An open letter to the religious right: You have no right (crosspost from GD)

[hyphenate]

An open letter to the religious right: You have no right

March 3, 2009 by Opinions
Column by Andrew Waldner

Dustin Lance Black’s simple and heartfelt acceptance speech was a high point of this year’s stellar Oscar ceremony. It wasn’t combative or uncouth like Sean Penn’s, just a simple statement of wanting to love someone and enjoy his own private happiness.

My turn. And I’m not trying to be sweet or kind, just logical.

I’m asking you to put aside your religious beliefs or your bigotry or anything else and look at this as a citizen of the United States. This is not about your beliefs or morals, it’s about legality and rights.

The United States, as with most everywhere in the Western Hemisphere, was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Does this mean we celebrate the Eucharist or Passover as a nation? No. It means we praise “good” behavior and punish “bad” behavior in a way that mostly lines up with ideas that Jesus celebrated. Were our Founding Fathers religious men? In some cases, yes, but they came to this world to escape political and religious tyranny that had been the norm in Europe. They came here to celebrate the individual and to avoid this intolerance.

The Constitution, besides establishing our government and its power, guarantees people can live without fear of oppression by their government or by any one group. Without adversely affecting themselves or their fellow man in any tangible way, Americans were meant to be able to live out their private lives and expect equal protection under the law. It doesn’t quite give a right to privacy, but the intent to protect both majority and minority is obvious.



http://kykernel.com/2009/03/03/an-open-letter-to-the-religious-right-you-have-no-right/#comment-2214

[Tempest]

1. What was uncouth about Penn's speech?

Why does the author feel that he has to criticize Penn in his column about Black?

Black's speech was powerful and can stand on its own.

[HelenWheels]

2. US not founded on Christian principals

"The United States, as with most everywhere in the Western Hemisphere, was founded on Judeo-Christian principles."

So says the treaty of Tripoli. I think those that make this claim feel that only "Christians" have cornered the market on morals and values. All cultures have very similar values and morals or they wouldn't survive.

[Marrah_G]

4. It was founded on Masonic principals :)

[LiberalFighter]

5. Consider that the Code of Hammurabi was in existence before...

Moses supposedly came down with the 10 Commandments.

Hammurabi lived ca 1792-1750 BCE. The Code of Laws believed to have been written about 1727 BCE.

While the 10 Commandments came into existence about 1491 BCE. Nearly 230 years after the Hammurabi Code.

[LiberalFighter]

3. I disagree that this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles.

And absolutely disagree that England, France, Germany, Italy and other European countries were founded on Judeo-Christian principles.

The Jewish or Christian religion was NOT anywhere in existence during that time period in those areas.

[NMMNG]

6. The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religi

( Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11)

And Penn's speech wasn't uncouth. Why are we constantly being harangued when we stand up to those bigots?