This will be my only post regarding the election. I decided early on that I will not give a place in my heart or head for the vitriol that has already begun. Therefore, this is not a rant or a finger wagging, but rather a clarification of two principles I believe we all share and I hope will support when the time comes.
First, every American, political party, president and administration has the right to pursue changing policies that they deem have failed, be it immigration, health care, foreign policy or abortion rights. It has been that way from the beginning and is the foundation for the “living document” that is our U.S. Constitution. Changes to policies are done through Congress which, ideally, represents the majority will of the people, for the people and by the people.
However (and this is a big however), the two most important founding principles of our Constitution — and primary reasons our forefathers risked everything to establish this nation — were:
1) Eliminate dictatorship to allow the pursuit of happiness, and
2) Escape religious persecution by assuring the freedom of religion
Regardless of where you stand on policies and amendments, these two beliefs are fundamental to our nation’s identity and are what separate us from just about every other country in the world, particularly Russia, North Korea, China, and much of the Middle East.
And yet the 47th president of the United States has made it clear that he wants to end presidential term limits and utilize total immunity from any illegal or unconstitutional acts while president. In addition, he has said he would use military force against “the threat from within.”
I’m sorry, but that sounds like a dictatorship to me.
He has also made it clear, particularly in his choice for Secretary of Education, that he wants to end public schools in favor of an all Christian-based education curriculum. I have no problem with anyone who wants to have their children be educated about Christ, the Bible, Christian values and the Ten Commandments. However, there’s a good reason our forefathers were clear about the separation of church and state: Pursuing your religious freedom means not being forced to adopt one doctrine over all others — and teaching children there is only one religion is the same as saying it is the ONLY “correct” religion. This plants the seed for the kind of religious intolerance and violence we have seen for hundreds of years in the Middle East. I would prefer we avoid that here in our country.
Regardless of where we stand as individuals on policies that impact how we deal with immigration issues, how we receive health care, our stance on foreign policies, and a woman’s right to choose, I would hope that we can all agree on the importance of keeping our most fundamental principles: The right to vote for a president every four years, and the right to religious freedom.
Republican or democrat, liberal or conservative, Christian or Buddhist, we need to stand together to protect those rights for ourselves and each other.
I’m not interested in support for or against these points. I have no interest in “winning over” anyone or starting a debate. And if the previous paragraph is true, then there shouldn’t be a need for debate anyway.
Thank you for reading.
— Ned
I generally reserve this place for humor. That’s because I believe in the power of its shared experience, and how that experience brings people together. Good humor transcends color, religion, geography, financial status or political affiliation. It’s devoid of hate and allows us to embrace a common thread woven through our humanity that we all share through laughter.
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