As a child, I found the Fourth of July held wonder and amusement. Picnics at Playa Linda beach, cookouts in the backyard, or an extended-family gathering with an enormous buffet. And in the evening, sitting on a blanket along the banks of the Indian River Lagoon watching fireworks light the sky. I never really contemplated what it was all about.
As a young adult, my heart filled with the meaning of our Independence Day. I'd proudly put my hand over my heart and sing the National Anthem. My favorite words, "O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!" The Fourth was still fun and filled with food and sand, but in the evening, when the bombs burst over the lagoon, tears of pride and gratitude rimmed my eyes. I was free and living in the greatest country in the world.
Things are different now.
I love my country; but I realize that my fellow countrymen do not share my ideals of freedom. For me, freedom requires a government that does not interfere with our First Amendment rights to freedom of or from religion, freedom to speak our minds, to write our opinions, to peaceably gather, and to petition the government when necessary.
Others agree, but their interpretation of these freedoms differs from mine, especially as regards freedom of religion.
It's difficult for my heart to swell with pride when I know that conservative Christians and panderers continue to erode the wall that ought to strictly separate religion from government.
It's hard to sing the National Anthem, knowing that, in full, it is a religious song that offers as a motto for our religiously diverse country, "in God is our trust," It's sad, knowing that our motto once was the grand and eloquent E Pluribus Unum, something few Americans find familiar anymore, and no doubt many who know what the words mean find as anathema.
It's hard to stand and lovingly recite the Pledge of Allegiance knowing that it is a divisive oath that separates those who believe in a god called "God" and makes them patriots, from those who do not, and therefore, are not.
It's difficult to stand among the people of my city, knowing that each meeting of the city council or the board of county commissioners is opened with prayers, at least 90% of which beseech Jesus Christ. And knowing that the City of Palm Bay, despite complaints, continues to put divisive religious pictures and phrases on its website, with the intention of honoring local soldiers--as if none are non-Christian.
It's difficult because I know, not only that I am not truly free in my country, but because I know that both the conservative Christians tearing down the wall, and their moderate counterparts who allow it to happen, do not care.
I am a full-blooded, born and bred, American girl. I have traced my lineage to the early colonial days. My ancestors fought both in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and every war that came after. I am a proud American. And I have every right to a government that fully represents me as does the Christian next door.
Christians have no right to use our government to promote or showcase their religion. No cross, no holy book, no monument belongs on property that we share. No tax dollars of mine should go into the coffers of any church or religious group. No where on government property should I be forced to imagine that "in God we trust."
I am not free until a high and insurmountable wall between religion and government is erected in this country. But more important...no one is free--even the Christian who claims this is a Christian nation.
James Madison once said, "Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other sects?"
He was trying to warn Christians against a secular government that a complete separation of church and state was desired and would be beneficial to all; but they still don't see.
Over two-hundred years later we can ask, who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity in exclusion of all other religions, tomorrow may establish with the same ease Islam, or any other religion? Once the door is open, the wall breached, it is the whim of the majority that invades itself into our freedom of conscience.
Many try to claim that no religion in government equals forced atheism. But when no one demands of you to declare we are under a god, or that we are under no god--when the question is left out of the affair altogether--there is no force either way, there is only freedom.
Many argue that atheists are trying to force "God" out of the public square, as if the public square is a podium for free speech and free worship. But the public square belongs to all of us, not just Christians.
If the public sphere were to treat us all as equals, the Pledge would state, "Under God, Allah, Shiva, Goddess" etc., and include, "and no gods." We either erect monuments and mottoes dedicated to all gods and all religions and no religion, or we leave gods and religions off of public lands.
Conservative Christians belie their intent when they damage and protest against other Americans' religious or non-religious statements alongside theirs on public property. Christians don't see the public square as a free speech or worship zone. They see it as their bully pulpit where only their god is allowed.
We are not all Christian. We are not all believers in a god. But we are all Americans and deserve equal, fair, religion-free government.
We can never be one nation, indivisible, when reference to any religion's god is allowed in the public square.
Comments
Politicians spout religious inclinations/intentions to get votes. Until we collectively insist otherwise, this will go on.
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