Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Bigotry in America - Abrogation of Thomas Jefferson's Principles
Bigot: A person of strong conviction or prejudice, especially in matters of religion, race, or politics, who is intolerant of those who differ with him.
(The American Century Dictionary)
There are disturbing trends in today's America that point to a rise in bigotry. Our Constitution, which clearly stated the need for separation of church and state, is facing amendments to weaken that charter.
Article VI, Sec.3 of the Constitution reads:
"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several State Legislatures,and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by the oath of affirmation, to support the Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
The First Amendment, ratified December 15, 1791, is quite unambiguous about this. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
It was our third president, Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809),who further defined "separation between Church and State". In 1802, in a letter to the Baptist Association of Danbury, Jefferson wrote: "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law regarding an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof', thus building a wall of separation between Church and State'."
The late Gustavus Myers' "History of Bigotry in The United States" was a seminal work. Published in 1943 (a year after his death), the book is out of print. If Mr. Myers were alive he would have found a plethora of new material; enough for a completely revised edition. He would have probably added:
HATRED FOR PRO-CHOICE SUPPORTERS
HATRED FOR HOMOSEXUALS
HATRED FOR MUSLIMS
HATRED FOR MEN WEARING TURBANS
HATRED FOR WOMEN WEARING VEILS
HATRED FOR IMMIGRANTS OF COLOR
HATRED FOR THOSE AGAINST WAR
Whither America ?
******************
Mon Nov 22,1:02 PM ET Top Stories - Reuters
FBI Reports 14 murders among 7,489 hate crimes
Washington (Reuters) - Nearly 7,500 hate crimes,including 14 murders based on sexual orientation,race or ethnicity,were reported in the United States last year, the FBI (news - web sites) said on Monday.
******************
"Bigotry is the sacred disease."
---Heraclitus (544-483 BC)
(The American Century Dictionary)
There are disturbing trends in today's America that point to a rise in bigotry. Our Constitution, which clearly stated the need for separation of church and state, is facing amendments to weaken that charter.
Article VI, Sec.3 of the Constitution reads:
"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several State Legislatures,and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by the oath of affirmation, to support the Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
The First Amendment, ratified December 15, 1791, is quite unambiguous about this. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
It was our third president, Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809),who further defined "separation between Church and State". In 1802, in a letter to the Baptist Association of Danbury, Jefferson wrote: "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law regarding an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof', thus building a wall of separation between Church and State'."
The late Gustavus Myers' "History of Bigotry in The United States" was a seminal work. Published in 1943 (a year after his death), the book is out of print. If Mr. Myers were alive he would have found a plethora of new material; enough for a completely revised edition. He would have probably added:
HATRED FOR PRO-CHOICE SUPPORTERS
HATRED FOR HOMOSEXUALS
HATRED FOR MUSLIMS
HATRED FOR MEN WEARING TURBANS
HATRED FOR WOMEN WEARING VEILS
HATRED FOR IMMIGRANTS OF COLOR
HATRED FOR THOSE AGAINST WAR
Whither America ?
******************
Mon Nov 22,1:02 PM ET Top Stories - Reuters
FBI Reports 14 murders among 7,489 hate crimes
Washington (Reuters) - Nearly 7,500 hate crimes,including 14 murders based on sexual orientation,race or ethnicity,were reported in the United States last year, the FBI (news - web sites) said on Monday.
******************
"Bigotry is the sacred disease."
---Heraclitus (544-483 BC)
