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The United States should be officially secular. The president shouldn't even take the oath of office on a Bible but rather on a copy of the US Constitution.
Nailed it!
I especially dislike the Sunday blue laws on buying alcohol on Sunday mornings. Why not Saturday or other religions' Sabbath??
The United States should be officially secular. The president shouldn't even take the oath of office on a Bible but rather on a copy of the US Constitution.
The President is not required to take the oath of office with his hand on the bible. That is merely a tradition started by George Washington.
As early as Washington’s first day in office he began setting traditions, Porter says. Neither swearing the oath on a Bible nor giving an inaugural address were mandated by Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution (which describes the duties and powers of executive office). Those ceremonial actions were invented by Washington himself, and have largely been followed since 1789—with some deviations.
The president took his oath on a second floor balcony, in front of a cheering crowd. As Washington was a Freemason, it seems fitting that the Bible in use for the event was on loan from St. Johns Masonic Lodge No. 1, Ancient York Masons. He was sworn into office with his hand on the open pages displaying Chapters 49-50 of Genesis, a section chosen at random.
While most presidents following Washington have continued the tradition of being sworn in on a Bible, several have deviated from that path. John Quincy Adams used a U.S. law book, and Theodore Roosevelt used nothing at all for his first inauguration.
they shouldn't be. This is what makes republicans so unpopular when they claim to be the party of freedom, yet they can't seem to grasp this logic that people should be able to do what they want as long as it doesn't harm anyone else, within reason. So many drunkards don't do drugs as though there's a difference between marijuana and alcohol... it's basically just the way they were raised and spouting the propaganda their parents and party taught them to believe without thinking. Why can't I pick up a case of beer on Sunday again?
At least the people who oppose alcohol, marijuana, and all addictive substances have some consistency in their arguments. Life is about moderation in all things and addictive vices whether it's booze, pot, or video games, are always temptations. If I want to try some LSD, mushrooms, marijuana, or whatever that's my business. If I want to fire off 500 rounds with my AR-15 at the range that's my business. Naturally I wouldn't do both at the same time, and if I did and shot someone on accident as a result, I would expect years in prison, well deserved. That's the price of having freedom.. the responsibility to use that freedom wisely.
Nanny state types whether liberal or conservative like to take preemptive action to try to protect people from themselves and everyone else. I prefer more freedom and am willing to live with more risk in life as a result. I don't need to be coddled and protected from everything in life.
Also.. how does two men getting married affect me in any way? How is it immoral? The answer? It's not. Get with the times. Just stop pushing it in my face in the popular media.. I'm not going out of my way to watch a tv show about a gay couple.. I suppose LGBTQ rights and couldn't care less what people do in their personal lives but I'm not watching a TV show about it.
I especially dislike the Sunday blue laws on buying alcohol on Sunday mornings. Why not Saturday or other religions' Sabbath??
This.
I live in a state where you can't buy alcohol at all on Sunday. The only alcoholic beverages legal in grocery and convenience stores is 3.2% ABV beer. Liquor stores have to be closed by 9PM Monday-Saturday and cannot sell anything cold. This is ridiculous and only serves the interest of the Baptists who never (at least publicly) drink anyways. You also cannot buy a car on Sunday because apparently that is a sin.
they shouldn't be. This is what makes republicans so unpopular when they claim to be the party of freedom, yet they can't seem to grasp this logic that people should be able to do what they want as long as it doesn't harm anyone else, within reason.
I agree. Republicans are for "freedom" in the sense that the rich should have the right to screw the poor and the environment. The peasants however must follow their strict moral code based on a literal interpretation of the Bible or face punishment under the law.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stockwiz
At least the people who oppose alcohol, marijuana, and all addictive substances have some consistency in their arguments. Food and sex are addictive. Food
I don't think a legitimate case can be made for marijuana prohibition without also banning alcohol, tobacco, and prescription opiates.
One of my pet peeves is that Americans seem so willing to surrender their rights for the sake of the children. I understand the need to keep addictive substances out of the hands of children, but banning them for everyone shouldn't be the answer.
Marijuana is less addictive than many legal vices so there is no reason to keep it illegal.
So basically this is just another pro-pot thread. There are plenty of reasons it should be illegal and they have nothing to do with Christianity. I actually was more supportive of the pot addicts' rights until recently. It has gotten completely out of control like many said it would. Now people are demanding that they be allowed to "smoke their 'medicine'" at work, at playgrounds, while driving. It's ridiculous. Keep it a felony.
Before anybody on the Christian Right brings up things like murder, theft, etc that are rightfully legislated, I want to say that those crimes actually harm another individual and are shared values across both religious and secular cultures. What I am talking about is laws against things like homosexuality, pornography, alcohol, marijuana, Sunday car sales, etc that serve only to promote religious piety. What a person does in their private lives, as long as they are of age and it isn't hurting anyone, should be allowed in the eyes of the government. If people believe it's sin, that's between them and their deity.
So considering the First Amendment, why should people be forced by law to adhere to morals specific to a religion they don't believe in?
Obviously robbery is ok with the secular (redistribution). You say what is it anyone's business and I counter, what is it your business how much someone makes.
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