An insulting e-mail was forwarded to me from someone I care about. I’m going to attack this e-mail, but keep in mind, I’m addressing the person who wrote it and not the person who forwarded it to me.

This very strange e-mail attempts to prove that Christianity belongs in the US government. It goes a little further, suggesting that Christians make better elected officials. And then it crosses the line entirely, suggesting that Atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, etc should “sit down and shut up.”

I have not confirmed the validity of any of the e-mail’s claims, but I assume most are true. However, I do not by any means believe that the “facts” prove Christianity should be mandated - quite the opposite. I say this e-mail proves that some Christians, especially the ones who buy into this shit, are bigoted awful people.

Drum roll please…. here’s the e-mail:

DID YOU KNOW? As you walk up the steps to the building which houses the U.S. Supreme Court you can see near the top of the building a row of the world’s law givers and each one is facing one in the middle who is facing forward with a full frontal view … it is Moses and he is holding the Ten Commandments!

DID YOU KNOW? As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each door.

DID YOU KNOW? As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see the wall, right above where the Supreme Court judges sit, a display of the Ten Commandments!

DID YOU KNOW? There are Bible verses etched in stone all over the Federal Buildings and Monuments in Washington, D.C.

DID YOU KNOW? James Madison, the fourth president, known as “The Father of Our Constitution” made the following statement: “We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”

DID YOU KNOW? Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding Father of our country said: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

DID YOU KNOW? Every session of Congress begins with a prayer by a paid preacher, whose salary has been paid by the taxpayer since 1777.

DID YOU KNOW? Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members of the established orthodox churches in the colonies.

DID YOU KNOW? Thomas Jefferson worried that the Courts would overstep their authority and instead of interpreting the law would begin making law an oligarchy the rule of few over many.

DID YOU KNOW? The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said: “Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers.”

How, then, have we gotten to the point that everything we have done for 220 years in this country is now suddenly wrong and unconstitutional?

Lets put it around the world and let the world see and remember what this great country was built on. I was asked to send this on if I agreed or delete if I didn’t. Now it is your turn… It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore, it is very hard to understand why there is such a mess about having the Ten Commandments on display or “In God We Trust” on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don’t we just tell the other 14% to Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!

If you agree, pass this on, I second that! In God we Trust

For argument’s sake, let’s say these “facts” are accurate. What this tells me:

  • This country was founded by a group of white men who believed that a magical ghost created the universe.
  • These men were bigots who believed there is one valid religion - and anyone who does not believe in God is not welcome in this country.
  • Beyond that, anyone who believes in a different God does not belong here either.
  • The founding fathers actually did not support the first Amendment of the US Constitution, which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
  • Thomas Jefferson must have been an oddball, suggesting there should be a separation of Church and State.
  • The United States is not actually a “melting pot” as many have suggested. The “poor huddled masses” are in fact not welcome here… unless they’re Christians.
  • Our laws should be based on a set of ten rules that were written down more than three thousand years ago. Because things don’t change over time. Rules like “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” make perfect sense in 2005.

Okay… back to reality. Here’s my take:

  • I do not believe in God.
  • Even so, I should feel welcome in my own country.
  • Laws written to govern me should not be based on religion.
  • I should have the freedom to believe what I want to believe without being told to “sit down and shut up.”

I support the freedom of speech. And as all of you know, I do not “shut up” for anyone. So, to the author of this e-mail, I say “Fuck you.”

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