2 most controversial topics

 The 2 most controversial topics are religion and politics.  In the coming year, we will combine facets of both with the 2008 elections.  It can divide even families.  So it is no wonder, it is dividing our nation.

Our forefathers were very wise to understand about keeping politics and religion apart so they chose to allow citizens to hold and keep their faith separate from their government without legislation.

Today's neocons seek to destroy everything holy within our precious constitution as they go merrily down the path of enacting legislation for our own good.  It's as if we are needy children, who rely on the gov't as our sole provider.  Perhaps there are some that do.  But as people of faith, we know who to rely on when all else fails and it certainly isn't BIG government. 

However in 1980, when the neocons and the federalists became entrenched in Washington with the election of Reagan, the federal gov't has preceded merrily to legislate morality while removing all presence of God from its halls.

I have always found it odd that children can't pray in school but our elected representatives pray upon opening of each session of Congress.  Are they supposed to be praying for us?  I didn't think we were electing people to pray for us but if we are perhaps that explains why the crazy Christian right wingers have become so prominent in the political debate. 

Do you know that the words "separation of church and state" appear nowhere in the Constitution, Bill of Rights or Declaration of Independence.  It was a saying used by Thomas Jefferson in the debate over the formation of a national religion.  Which for those of you who don't know…didn't happen. 

Here's the thing: at my age, I KNOW what I believe about my faith.  I'm not going to change.  All I ask is that people allow me to live my life according to my faith, and I will let others live their life according to their values.  I don't want government telling me what I can do with or put in my body.  I don't want gov't telling me how, when, where to die.  I don't want gov't intruding into my life or business. 

Now I recognize that in business there are rules.  And in life there are rules of right and wrong.  As long as I don't step outside these basic rules then gov't needs to leave me the hell alone.  I mean there is no way they are going to get the bad guys as long as they are watching good law abiding people.

In other cultures and faith, we find the most violence when we combine politics and religion.  Most (not all) terrorists are examples of this regardless of their religious background or current religious affiliations.  Perhaps we should consider this when selecting our next batch of representatives.   Politics and religion obviously don't mix well. 

It's not that I want an atheist as my elected official.  I just don't want my elected official making judgments on my behalf from a religious perspective that I don't support.  GW is a great example of a man who calls himself a Christian but advocates things that are in direct opposition to my faith as a Christian that I cannot and will not support.

Yes I want a man of good conscious, unlike what we have today….A PRESIDENT WITH NO CONSCIOUS — despite what they profess to believe.

But when I am making a political decision it will be based on the REALISTIC proposals that the candidates have for leading our country out of this very deep mess of you know what that GW and folks have created.  Because once all the campaign hoopla is over and it gets down to REAL LIFE business,  those proposals, those visions for the future of our country are going to be what really counts…..not their PROFESSED religious beliefs.