Guest AuthorDe facto, the United States has devolved into a theocracy. Religion — or, more exactly what a relative handful of schemers has perpetrated in the name of religion — has trashed the Constitution.
The Founders would be appalled. But, either because they are afraid of burning in hell or, more importantly, not getting or staying in office, politicians go along with the scam. Furthermore, political strategists have been only too happy to use their wedge issues to incite voters to elect extremist candidates to pass religion-friendly laws.
It’s all come about because of a literal reading of a translation of a translation of a translation of the Bible by an aggressive minority of self-appointed moralists who have also taken the First Amendment to mean that they can impose their views — on evolution, abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, divorce, contraception, the role of women–on the rest of us. These people believe they can trample the civil rights of others and pick and choose what laws they will abide by.
But they are in constitutional quicksand, and sinking fast. The First Amendment is the ultimate libertarian (“live and let live”) credo. It is about guaranteeing everyone free speech in every form the authors could imagine. It is not about someone imposing his or her views on anyone else:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
There is nothing in the Constitution about the right to opt out of a law because it allegedly violates someone’s religious beliefs. There is nothing in it about telling other people how to lead their lives. There is nothing in it about dictating to Congress or others anything about religion.
The First Amendment guarantees religious freedom only as far as your lips. Believe what you believe privately; say your piece, if you must; but you don’t have the right to strong-arm others. You get “to petition” only when you believe your rights have been violated, not to violate other people’s or remake the country because the Bible tells you so.
If only! Ramped-up battles are being fought to trash LGBT civil rights. But Rampaging Religion (author H.L. Mencken’s “Ku Klux Klergy”) is on the wrong side of history.
Ecclesiastes is right: “To everything there is a season.”
And so was Sir Isaac Newton: “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Everywhere, laws and constitutional amendments that banned same-sex marriage just a few years ago are unceremoniously biting the dust; others guaranteeing it are being enacted. Before long, the U.S. Supreme Court will legalize such relationships.
In 2008, 62 percent of Floridians voting approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions. Recently, it has been estimated that 75 percent of Florida voters approve. Before long, all Floridians will have a chance to celebrate democracy and reject theocracy.
We can only honor the founding principles of this country when we recognize that we are a secular nation that guarantees individual religious liberties. No sect has a monopoly on the truth; no majority should presume to dictate to others.
And, most of all, no true believers should presume to speak in God’s name, unless they are willing to incur her wrath.
Stephen L. Goldstein is the author of “The Dictionary of American Political Bullshit” and “Atlas Drugged: Ayn Rand Be Damned.” He lives in Fort Lauderdale. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
