rootofnewt | *sigh*

shaktiqueen posted a link to an article in the Washington Post. It regards the recent decision in Virginia to post the national motto In God We Trust in every public school building in the state. This has actually made lots of news here over the last couple years.

Still, though, one thing irks me...

A Virginia Senator is quoted:

Sen. Nick Rerras (R-Norfolk), a sponsor of the legislation requiring the motto, said the motto and the pledge are reminders of the importance of God in American history.

"I think we need to remember that this is the greatest nation on earth. It was put together by people who were God-fearing people. If this nation is to remain strong, we need to remain a God-fearing people," Rerras said.

What the hell? It angers me that a Senator in a state where Thomas Jefferson is regarded as a near saint could be so ignorant. Thomas Jefferson wasn't exactly god-fearing in the modern sense of the word. He believed in natural order and morality. Jefferson believed God (or the Creator, a term he seemed to use far more often) instilled this in humankind so that humans could function in society by means of reason.

And you know what? I'm excusing the fact that Rerras is ignorant of the writings of Franklin, Washington, Paine, Adams, Madison, and other founding fathers. I'm just astounded that he could say something so unqualified.

Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination. --Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom

Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814

"No religious reading, instruction or exercise, shall be prescribed or practiced [in the elementary schools] inconsistent with the tenets of any religious sect or denomination." --Thomas Jefferson: Elementary School Act, 1817.

The clergy, by getting themselves established by law and ingrafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against the civil and religious rights of man."--Thomas Jefferson to Jeremiah Moor, 1800.

But a short time elapsed after the death of the great reformer of the Jewish religion, before his principles were departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind, and aggrandizing their oppressors in Church and State." --Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Kercheval, 1810.

"The clergy...believe that any portion of power confided to me [as President] will be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly: for I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. But this is all they have to fear from me: and enough, too, in their opinion." --Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, 1800.

A free people [claim] their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate."--Thomas Jefferson: Rights of British America, 1774.

Time indeed changes manners and notions, and so far we must expect institutions to bend to them. But time produces also corruption of principles, and against this it is the duty of good citizens to be ever on the watch, and if the gangrene is to prevail at last, let the day be kept off as long as possible."--Thomas Jefferson to Spencer Roane, 1821.

and now i should talk about this, right?

once, i would have ranted at length. I would have quoted a dozen sources and then expounded upon them with my own interpretations. once i was eloquent and full of drive and fire. i had ambition. i was alive and bright and wanted to make a difference.

i had goals. i had plans. i had the means and will to achieve them.

what happened?

i got sick.

i got so damn sick i can't even remember my phone number or address some days. sometimes, i'm in so much pain i can't even get up from the floor or couch or toilet to go to bed and curl up and try to forget.

i'm having a day of defeatism. i'm too damn tired, fatigued, and fogged in the head to even write letters to my congresspeople these days.

i feel like my future has been taken from me. i feel like the future of my children has been taken from me.

i feel helpless. and i feel shitty for feeling that way. after all, i still have a voice, even if it can't always connect with the words in my head. and i have a head, even if it's full of sturm und nebel.

i want my life back.

i didn't even get to experience it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I have nothing of comfort to say, there are no words that can change anything. But insofar as it's possible to love and admire someone one has never met face to face, I love and admire you. I can't offer much. Just quiet *hugs*, and those only virtual. But they're heartfelt. The world is a better place with you in it.

We're supposed to learn about Jefferson, what he thought and wrote? I thought we were just supposed to memorize his name as a father of the nation, and revere the nickel.

I admire your brain. I admire you. You go through more crap every day than many people complain about, yet you never stop being a creative, intelligent, and caring individual. I wish I could do something to help heal you, because you're a great example of what's best in people... and no one deserves to feel like this, especially you.

Well said!!! I'm going to totally ditto you because I can't come up with anything to say on my own.

{{{hugs for yggy}}}

*hugs*

sigh

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