VietCowboy
09-04-2008, 05:19 PM
Just asking before I comment on it. Thank you.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Palins_Christian_Heritage_Week.html?showall
September 04, 2008
Categories: Sarah Palin (http://dyn.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/index.cfm/category/SarahPalin)
Palin's Christian Heritage Week
As I wrote earlier this week in a story (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13098.html) about worries in the Jewish community about Palin, her roots in explicitly Christian Republican politics may undo some of McCain's progress with Jewish voters.
Today my colleague Lisa Lerer passes on American Center for Law & Justice Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow's report (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/2008/08/mccain-chooses-prolife-conserv.html) that Sarah Palin signed a proclamation declaring an Alaskan "Christian Heritage Week" during her tenure as governor.
The week "reminds Alaskans of the role Christianity has played in our rich heritage. Many truly great men and women of America, giants in the structuring of American history, were Christians of caliber and integrity who did not hesitate to express their faith."
It goes on to quote several of the founding fathers praising God.
Measures like that one are a goal of the Evangelical wing of the Republican party, and Palin's signature on it is another mark of her difference from McCain, her strength with the base, and the question mark of whether she can reach to the middle.
In any case, the chief of the militantly secularist Americans United for the Separation of Church and State is the first to voice a complaint (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/2008/08/no-nonchristian-heritage-week.html).
Full resolution after the jump.
» Continue reading Palin's Christian Heritage Week (javascript:toggleLayer('summary');)
div#summary{display: none;} The full transcript of the proclamation:
WHEREAS, the celebration of Christian Heritage Week, October 21-27, 2007, reminds Alaskans of the role Christianity has played in our rich heritage. Many truly great men and women of America, giants in the structuring of American history, were Christians of caliber and integrity who did not hesitate to express their faith. Some of their legacies are evidenced as follows:
WHEREAS, the Preamble to the Constitution of the State of Alaska begins with, "We the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land"
WHEREAS, Benjamin Franklin, at the Constitutional Convention stated, "It is impossible to build an empire without our Father's aid. I believe the sacred writings which say that, Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it (Psalm 127:1)."
WHEREAS, George Washington enunciated, "animated alone by the pure spirit of Christianity, and conducting ourselves as the faithful subjects of our free government, we may enjoy every temporal and spiritual felicity."
WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote, "Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?"
WHEREAS, James Madison, father of the United States Constitution advocated "the diffusion of the light of Christianity in our nation" in his Memorial and Remonstrance.
WHEREAS, Patrick Henry quoted Proverbs 14:34 for our nation, "Righteousness alone can exalt a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
WHEREAS, George Mason, in his Virginia Declaration of Rights, forerunner to our United States Bill of Rights, affirmed, "That it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forebearance, love and charity towards each other."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim October 21-27, 2007, as Alaska's 9th Annual Christian Heritage Week in Alaska, and encourage all citizens to celebrate this week.
--
then I read this:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/2008/08/no-nonchristian-heritage-week.html
"NO NON-CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK"
By: Rev. Barry W. Lynn (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/rev-barry-w-lynn/2008/08/)
Friday August 29, 2008
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Categories: Religious Freedom (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/religious-freedom/), Separation of Church and State (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/separation-of-church-and-state/)
As some posters have already relayed to you, if this ticket doesn't deliver the conservative evangelical vote it is hard to imagine what would.
You are certainly accurately describing her "Christian Heritage Week" resolution as a "real controversy". As you know, I don't believe it is up to the government at any level to tell people of any faith what week or day they should feel particularly religious. That's why we have religious leaders who will presumably tell believers to honor their heritage and worship every day of every week. There is absolutely no good (that is, non-pandering reason) to make these governmental salutes to religion.
Alaska's "Christian Heritage Week" just happens to be a particularly offensive version of so-called "civil religion". Here are just a few of its problems:
* Jefferson and Madison are quoted completely out of context here--both would be appalled at this idea and, in fact, Jefferson routinely refused to sign "day of prayer" proclamations sent to him by Congress;
*Patrick Henry may have been happy to comment on "sin"; but luckily for America his view of the role of religion in the nation was not that held by the majority of the Framers. In this country the government tries to stop "crimes"; it leaves the correction of "sinning" to the conscience of the people;
*Most significantly, this proclamation seeks "to encourage all citizens to celebrate this week". Alaska has a very diverse religious population, including many folks who adhere to traditional native religions. To suggest that even non-Christians celebrate this historically befuddled "Christian week" is hubris of the highest order. As the legendary Texas writer and musician Kinky Friedman observes: "Do you know how Native Americans pray on Thanksgiving? They say 'Thanks for nothing'." I know that is harsh, but I'm sure you get his drift.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Palins_Christian_Heritage_Week.html?showall
September 04, 2008
Categories: Sarah Palin (http://dyn.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/index.cfm/category/SarahPalin)
Palin's Christian Heritage Week
As I wrote earlier this week in a story (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13098.html) about worries in the Jewish community about Palin, her roots in explicitly Christian Republican politics may undo some of McCain's progress with Jewish voters.
Today my colleague Lisa Lerer passes on American Center for Law & Justice Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow's report (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/2008/08/mccain-chooses-prolife-conserv.html) that Sarah Palin signed a proclamation declaring an Alaskan "Christian Heritage Week" during her tenure as governor.
The week "reminds Alaskans of the role Christianity has played in our rich heritage. Many truly great men and women of America, giants in the structuring of American history, were Christians of caliber and integrity who did not hesitate to express their faith."
It goes on to quote several of the founding fathers praising God.
Measures like that one are a goal of the Evangelical wing of the Republican party, and Palin's signature on it is another mark of her difference from McCain, her strength with the base, and the question mark of whether she can reach to the middle.
In any case, the chief of the militantly secularist Americans United for the Separation of Church and State is the first to voice a complaint (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/2008/08/no-nonchristian-heritage-week.html).
Full resolution after the jump.
» Continue reading Palin's Christian Heritage Week (javascript:toggleLayer('summary');)
div#summary{display: none;} The full transcript of the proclamation:
WHEREAS, the celebration of Christian Heritage Week, October 21-27, 2007, reminds Alaskans of the role Christianity has played in our rich heritage. Many truly great men and women of America, giants in the structuring of American history, were Christians of caliber and integrity who did not hesitate to express their faith. Some of their legacies are evidenced as follows:
WHEREAS, the Preamble to the Constitution of the State of Alaska begins with, "We the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land"
WHEREAS, Benjamin Franklin, at the Constitutional Convention stated, "It is impossible to build an empire without our Father's aid. I believe the sacred writings which say that, Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it (Psalm 127:1)."
WHEREAS, George Washington enunciated, "animated alone by the pure spirit of Christianity, and conducting ourselves as the faithful subjects of our free government, we may enjoy every temporal and spiritual felicity."
WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote, "Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?"
WHEREAS, James Madison, father of the United States Constitution advocated "the diffusion of the light of Christianity in our nation" in his Memorial and Remonstrance.
WHEREAS, Patrick Henry quoted Proverbs 14:34 for our nation, "Righteousness alone can exalt a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
WHEREAS, George Mason, in his Virginia Declaration of Rights, forerunner to our United States Bill of Rights, affirmed, "That it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forebearance, love and charity towards each other."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim October 21-27, 2007, as Alaska's 9th Annual Christian Heritage Week in Alaska, and encourage all citizens to celebrate this week.
--
then I read this:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/2008/08/no-nonchristian-heritage-week.html
"NO NON-CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK"
By: Rev. Barry W. Lynn (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/rev-barry-w-lynn/2008/08/)
Friday August 29, 2008
posted @ 2:18pm Permalink (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/2008/08/no-nonchristian-heritage-week.html) http://blog.beliefnet.com/imgs/email_icon.gif Email This (http://www.beliefnet.com/#) http://blog.beliefnet.com/imgs/social-arrow.gif Add to » (javascript:void(0))
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Categories: Religious Freedom (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/religious-freedom/), Separation of Church and State (http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/separation-of-church-and-state/)
As some posters have already relayed to you, if this ticket doesn't deliver the conservative evangelical vote it is hard to imagine what would.
You are certainly accurately describing her "Christian Heritage Week" resolution as a "real controversy". As you know, I don't believe it is up to the government at any level to tell people of any faith what week or day they should feel particularly religious. That's why we have religious leaders who will presumably tell believers to honor their heritage and worship every day of every week. There is absolutely no good (that is, non-pandering reason) to make these governmental salutes to religion.
Alaska's "Christian Heritage Week" just happens to be a particularly offensive version of so-called "civil religion". Here are just a few of its problems:
* Jefferson and Madison are quoted completely out of context here--both would be appalled at this idea and, in fact, Jefferson routinely refused to sign "day of prayer" proclamations sent to him by Congress;
*Patrick Henry may have been happy to comment on "sin"; but luckily for America his view of the role of religion in the nation was not that held by the majority of the Framers. In this country the government tries to stop "crimes"; it leaves the correction of "sinning" to the conscience of the people;
*Most significantly, this proclamation seeks "to encourage all citizens to celebrate this week". Alaska has a very diverse religious population, including many folks who adhere to traditional native religions. To suggest that even non-Christians celebrate this historically befuddled "Christian week" is hubris of the highest order. As the legendary Texas writer and musician Kinky Friedman observes: "Do you know how Native Americans pray on Thanksgiving? They say 'Thanks for nothing'." I know that is harsh, but I'm sure you get his drift.