Actually, Jean and Susan, you've already "lived long enough" to see a House
resolution like this passed honoring other religions....including
Islam....unanimously this year.
The hypocrisy by these nine Democrats, however, who apparently voted "yes" to
honor Islam but voted "no" and refused to give Christianity the same honor,
speaks volumes about the left's "religiously intolerance" toward Christianity,
especially in light of the right's religious tolerance of all faiths equally.
--Gordon James Klingenschmitt
(Merry Christmas, in Jesus' name...)
Read the AP version here (underline added):
CAPITOL HILL (AP) -- The U.S. House has passed a resolution "Recognizing the
importance of Christmas and the Christian faith" -- but it wasn't unanimous.
The measure was approved by a vote of 372-to-9, with all of the "no" votes cast
by Democrats. A similar resolution recognizing the importance of Ramadan and
the Islamic faith was passed unanimously in October.
The 9 votes against the Christmas resolution were cast by Gary Ackerman and
Yvette Clarke of New York; Diana Degette of Colorado; Alcee Hastings of
Florida; Jim McDermott of Washington; Bobby Scott of Virginia; and Barbara Lee,
Pete Stark and Lynn Woolsey of California.
----------------------
Jean Dudley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
It's not a law, it's a "non-binding resolution". Legally, it's pabulum.
Still, it's a waste of the House's time, IMO. What effects it has on society
at large is up for speculation. I see it as indicative of a wider mindset that
Christians are "persecuted" here and the world over. Of course they are; As
are Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Buddhists, and every other cultural subset.
Susan, you and I will not live to see a resolution like this passed for any
other religion in the good ol' US of A.
Jean
On Dec 15, 2007, at Sat, Dec 15, 8:49 PM, Susan Freiman wrote:
This just came to me from an atheists' list. Is it true?
Susan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Council for Secular Humanism Chides Congress for Disrespecting Religions
(December 14, 2007) -- Experts from the Council for Secular Humanism noted with
alarm the passage of H. Res. 847 in the House of Representatives. This
unnecessary, unwarranted, and bigoted law, under the misleading title
"Recognizing the Importance of Christm as and the Christian Faith" passed the
House with overwhelming bipartisan support It effectively undermines the sort
of religious tolerance necessary in these changing times.
Just days ago in the midst of the Jewish Festival of Lights, four Jewish men in
New York City were attacked on the subway for replying to a group of ten
people who wished them a "Merry Christmas" with a similar greeting: "Happy
Hanukkah. For this, these men were first insulted, then beaten. It was a
Muslim man who came to their physical defense. The actions of the Congress, by
passing the resolution and thus expressing preference to the Christian faith
over all the others represented by the diverse population of these United
States , encourages this sort of behavior.
The First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty, and of the
nonestablishment of religion, was devised to create a secular state in which
all religions would be equally tolerated and none given preference. The
language of the House resolution effectively undermines the design of the
Founders, and creates an atmosphere where non-Christians will continue to be
targeted, treated like second-class citizens, and even become victims of
violence like those four Jewish subway riders in New York .
Paul Kurtz , CSH chair, stated, "It is deplorable that in this day and age and
in light of violence against religious minorities here in the United States
that the Congress would stoke those flames with preferential language in
support of a single religion." David Koepsell , CSH's executive director,
noted, "Te First Amendment Guarantee was designed to prevent the sort of
religious intolerance that resulted in violence in Europe, and our Congress
should respect the intent of the Founders."
We call on the Congress to reject this resolution, to stand up for religious
freedom, secularism, and pluralism, and to foster a climate in which all
believers and nonbelievers alike are treated equally.
__._,_.___
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---------------------------------
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