it merely coincidental that only one of the 2500-or-so-plus gods created by man gets official props in a land where religious freedom is supposed to be esteemed? Is it merely coincidental that you happen to believe in THAT god, and not others?" My answer would be... ummm... no. Asshole.

"So, could the lawsuit by the Freedom of Religion Foundation prevail and prevent the engravings in the CVC? Are you kidding?"

I don't kid about the history and future of the greatest nation ever to stand on earth. I also, unlike you, don't betray my oath to the Constitution by putting tribal concerns ahead of the ideals upon which America was founded. You took the oath of enlistment, too, Chuck (probably before it contained any mention of your god, ironically enough). And you betray it with your superstitionist, tribal, treasonist attacks on America. That, to me, is terrorism. No, I'm not kidding.

"that precedent will be used to extend their next argument that our national motto 'In God We Trust' is unconstitutional."

As you know it is, yes. Hence your fear. Again, irony: Some of the founding fathers made it quite plain that to commingle religion and government would not only be detrimental to the nation (i.e., treasonous), but it would also proclaim the religion in question to be weak, to be in need of law in order to survive and flourish. That is to say that the god and scriptures of that religion were not powerful enough or true enough to stand on their own (wouldn't that be a form of blasphemy?). You know this. So do your education-hating, fact-hating, reason-hating, history-hating, Constitution-hating, anti-American brethren.

"That is why I am encouraging Americans to write or call the Architect of the Capitol's communications officer at (202) 228-1793 and also their representatives.... to inform them about what they think of the national motto and the Pledge of Allegiance being engraved within the CVC. While you're at it, remind them that you, the taxpayer, paid for that $621 million facility and that you think some corner of its 580,000 square feet deserves to be dedicated to a permanent display of the Capitol's rich religious history."

And I encourage all American citizens to contact your government representatives and tell them that our tax money (actually, Chuck, it is money we are borrowing from foreigners, since we don't have the money to fund our own government) should not be spent trying to glorify the history of ANY special interest group while weakening the Constitution. Remind them that they are supposed to serve the US Constitution, not monied and powerful special interests. Let them know, as I do, that you won't vote for politicians who don't serve or respect the Constitution.

"Atheists might not be found in every foxhole, but the bunker called the Capitol Visitors Center has a couple in there right now."

LOL. I understand the intent there, Chuck, but it is a tired and ineffectual tool. Kind of like you.

"I think it's time that Americans let them know that the motto and pledge are not only at the heart of our country"

And we see, yet again, the religionists' disregard for the source of US power and greatness. If you took out the word "only" in the above, you'd have it nailed.

"but that whitewashing God from the walls of history is actually an unfair promotion of atheism and an injustice to all that is America."

You can say "two plus two equals five" all you want, but that doesn't make it true. Honoring the Constitution does not unfairly promote atheism. And "all that is America" begins with Liberty and the Constitution, like it or not.

Mr. Norris, I sincerely regret that I find myself having to point out your patriotic inadequacies. It hurts me as someone who values compassion and cooperation as means toward a better world, but I can't roll over and allow you to trash my country. We are both veterans, and I thank you for your service. I appreciate your passion; I really do. And I even believe that somewhere inside, buried beneath the superstitionist brainwashing that has victimized you, you may even have some affection for America. But inflicting your tribal god upon all Americans, with their own borrowed-from-foreigners tax money, is not fighting for freedom of speech or freedom of religion. In fact, you have aligned yourself with factions that have a long, documented tradition of fighting against such things, often violently.

You may believe and say what you will, and for that you should thank the very Constitution that you are fighting against. If you and your ilk succeed in toppling it, future Americans won't have that luxury.

XXX

NOTE 1: And I suspect that the Capitol does not exclude any religions or gods. If one wants to celebrate religious freedom, shouldn't all religions be celebrated, not just YOURS?

NOTE 2: We also need to stop forcing children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. When they are old enough to decide if they want to, then they can. Forcing them to, which is nothing less than brainwashing, is a violation of their human rights. You can't get much more unAmerican than violating the human rights of children (even if it is an integral part of Christian history -- no revisionism there, Chuck).

NOTE 3: I was going to insert the line "Nothing corrupts like religion" but immediately realized that some might object, claiming that money or power is the ultimate corruptor. I would agree with this, but would point out that these two are inherent in the sort of religionist activism that we see in these situation. It is the religionists' thirst for power that is exactly what we are seeing when they work so hard to impose their religion on government.

NOTE 4: If you don't believe that the symbolism of height is important, then the next time to go to your job at McDonald's, go ahead and hoist the MickeyD flag higher than the American flag. By the time you get to ask "Would you like fries with that?" for the first time on your shift, someone will point out the importance of having one thing displayed higher than another.

NOTE 5: Is it merely coincidental that both of these changes in coinage have happened in the period when religious fundamentalism took demonstrable steps toward grabbing greater American political power? You can go to one of Chuck Norris' favorite historical reference documents -- YouTube -- and get lots of info on this period from David Domke, author of The God Strategy.

PS - If I can pick apart his BS without even lifting my lazy, uneducated ass from this chair (except to get those coins from the piggy bank) or opening a book, imagine what an educated, energetic American could do to his "arguments!"