Over the last number of days, a "hot topic" in the national news, on both sides of the aisle, has been the President's religion, and the national perception of what it is. A recent poll has indicated that a full 1/5 of Americans think he is a Muslim. This is troubling, I suspect, because of the growing Islamophobia that we are experiencing and, to some degree, how he is handling both issues. My opinion, for what it's worth, is that I care little whether he is a Christian, Jew or Muslim....Buddhist, Hindu or whatever. In MY religion, the judgment of his spirituality is reserved for God at the time of his death. I personally would rather judge him based on his policies, plans, leadership and results. In short, I'd kiss the ground a Muslim president walked on if he were to create a mess of jobs, stimulate the economy, build private business and decrease government intrusion into private affairs. I certainly would not worship with him at his Mosque, and would entertain a spirited debate of my belief that Jesus is the Messiah with him, were I able to ever do that. But I'd kiss the political ground he walked on!!!
But, what frightens me most is that this debate actually has the endgame effect of creating the platform upon which TWO of the basic freedoms afforded us under the First Amendment of the Constitution are at risk. I have written extensively here, and on social media, that I fear that the national hatred for Islam that we are seeing is being, at the least exploited, if not actually created by those who would, as a matter of policy, like to ban religion in general. Every totalitarian state ever created on the face of the planet has banned religion as one of it's first and linchpin moves. For totalitarianism to work, it cannot have religion to compete with. Peoples belief in a Supreme Being is just too strong and pervasive.
But today, I want to have us look at the second First Amendment freedom that is under attack simultaneously, Freedom of the Press. With rising poll numbers indicating that President Obama is a Muslim, comes attacks from the "left side" on those it is holding accountable for it, terming it "racist". And they really have a half decent leg to stand on, given the fact that, prior to ever running for the Presidency, he attended Reverend Jeremiah Wright's Christian church for 20 years. I find his brand of Christianity troublesome...but it is not mine to judge. But this is leading now to a much bigger concern in my eyes.
Now we are seeing attacks on conservative journalists and "the blogosphere", with suggestions that these thing now be controlled. I think that the natural inclination of Americans to demand fair play is being summoned to use to limit more of the liberties we have been afforded under our beloved Constitution. I think it behooves all who love their freedoms to support the free exercise of religion, and to understand, at the same time, that it is an individual choice that gives us back our own choices. "Take from one, take from all." Why don't we stop talking about religion, anyone's including the President's and, instead resume talking about policies, plans, leadership and results.
THEN, let's demand of ourselves a discipline of readership, based on personal responsibility, that looks openly at both sides of an argument, and makes our decisions in an informed way. Let's confront, at every quarter, those who would decry debate using rancor to diminish its civility. You see, our beloved First Amendment was crafted by the "Framers" as the platform for debate...held in a climate of openness to new ideas. It is the concept that refreshes us nationally.
And I'm making a plea. Please do not play into the hands of those who would strip us of our liberties by subtly convincing us to abandon them ourselves. Our children deserve better.
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