America is NOT a Secular Nation: So Say "Merry Christmas!"

[re-edited 2/2013 ... often write these late, late at night, so they are frought w/spelling, grammar errors and poor wording.]

I seriously have to wonder these days:  have we forgotten our hard won freedoms and the high price that was paid in order to obtain them? Or have we just become so complacent, so callous(?) that we no longer care anymore about these freedoms and the impact they have on our society today? Believe it, or not, our Founding Fathers, along with the brave men and women who fought to establish this wonderful nation we now live in, fought for the right of each and everyone of us to be able to express ourselves, to have our own beliefs and traditions and to have the right to be able worship freely as we, each and every one of us, see fit to do so.  These brave men and women were NOT fighting for a secular nation! They were fighting for our right to have "Freedom of Expression", not to have our government suppress expression under the guise of secularism, as we are seeing today.

Having the freedom to express ourselves, the freedom to have our own beliefs and traditions, while being able to worship freely is the very thing that makes our nation so dynamic, diverse and strong! The suppression of the latter in order to obtain a false sense of a homogeneous, politically correct facade is NOT what our forefathers were fighting for by any means! If you personally desire the appearance of a homogeneous nation:  then go live in a fascist country somewhere and make "secularism" your state sponsored line.

Last night on the news, I heard the governor of the State of Washington had allowed (without further court appeal or challenge) a court ruling which said atheists could put a sign in the state capital building spelling out the atheist take on the "Holiday Season" -- just as the Christians have been allowed, in years past, to put up a nativity scene in the State Capitol.  Not surprisingly, many people were up in arms because the atheist sign wound up being placed right next the nativity scene in the Washington capitol. These objectors felt strongly that the Aetheists' sign should have been placed off on its own or even displayed at a different time from the nativity scene altogether.  They were angry that the governor of Washington did nothing further to pursue any of the latter options for displaying the countering viewpoint sign or to even appeal the court's initial ruling.

Well I say: ENOUGH ALREADY! Let the atheists put up their sign! Let them express themselves! As long as the Christians get to express themselves as well. I may not agree with the Athiests' beliefs, or the way they go choose to go about expressing them, but they do have a right to express themselves and their point of view.  Furthermore, other groups should also be allowed to express themselves during the "Holiday Season."  If African-Americans want to put up a "Kwanzaa" sign: more power to them. Same with the Jews, if they want to put up a menorah: go for it. I'd rather have everyone allowed to express themselves than see a wash of plain, white, secularism everywhere. And speaking as a Christian, I don't think Jesus will mind sharing the attention. Jesus was first and foremost a humble and tolerant individual, and as Christians we should also strive to be the same.

Bottom-line: I am sick and tired of secularism and "political correctness" running the show in this country! All of this bickering and complaining produces the net result of taking the JOY out of the Holiday Season (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever you happen to celebrate). Wish me a "Merry Christmas", a "Happy Kwanzaa", or a "Happy Hanukkah"! You won't hurt my feelings or upset me.  I can share in your joy, even if I don't personally share your belief system. So lets stop all of the quibbling! We're missing the point:  Share the joy! And be happy that we live in a country where we have the FREEDOM to express ourselves!  So many on this rapidly spinning blue planet do not have the freedom to do so, even today.

If by chance you happen to be a part of the elitist, secular movement promoting this white-washed, politically correct agenda:  I sincerely urge you to go back and READ THE HISTORY OF YOUR COUNTRY once again! You are truly, truly, misguided if you believe that our founding fathers were fighting for the right to establish a secular nation. Furthermore, your efforts to secularize our nation are actually hurting us, by attempting to stifle the unique and dynamic diversity that has historically made us such a creative, adaptable, productive and strong nation.

Let us, once again, look to the hope and promise of our children as they play with children of different faiths and beliefs on the school playgrounds and in neighborhoods across America. Watch and learn from the inherent innocence and wisdom of our youth as they learn, with open hearts and minds, about "Christmas Around the World," "Hanukkah" and "Kwanzaa", "Chinese New Year" and "Islamic New Year" in their classrooms together, side by side with children of many faiths. God bless the children and ALL OF US this Holiday Season. Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Happy Kwanzaa and Hanukkah too!


P.S. A message for Bill O'Reilly: calm down already! Let the atheists put up their sign. It lets Christians know who they need to pray the hardest for and it may just be a lightening rod for some divine intervention.

Sanctity of Human Life

Per my recent entry: "Children: Opening Our Hearts and Minds", dated November 3, 2008. A friend of mine sent me this email today concerning some potential legislation regarding existing abortion laws in this country.

"Dear Friend, I'm writing to let you know about a terrible piece of legislation called "The Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA).FOCA would establish the right to abortion as a fundamental right (like the right to free speech) and wipe away every restriction on abortion nationwide. It will eradicate state and federal abortion laws that the majority of Americans support and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future. Please read the expert analysis by Americans United for Life (AUL) and sign the Fight FOCA petition at: http://www.fightfoca.com/
Thank you,
Linda"

If this is a cause that is near to your heart, please visit the website mentioned and read more. Then, sign the petition -- if you would like.

On the subject of the sanctity of human lives ...

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving. For me, Thanksgiving was overshadowed by the hostage crisis in India. I pray for all who lost their lives and loved ones in this tragedy.

I wish with all of my heart (and I pray for this daily) that all of us, living on this planet, will place more value on the precious gift of human life (at any age). Whatever religion you practice, or beliefs you subscribe to, you are naive to think that God (or the Supreme Being) will not hold those that take a life, or lives, personally accountable for each and every life that they have been responsible for extinguishing. God, in His love and infinite wisdom, chooses to grant each and every single life; All life is precious is to Him. How arrogant, foolish, and defiant of God the Father to take it upon oneself to choose an end to His gift of life.

Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not fear those who deprive the body of life but cannot destroy the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna. Are not two sparrow sold for next to nothing? Yet not a single sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent. As for you, every hair on your head has been counted; so do not be afraid of anything. You are worth more than an entire flock of sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me before men I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. Whoever disowns me before men I will disown before my Father in heaven." (Matthew, 10:28-33)

"As for you, every hair on your head has been counted; so do not be afraid of anything." This passage jumps off the page and says, to me, that each life is so precious to God our Father that He has counted each and every single hair on our heads -- each and every single one of us living on this planet. Wow! Definitely something to think about ...

I know that God loves us so much that he gave us free will. That's why we are here: to make choices ... choices that impact the greater world around us for better or worse. We have choices and our choosing to do what is right gives God glory and in turn makes the world in which we live a better place. Choosing to do what is right is not always easy, but those hard choices give even greater glory to God.

In closing, here is something else to think about with regard to the tragedy in India:"Love Your Enemies ... You have heard the commandment, 'You shall love your countryman but hate your enemy.' My command to you is: love your enemies, pray for your persecutors. This will prove that you are sons of your Heavenly Father, for His sun rises on the bad and the good, He rains on the just and the unjust. If you love those who love you, what merit is there in that? Do not tax collectors do as much? And if you greet your brothers only, what is so praiseworthy about that? Do not pagans do as much? In a word, you must be made perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." ( Jesus to his disciples, Matthew 5:43:48)

Peace, Joy & Prosperity

God Bless!

M