Gathering Places
Gathering Places
On this Independence Day, do more than to rent "Independence Day." Take a patriotic moment to read our Declaration of Independence. Sure, watching "Big Willie" kick alien butt is cool, but remembering the real heroes who drafted, signed and supported the Declaration of Independence is even more awesome. They fought with incredible odds against the tyrannical fist of England, far surpassing the difficulties experienced on video. Founders fought for
freedom to worship
in public and privateRecently, there has been much discussion on the subject of God in government. Mitchell Kahle of the Citizens for the Separation of State and Church, among others, has attempted to rewrite or ignore history, disparaging the beliefs and resolve of our founders by attacking people of faith. The historical evidence is overwhelming for freedom to worship God in public and private.
Having a deep respect for the Constitution, it is disheartening to see some pervert its intent. Their mantra, "separation of church and state," is unconstitutional. The phrase does not appear in the Constitution or in the founding documents. The First Amendment protects free exercise of religion, not separation from it.
The Declaration of Independence demonstrates the beliefs of the founders of our country. It declares the source of our natural, unalienable rights as our Creator, nature's God. A government's purpose is to secure these rights. And when it "becomes destructive of these ends," it should be altered or abolished. Thus our founders "dissolve[d] the political bands" with England because England did not protect their God-given rights.
In the last paragraph we read, "appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world...with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." Evidently we were declaring not only independence from England but dependence upon God. Those heroes, indeed, paid with their own lives and equated devotion to these truths as patriotism.
George Washington affirmed, "Of all the dispositions and habits which leads to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness...To the distinguishing character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."
This knowledge, that our rights are not from the state but from our Creator, has been the cornerstone on which our present system stands, even in modern times. In his 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy said, "The rights of man come from the hand of God, not the state."
During the Revolutionary War, a British embargo caused a shortages of Bibles. To our founding fathers, the scripture proved so valuable that Congress remedied this shortage by importing 20,000 Bibles from Holland and Scotland. Subsequently in 1782, Congress underwrote the first printing of Bibles in the United States. Congress buying and printing bibles? Today's "separation faction" would have a hissy fit.
Hitler once said that if you told a lie long enough and loud enough people would believe it. There are those in our society who are shouting lies about your heritage and the history of this country. They would have you believe that you cannot exercise your religion, that any reference to God or Jesus Christ is unconstitutional and exclusive, and that any display of faith in a public place should be blotted out.
These assertions are false, incendiary and contrary to our history. George Washington told the Delaware Indian Chiefs, "You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ...Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention."
Even the U.S. Supreme Court once stated, "This is a religious people. This is historically true...These are not individual sayings, declarations of private persons: they are organic utterances; they speak the voice of the entire people...These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation."
Regardless of your religious beliefs, our system grants liberty to all. So when alien philosophies try to rob you of your freedom, take a stand. Celebrate the memories of our founders this July Fourth by remembering their patriotism and by continuing their legacy.
William Stonebraker represents the 15th District
(Kalama Valley-Hawaii Kai-Portlock)
in the House of Representatives.