A LOT TO THINK ABOUT - RELIGION AND POLITICS - BILL MAHER - YOU TUBE - MORE...

Have you ever heard about this group?

"The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA),[3] is a sectarian guerrilla army operating mainly in northern Uganda and parts of Sudan.[4] It is designated a terrorist organization by The United States Department of State.[5]... The group was formed in 1987 and is engaged in an armed rebellion against the Ugandan government in what is now one of Africa's longest-running conflicts. It is led by Joseph Kony, who proclaims himself the "spokesperson" of God and a spirit medium, primarily of the Holy Spirit, which the Acholi believe can represent itself in many manifestations.[6] The group claims to be establishing a theocratic state based on the Ten Commandments and Acholi tradition.[6][7] The LRA is accused of widespread human rights violations, including murder, abduction, mutilation, sexual enslavement of women and children, and forcing children to participate in hostilities.[8] ["Lord's Resistance Army"; From "Wikipedia", the free encyclopedia (go to site for additional references and information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord's_Resistance_Army...)]

Think it Couldn't Happen Here?

["Bill Maher, Real Time season premeire Fri. Feb. 20th"; as submitted to You Tube by GhostOfThe92503 on 2/11/09; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R4N3Yz_3MA]

Have you seen this article?

"Religious police crack down on Saudi valentines... Holiday celebration is banned..." (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29164011/)

Quote from Above:

"As Feb. 14 approaches, the police begin inspecting gift shops for items that are red or are intended as gifts to mark the holiday — a celebration of St. Valentine, a third-century Christian martyr — which is banned in Saudi Arabia. Such items are legal at other times of the year, but as Valentine's Day nears they become contraband..."

Think it couldn't happen here?

["Bill Maher On The Ten Commandments"; as submitted to You Tube by DaveRosenman on 4/30/2007; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTcsCGcwhho]

Have you seen this article?

"Chavez wins vote to scrap term limits in Venezuela" (Road Runner; http://www.rr.com/news/news/article/1102/6855952/Chavez_wins_vote_to_scrap_term_limits_in_Venezuela)

Quote from the Above: "President Hugo Chavez says a referendum victory that removed limits on his re-election is a mandate to intensify his socialist agenda for decades to come. Opponents warn of an impending dictatorship..."

Think it couldn't happen here?

["Larry King Live: Bill Maher on the Economy, the Obamas, Palin and Biden"; as submitted to You Tube by heathr456 on 2/12/09; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CM2TocnqPs]

Have you seen this article?

"In Tibet, it’s just the facts, ma’am" ("World Blog"; mssnbc.com";http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/02/12/1792407.aspx)

Quote from the Article Above:

"At Drepung Monastery, Ngawang said his monks had also been studying the legal system. "We have legal knowledge sessions for all the monks," he said, in order to ensure order in the monastery... We study the laws and the constitution so we understand the laws better and do not break them," he added. "The monks are also Chinese citizens."

Hmmmmm...

["Bill Maher's 'Religulous'"; as submitted to You Tube by CBS on 11/29/08; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHH2JItePlc]

Have you heard this headline?

President Barack Obama [told] "... the National Prayer Breakfast that even though faith too often has been used 'as a tool to divide us from one another,' there is no religion in the world that is based on hatred..."

"Obama, in prepared remarks, said, "There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being" ["President Obama’s Remarks at National Prayer Breakfast"; http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/us/politics/05text-prayer.html?_r=2]

But...

Hasn't religion been utilized by far too many to incite the hatred of one group against another?

Does prayer (other than private prayers and/or family prayers) - or the "Office of Faith Based Initiatives (under any name or guise) - belong in - or around - the Inaugural Oath, our US Government institutions or the White House --- at all?

Doesn't the U.S. Government and President Barack Obama whom I still support and admire tremendously (along with Reverend Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Mother Theresa and a whole host of other such folks...) --- owe the American people some "things" that might (over the long haul) be even more important [such as a strict allegiance to the "US Constitution" and "Bill of Rights" (yes, this will take some time...)] than money?

And what about "that guy" (former President George W. Bush Jr.) who [allegedly...] violated the "US Constitution" and "Bill of Rights" --- and [allegedly] set in motion some unethical, unconstitutional and/or even inhumane (according to quite a few folks, both religious and non) policies - that President Obama is left to deal with?

-----------------------------------------------------

Passing this on from my emails:

"Newdow Seeks 1000 New Plaintiffs in Inaugural Lawsuit [--] Seeks to Add an Additional 1,000 Plaintiffs in Challenge of Inaugural Prayers & Religious Oath Federal Lawsuit... Feb. 22 Deadline Requires Declaration to be Mailed in Timely Fashion; Get Sign Up Sheet at... http://1000plaintiffsformikenewdow.blogspot.com/

[A link will be provided in the sidebar >]

Please know that we may be required to provide your name and address (due to the local rules of the D.C. District Court)" [Freedom From Religion Foundation; news@ ffrf.org]

-----------------------------------------------------------

Sample letter (mine; revised and resubmitted since yesterday) [And yes, I still (and will always) love (in the best sense of the word!) President Barack Obama; my Christian mother, sisters and daughter; my Christian and Catholic grandchildren --- and all of my other friends and relatives - who are actually a very diverse crew as far as their religious and/or non-religious leanings!!!!!]

V
V
V

I, Nancy S. Smith, declare as follows:

I am a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of New York. I am a member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. I consider myself a spiritual person and a humanist.

I do not recall watching earlier inaugurations (except at a later date, via the Internet); but I did watch (also via the Internet, but shortly after it occurred) the 2009 inauguration of President Obama - and I have since reviewed his taking (before Supreme Court Justice Roberts) of the Inaugural Oath.

I did not view President Obama's inauguration, as it occurred; because I was, in fact, hosting a local Inaugural party that day. And although my feelings, upon a recent review of this event, are not notably strong - one way or another (President Obama appeared comfortable and at ease...) - my concerns about the conclusion (as a generalist ending) of the Inaugural Oath [a mandated dictate to add "so help me God" (?)] remain.

Being 50 years old, I expect to witness 3 to 4 more inaugurations during my lifetime. My children (five / representing a variety of secular and/or relgious beliefs) and grandchildren [ten thus far, ranging from infancy to their early teens; all of them having been exposed to a variety of secular beliefs and/or religious teachings] will witness and be affected (will future Inaugural Oaths be administered in a secular manner?) by many more.

I ask that the court make sure that Inaugural Oaths of the future be just and equitable, representing a true multi-faith (including non-believers, Atheists, Agnostics, Secularists, Christians, Catholics, Muslims, etc.) Democracy - where each new president's unique style and character (what hopefully got them elected) is represented without the need for any type of spiritual or religious testimonial.

I have signed on this case because I believe a one-faith dictatorial Theocracy would destroy the very foundation and future of our great country - and because I would like to see a pragmatic application of "Separation of Church and State" - an honoring of the "U.S. Constitution" - at all levels of government.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on February 17, 2009..."

------------------------------------------------------------

I'm out on a limb here, and I know it... But if anyone wants to join me, hop aboard.

Links will be made available in the sidebar >>>

In closing, I want you to know that I love this lady...

[(Mother) "Theresa"; "A video compiled of various clips about Mother Teresa..."; Words and music by Seth Ward; Copyright 2005; as submitted to You Tube by fivecentstand on 5/10/06; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzIPBRnYHQk]

... as much or more (as it applies) than you do; and I was horrified to learn that some folks chose to give her an exorcism (HUH?) before she died... [References on this to be provided - this was in the material gathered for my books - upon request] [These have since been posted in the comment section.]

------------------------------------------------------------

BTW, I think one of the Maher videos above makes some very good points about Government funding going to the arts community (such as UPAC?????) - as well!

------------------------------------------------------------

Peace, Love, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS