Republican Christian-bots continue to find themselves befuddled by that old piece of paper from over 200 years ago commonly referred to as the “Constitution of the United States of America.” They particularly need help understanding what the words “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” mean.
This lack of reading comprehension is most certainly behind yet another proposal in the state of Idaho that is sure to be declared unconstitutional should it reach that point. The Kootenai County (Idaho) GOP is proposing a resolution which would declare the state of Idaho as a “Christian state.” The proposal would bolster the “Judeo-Christian bedrock of the founding of the United States.”
According to Reuters:
“The resolution to be voted on by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee is non-binding, meaning it does not have the effect of laws or rules.
The proposal seeks that Idaho be “formally and specifically declared a Christian state,” guided by a Judeo-Christian faith reflected in the U.S. Declaration of Independence where all authority and power is attributed to God, the resolution reads.
The measure argues that the Christian faith is under “strident attack” in the United States, and cites as evidence the absence of Christian traditions and symbols in public institutions such as schools.”
We’re not sure what the hell is going on in Idaho these days, but this comes on the heels of another Idaho Republican who backs faith-healing parents in cases where their child could die without adequate medical treatment. And then there is the case of yet another Idaho Republican who apparently doesn’t understand that pills swallowed by females do not end up in their vaginas.
Jeff Tyler, a member of the committee and supporter of the “let’s make Idaho a Christian state” proposal, declared:
“We’re a Christian community in a Christian state and the Republican Party is a Christian Party,”
At least he’s right about one thing. A significant portion of the Republican party wants the U.S. to be a Christian Theocracy, which isn’t any different than what Muslim extremists want for their own respective country. No wonder these people are often referred to as the “Christian Taliban.” Their mindsets are exactly the same as Muslim extremists who wish for their nations to be religiously homogenous.
If these folks have their way, there would be no Muslims, atheists, agnostics, Buddhists, homosexuals, etc allowed in the U.S. This is what Republicans consider to be “freedom?”
In their perverse minds, “freedom” means having the ability to legally cram their Christian viewpoints and symbols down the throat of every citizen in the U.S. unfettered by the government.
Thankfully, the Founding Fathers witnessed religious oppression in Europe long before America became a nation, and had the foresight and wherewithal to insert the Establishment Clause into the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Tyler also said:
“It’s important that Christians stand up and be unashamed to say they’re Christians.”
Add the words”Muslim,”, “atheists”, etc., to that statement, and we’ll be onto something. That’s real freedom.
As much as Christians like to think they are being oppressed in this country, they do not suffer nearly the same treatment as those in the minority religions do. In their perverse minds, “oppression” means not having the ability to shove their beliefs into every nook and cranny of American society, or to legally discriminate against those who do not believe as they do. For as long as they continue to incorrectly believe that America is constitutionally a “Christian nation.” their “we’re so oppressed!” schtick will continue and manifest itself through goofy, draconian proposals like this one. Plus, it makes for good political fodder for their mostly Republican and Christian constituents.
Thankfully, the majority of U.S. judges have read the Constitution, so the odds of Idaho ever becoming a “Christian state” are about the same as Dick Cheney starting an orphanage for poor children.
