via Sean Hannity Discussion by gratefuldruid on 2/27/12
I've posted ad-nausea here about the hypocrisy of the right wing. Based on the reactions to these threads, I'm starting to think that I may be more of a libertarian than a "conservative" as some would define that word here in the forum. As a fiscal conservative, I bought into "smaller, less intrusive government" and adherence to the US Constitution as the primary paradigm of the conservative movement. But as these primaries are playing out, I am getting schooled in how conservative politicians (and talk-radio) use faith-based code words and phrases to signal their fellow Christians that they are perfectly willing to trounce on the Constitution when it supports their religious agenda. It just doesn't work. Religion is about control, the Constitution is about individual liberty. So here is a starting list of the code words and phases. Look for them in speeches, interviews and on the radio. 1) Faith - this is code for Christian faith as opposed to the over 100 other faiths (and gods) that are observed by US Citizens. Now, the faithful will argue 2 points here: a) well the majority of the people in the US identify themselves as Christians
b) some of the founding fathers were Christians But neither of these arguments has any validity in the Constitution. The founding fathers made no mention of a Christian God nor did they indicate that majority rule applies to religious beliefs. Example: "To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes you throw up. What kind of country do we live that says only people of non-faith can come into the public square and make their case?" 2) Family Values - for some reason, religious people are obsessed with controlling the sexuality of others. So family values means, not gay, not divorced, having sex only for the purpose of having kids, having as many kids as God says to have (ie. no birth control), kids enrolled in a private (ie. religious school) remaining virgins until married, and everyone going to a Christian church on Sundays. Think "Leave it to Beaver" Which is great for those that choose this. But hidden in the Family Values code is an underlying implication that their way is right and wholesome and American. The rest of you single parents, promiscuous, kinky, partying, pagans are just not great Americans. There is a judgmental aspect to this Family Values code that again cannot be found in the Constitution. Example: "We need someone in the Whitehouse that is going to restore our respect for the Family Values that this country was founded on"
3) Traditions and Institutions - this is code for using the Government to intervene and make Un-Constitutional laws to protect religious beliefs and practices. This is the used extensively to rationalize the war on gay marriage, putting the Bible, nativity, Commandments, etc.. on display in government buildings.
Example: "The left is attacking the very traditions and institutions that made this country great" 4) Public Square - This phrase is used to indicate that elected politicians (sworn to uphold the Constitution) should also have a unimpeachable right to use their position to espouse their religious beliefs as a means of proving their superiority over the non-faithful (ie. secular) . It leverages on the "we are the victims of secularism" strategy. The Constitution did not grant the government the right to favor one religion over another. There is no "American" religion. But some Christian politicians seem to jump at the chance to use their political forum as a launchpad to showcase their religious piety. The result is that we wind up debating gay marriage and contraception. Smaller, less intrusive government gets lost in the shuffle as we argue over who is more "faithful" Example: "To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes you throw up. What kind of country do we live that says only people of non-faith can come into the public square and make their case?" Preach, observe, and believe as you want. Do it in your churches, your blogs, your media, your publications. In this great country of ours, you can do this as much as your heart desires. But the US Government is not the forum for this. The founding fathers created a secular governance, free from religious bias. And for those of you who feel I might have a point here, look for those code words as the campaigns move on. And notice how effectively they distract everyone from taxes, un-employment, debt and some of the other things that governments are supposed to manage.
b) some of the founding fathers were Christians But neither of these arguments has any validity in the Constitution. The founding fathers made no mention of a Christian God nor did they indicate that majority rule applies to religious beliefs. Example: "To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes you throw up. What kind of country do we live that says only people of non-faith can come into the public square and make their case?" 2) Family Values - for some reason, religious people are obsessed with controlling the sexuality of others. So family values means, not gay, not divorced, having sex only for the purpose of having kids, having as many kids as God says to have (ie. no birth control), kids enrolled in a private (ie. religious school) remaining virgins until married, and everyone going to a Christian church on Sundays. Think "Leave it to Beaver" Which is great for those that choose this. But hidden in the Family Values code is an underlying implication that their way is right and wholesome and American. The rest of you single parents, promiscuous, kinky, partying, pagans are just not great Americans. There is a judgmental aspect to this Family Values code that again cannot be found in the Constitution. Example: "We need someone in the Whitehouse that is going to restore our respect for the Family Values that this country was founded on"
3) Traditions and Institutions - this is code for using the Government to intervene and make Un-Constitutional laws to protect religious beliefs and practices. This is the used extensively to rationalize the war on gay marriage, putting the Bible, nativity, Commandments, etc.. on display in government buildings.
Example: "The left is attacking the very traditions and institutions that made this country great" 4) Public Square - This phrase is used to indicate that elected politicians (sworn to uphold the Constitution) should also have a unimpeachable right to use their position to espouse their religious beliefs as a means of proving their superiority over the non-faithful (ie. secular) . It leverages on the "we are the victims of secularism" strategy. The Constitution did not grant the government the right to favor one religion over another. There is no "American" religion. But some Christian politicians seem to jump at the chance to use their political forum as a launchpad to showcase their religious piety. The result is that we wind up debating gay marriage and contraception. Smaller, less intrusive government gets lost in the shuffle as we argue over who is more "faithful" Example: "To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes you throw up. What kind of country do we live that says only people of non-faith can come into the public square and make their case?" Preach, observe, and believe as you want. Do it in your churches, your blogs, your media, your publications. In this great country of ours, you can do this as much as your heart desires. But the US Government is not the forum for this. The founding fathers created a secular governance, free from religious bias. And for those of you who feel I might have a point here, look for those code words as the campaigns move on. And notice how effectively they distract everyone from taxes, un-employment, debt and some of the other things that governments are supposed to manage.
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