This morning I awakened to find the following email in my inbox. It had been forwarded to me by my brother. I really do wish that he would quit sending me such things. I will tell you up front that I deleted it. All I ask is that you do not judge me until you read my reasons for doing so.
AGREE OR DELETE
This is by a daughter of a murdered couple in Raytown who had a Bible and Bookstore on 63rd street.
Just one more example:
When I had to testify at the murder trial of my parents a week ago, I was asked to raise my right hand. The bailiff started out "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?" I stood there and waited but she said nothing. She said "Do you?" I was so stunned I blurted out "What happened to 'so help me God'?" She came back with "Do you?" I replied "yes", but I was perplexed. Then the judge said "you can say that if you want to." I stopped, raised my right hand, and finished with "So help me God!" I told my son and daughter that when it came time for them to testify, they should do the same. It's no wonder we have so many problems in this country. If I'd had my wits about me I'd have told them that taking God out! of the courtroom is only going to result in more criminals and murderers like him being in there! I don't know what can be done about it, but it's time we stepped up and did something.
CNBC this morning had a poll on this question. They had the highest number of responses that they have ever had for one of their polls and the percentage was the same as this: 86% to keep the words, 14% against. that is a pretty commanding public response.
I was asked to send this on if I agreed or delete if I didn't. Now it is your turn... It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 14% to Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!
If you agree, pass this on, if not simply delete..
I would like to remind the original author of this message that she lives in The United States of America. We have a constitution here that affords us freedom of religion. Like it or not, that also sffords us the right to not believe in God if we so choose. Perhaps only 14% have spoken out to state that they do not, but they must be respected. To ask an atheist to swear in the name of God makes a mockery of our court system. This is why those words have been removed. What meaning does an oath have if it is taken in the name of something in which the sworn does not believe? And, yes, I do believe that the mention of God in the Pledge Of Allegience and on our money should be removed out of respect for those 14%. To do so would not take away my own personal beliefs, nor would it take away yours.
As for the removal of God from our courtrooms being responsible for the problems in our nation, I must say that I highly doubt this to be true. Rather I blame hard headed fundamentalists who thump their Bibles and refuse to respect the rights and beliefs of those who do not agree with them. After all, how many criminals do they think have a healthy respect for any sort of god? Not many I would think, considering the fact that the violation of most civil law is also a violation of religious law. Do not most religions speak out against things such as murder and theft? It would seem to me that the real problems in this nation arise from those who refuse to respect those who differ from them, racists, homophobes, sexists, etc., many of whom choose to pervert the words of holy books such as The Bible and The Koran to justify their intolerance!
In closing, I would like to tell the author of this message that she is the one who should sit down and shut up. Perhaps she might consider practicing some of the things taught in the New Testament of those Bibles that her family sold...
"Love thy neighbor as thyself..."
Jesus did not qualify these words. He did not say love other Christians as yourself. It was his intention that you show love and respect to EVERYONE, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Pagans, and, yes, even atheists. Perhaps if people such as yourself would learn to do this this nation and perhaps even the world would be a much better place.
~ End Of Rant ~
