A letter from a teacher Ms. Kathleen Lyday - what do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Anderson-Henry on June 12, 2009 at 12:16pm

What do I think? Is that the question?

I think this letter is incredibly offensive and contains more inaccuracies than I have time to rebut right now. I also think it will serve as fodder for more than a few comedians (Jon Stewart, anyone?). Really? We're a Christian nation? I must have missed that in all of my post-graduate political science courses.

Have a nice weekend, all!

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Permalink Reply by Genie Goykhberg on June 13, 2009 at 6:20pm

Thank you, Gary.

I know at least 50% adult (not colledge kids) Americans think the way you do. Unfortunately another 50% are much more visible, more laud, use big words, twist them, use sarcasm - tons of different gimmicks (not always honorable) to prove their points.
Once I asked my husband, why can’t we use the same tactics?? His reply was - then we will become them...

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Anderson-Henry on June 14, 2009 at 8:21am

Genie, I often ask my husband the same question and receive the same response - only we're referring to those who subscribe to the tactics of the religious right. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Anderson-Henry on June 14, 2009 at 8:13am

Gary, I thank you for your suggestion. I've actually read quite a few of the documents of which you speak; hence my response above.

Interestingly, since we're discussing John Adams (who was, as I'm sure you're aware, quite ambivalent about his own religion), his wife Abigail wrote the following: "when will Mankind be convinced that true Religion is from the Heart, between Man and his creator, and not the imposition of Man or creeds and tests?" John Adams also found the Catholic religion rather distasteful, but I imagine bringing that point up would only serve to muddle the religious right's arguments within this issue.

Even if we could agree that religion is the foundation of our system...which brand? And since, as you pointed out, "our country was forbidden to create a national religion," why was President Obama wrong in stating that we're not a Christian nation? Are we simply arguing semantics at this point?

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Permalink Reply by Tino Marquez Jr. on June 12, 2009 at 1:48pm

I didn't find it offensive in the least. It brings up some excellent questions, and points, even if fake.

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Permalink Reply by Genie Goykhberg on June 12, 2009 at 2:07pm

My feeling is that it was designed the way that people (who didnt like the content) would say - its not a letter from a real teacher. But most everyone whould see the merit in it whether it came from a real person or not - it came from AN AMERICAN.

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Permalink Reply by David Bagdade on June 12, 2009 at 2:31pm

Sorry, I don't agree. I, too, find this letter highly offensive on a number of levels, not the least of which is the high extent of historical and political misapprehension betrayed by the author. I don't believe for a second that the author is a teacher, but if he or she is, then (a) this explains quite a lot about the state of our country's educational system, and (b) it is my profound hope he/she is not engaged in teaching history or politcal science to our young people. I consider myself as much of a real American as anyone else on SI, and the author definitely is not speaking on my behalf.

And to the more fundamental point: when was this ever a Christian nation? Funny, I don't remember reading anything about that when I doubled as a history/political science major. And this bit about the country being founded upon Judeo-Christian ethics...precisely which ones were these, and where are they enumerated? Certainly in neither the Declaration nor the Constitution, both of which I have read and the author cited (the Constitution does not even mention the word "God" in its text, and the Declaration contains one reference each to "nature's God," the "Creator" and "Divine Providence"). Sorry, the fact that we make generic references to God in the pledge and on our money is not good enough. And even if it is true that more people profess the Catholic or Protestant faith, or some strain thereof, than any other in this country, it does not then follow that this is a Christian nation. Speaking as a non-Christian, I find this kind of reasoning shallow, offensive and defintely not reflective of what the founders had in mind.

What I really find amazing is that this person got so worked up about Obama saying that this is a country of many faiths. Wow...what a rash and controversial statement.

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Permalink Reply by wug laku on June 12, 2009 at 3:49pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/opinion/12krugman.html

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Permalink Reply by Tino Marquez Jr. on June 12, 2009 at 4:18pm

Now that link is dull, tired and offensive. But interesting none the less. Funny how the author had nothing to comment on the Army Recruiter Shooter. And yep, two recent wackos, get labeled by the leftist media as "right wing" yep, totally justifies that report. Totally. How does an anti-semite automatically get identified with being a right-wing thinker?

This author of the opinion piece is definitely against free speech anyone who doesn't walk in line with the liberal thought process, which is fine. To each their own. Thats what makes this country great!

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Permalink Reply by Joe Shoemaker on June 14, 2009 at 12:34pm

easy wug... don't feed the monkeys... they get riled up very easily and throw their poo...

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Permalink Reply by Tino Marquez Jr. on June 14, 2009 at 12:46pm

I hope you're not referring to me as a "monkey"...

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Permalink Reply by Phillip Archer on June 14, 2009 at 9:18am

As I read through already posted comments as an open believer, I find myself understanding a bit or a lot of all. I understand everyone's points, which most are well spoken, but find my self leaning toward that of David Bangdade. Coming from a Catholic background, one which was not pressed into my thoughts, I feel the 'generic references' to a God are there for a reason. To some, they are not generic at all. To some, they are completely. To me, those references are there for everyone. If you will notice no specific point of view is given, and can therefore focus on any and all beliefs of a higher power, you will begin to understand how those leaders of our country may have been considering anyone who joins this country.

I have my own first opinion of things, but consider most of which expressed in argument as well. This is how I believe our country will continue to be successful. It may be the ones standing so strongly on one side or the other who are bringing issues to become a problem. While we are focused on issues such as this, we are missing opportunities to grow.

If other opinions are considered and induced when making a choice, we will become a part of each other, together.

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