From CNN.com:
For politicians, who couldn’t get to a microphone to profess the importance of faith during the flap over the recent pledge of allegience controversey, this is a surprisingly intolerant act.
How can they possibly claim that walking out on a Muslim prayer is a patriotic act?
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Shouting them down might have been intolerant but walking out certainly isn’t.
I have no idea.
Marc
I used to believe that hypocrisy was one of the worst traits a human could possess. With experience, I have realized that hypocrisy is rampant and politicians are the biggest hypocrites the US has.
Stunning logic and foresight. Can I have a picture of her so I can make utterly pointless comments about her appearance in order to “demonstrate” her abilities as a politician? Hmm… I need to get into her opponent’s campaign…
Not intolerant, exactly, but unprofessional and rude.
After reading that whole article, I must conclude that these 2 showed complete and utter ignorance and disrespect for the Muslim faith. It is their right to protest anything that they deem worthy of their disapproval but it merely proves to to those who are more tolerant and knowledable that they disapprove of what they do not know.
Counterproductive at best. It proves to militant Muslims that our “leaders” arent willing to see things past their myopic viewpoint.
Personally, I don’t see how ANY prayer has any place in a government assembly. I’d have walked out any time ANY religious leader put his or her theistic two cents in during state business. Shame on anyone who doesn’t see how insulting it is to those of us that don’t subscribe to any diety.
IIRC, the whole idea behind the separation of Church and State in early America was to keep the Church from having such a huge influence as it did in many European countries of or near that time period.
Now, it’s just a mess. On both sides of the issue. Look at our money saying “In God We Trust” and school prayer being legislated against.
If there were truly a way to separate the two, I would be for it. (Wow, I made a staement.)
I don’t like having to carry money that bears a slogan I don’t believe in. I also don’t like being told I’m not patriotic unless I embrace a diety. It’s very easy to separate the two. Just do it. And quit treating the rest of us like a side dish you didn’t order!
Interesting. Apparently separation of church and state only applies to judeo-christian religions now.
Where on earth do you get that from making no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
IIRC the focus is on not establishing a religion or preventing the execrise of one.
The two lawmakers did not do anything against anothers rights according to that. As a matter of fact they exercized their own on walking out.
In my state we always have at least couple of Senators walk out during prayer, and even making a scene about it.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,47219,00.html
That is “preventing the free exercise thereof”.
It is seperating Church and state, however.
That is not making a law establishing religion.
It is not seperating Church and state.
Do you see where the two conflict?
Walking out on a prayer may be “rude” or “unprofessional”, but it is not inappropriate to exercise you freedoms as long as you do not restrict the freedoms of others in the process.
JRR: huh?
As a resident of Washington State, I can confirm that McMahan, at least, is a well-known bozo, and that neither of them will be judged harshly for this act in their respective districts. It sucks, that that’s politics.
Well, this seemed a bit rude, but if one doesn’t agree with the message, then walking out isn’t that bad of a thing.
Well, good for them. Islam isn’t “just” a religion, it’s a way of life, & a political movement. If the Muslim true believers had their way, the government would be Muslim, & no “freedom of religion” would apply. The Mohammedan religion offers little tolerance, & should get little tolerance in return. Really, they shouldn’t have assented to those people praying in the legislature.
I’m not sure why prayers are part of public business of a legislature anyway, when the members who want prayers are perfectly capable of getting together to pray or listen to prayers on their own. This is precisely the sort of thing that shouldn’t even come up as an issue.
Okay, I probably should’ve said “one of the ideas,” instead of “the whole idea.” At least, that’s how it was presented to us in our small town (Houston, Tx) school. Wouldn’t be the first time I found out my teachers were doofs, though, if they were totally off the mark on this.
Whatever the case, I find the mixing of religions and politics to be scary. Funny thing is, it happens all the time. It’s not just an issue with Islam, look at what comes up in our politics concerning abortion vs women’s rights. The God Card gets played quite loudly.
Whether it’s Allah, Yahweh, or just “God,” I would rather see the Church and State truly separate.
But, I have a dilema. Where does freedom of speech fit in here? If someone wants to talk about God in a political venue, I guess we can’t stop him, right? But, maybe give someone else equal time? Jesus! I’m glad I’m not making the rules. I’m just complaining about them.
fools: Your comments show almost as stunning an ignorance of Islam as those two legislators did. Christianity isn’t just a religion either. Nor is Judaism. Nor Buddhism. Nor any other faith for that matter. BTW, I can’t even recall the last time I saw something written after my birth where someone actually used the term “Mohammedan.”
Saen: Those two legislators weren’t protesting prayer in the House of Representatives. They were protesting Islam. & they made that quite clear.
There’s lots of places where “freedom of speech” isn’t OK…yelling fire in a crowded theater, for one. It’s another example of the religious superiority complex that has gripped this nation. Take it back to your clubhouse, ladies and gentlemen. I don’t give a rat’s ass what diety you hope will guide the vote your way. It has no place in politics.
Yeah, because we really could have swayed those militant Muslims if it weren’t for those few leaders. :rolleyes:
Marc