Birthright Balderdash

You've been misled

I originally posted this piece last January, but since the Supreme Court is going to issue its decision on the matter tomorrow, I thought it appropriate to throw it out there again.

Just to remind you, I’m not an attorney. That said, I think this is pretty solid.

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Many of you are likely under the impression that, somewhere in the US Constitution, appears the phrase “separation of Church and State.”

If that’s the case, you’ve probably also been led to believe that the language is enshrined in the First Amendment to our Nation’s founding charter.

And, if you believe either of those ideas, you are, regrettably, mistaken.

But don’t panic. It’s not your fault. You’ve been fed those inaccuracies for quite some time, particularly of late.

What the opening clause of that amendment does say is that:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Now, when you read that actual language, it takes on an entirely different meaning. Doesn’t it?

It doesn’t mandate the construction of some official wall between the government and the expression of faith. Instead, it pretty plainly expresses that Congress isn’t allowed to write laws about religion or to prevent any of us from practicing our chosen variety of our respective faiths.

But, you see, those of a certain ideological ilk, who simply aren’t fans either of religion or of faith, would rather convince you that government must be statutorily cordoned off from any mention of or reference to all that creepy God stuff.

If they had their way, “In God We Trust” would be purged from our capital and Capitol. "Under God" would be stricken from the Pledge of Allegiance. And, oaths of office would no longer contain the phrase "So help me, God."