(WWJD Disclaimer: Before any of y'all go getting your knickers in a twist here, let's all keep in mind that I'm NOT denigrating Christianity. In point of fact, I respect and honor Christianity. It's CHRISTIANS that I have a problem with...those who call themselves "Christians" but in actuality know as much about the teachings of Jesus Christ as they do about running the West Coast offense. Christianity is not about power, control, and reaction...though you'd never know it from listening to most- not all- Christians.)
An atheists-rights group is suing the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security because state law requires the agency to stress "dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth.".... American Atheists of Parsippany, N.J., and 10 non-religious Kentuckians are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, set to be filed Tuesday in Franklin Circuit Court. Edwin Kagin, a Boone County lawyer and the national legal director of American Atheists, said he was appalled to read in the Herald-Leader last week that state law establishes praising God -- and installing a plaque in God's honor -- as the first duty of the Homeland Security Office. The state and federal constitutions both prohibit government from getting involved in religion, Kagin said Monday.... "This is one of the most outrageous things I've seen in 35 years of practicing law. It's breathtakingly unconstitutional," Kagin said.... The requirement to credit God for Kentucky's protection was tucked into 2006 homeland security legislation by state Rep. Tom Riner, D-Louisville, a Southern Baptist minister.... "This is recognition that government alone cannot guarantee the perfect safety of the people of Kentucky," Riner said last week.
Wow...I almost don't even know where to begin. Every now and then I run across something so, well, breathtakingly stupid and pointless, that it almost leaves me speechless. Instead of depending on things like, oh, I don't know...preparedness and hard work??...for the protection of the Commonwealth, Rep. Dimwit...er, Riner...has completely gone off the reservation.
Never mind the fact that Kentucky probably doesn't provide much in the way of enticing targets to terrorists (Horse farms? Moonshine stills?), Riner has succeeded in giving genuflecting to his imaginary friend the force of law. Never mind the blatant and breathtaking unconstitutionality of this law; what astounds me is the unparalleled ignorance and arrogance of it's author. And don't even get me started on that whole "separation of Church and State" thing.
Memo to Rep. Riner and his ilk: this is NOT a Christian nation. This is a secular nation with a majority Christian population. Whether you care to admit it or not, this is the truth, and it DOES make a difference. It is neither the responsibility nor the role of government to endorse and advocate for a particular religion, even if the majority does happen to believe in the imaginary friend in question. If you happen to believe as Rep. Riner does, good on you. That does NOT confer on you the right nor the obligation to enshrine Christianity as the official religion of the Commonwealth of Kentucky...or any other governmental entity. I realize that the reality that this is both an egregious assault on the Constitution and a waste of tax dollars may be lost on you, but that doesn't make it any less true or real. Jeebus H. Koresh, y'all...since when do the tenets of Christianity call for shoving this religion down the throats of all Americans, even those misguided souls who may happen to think and believe differently?
Jesus, save me from your followers. PLEASE....
