Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Christine "Did She Really Just Say That" O'Donnell

This morning in Delaware, Tea Party candidate for senate, Christine O'Donnell, criticized Democratic nominee, Chris Coons, by claiming that the teaching of creationism in public schools is not a violation of the First Amendment. O'Donnell continued her idiocy by asking where in the First Amendment is there any mention of the separation of church and state. Coons' response was that the First Amendment bars congress from making laws respecting an establishment of religion. O'Donnell's retort was, "You're telling me that's in the First Amendment?"

So, apparently O'Donnell is just one of many Tea Party members who have not actually read the constitution they claim to hold so dear. And although you're not alone on this view, Ms. O'Donnell, there's one person who tends to disagree with you and the rest of your bat-shit party. That man is former US president, and author of the First Amendment, Mr. Thomas Jefferson. Let's see what he has to say about the separation of church and state:

“Mr. President,

To messers Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.

Gentlemen,

The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. My duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man and his God, the he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between church and state. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of the conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and the creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association assurances of my high respect and esteem.”

Thomas Jefferson

January 1, 1802

Wait, what just happened? Are you telling me that not only did the First Amendment intend for a separation of church ans state, but Mr. Jefferson himself coined the term "Wall of Separation?" Why yes, that is what just happened here. I'll be sitting by my computer awaiting your next idiotic claim about the founding of this country. But until then, let me leave you with my favorite Jefferson quote regarding a theocratic government.

“History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.”