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A Reader Writes: The real horror is not knowing Constitution


Sunday, November 25, 2007 9:35 PM PST

Recently in this space readers observed little Samuel’s Halloween-induced agony over his fourth-grade buddies’ slide into godless consumerism. That’s ‘consumerism’ as in the consumption of both candy and our common culture.

Most notable in Samuel’s angst is the fact that “at school, they have all those decorations, which don’t glorify God,” he tells his mother, and he goes on to deplore his classmates’ “talking about” Freddy Krueger and Jason. Samuel (“Sam” or “Sammy” not being biblical enough) laments he is “tired” of that stuff and that “it bothers” him.

Let us suspend belief here for a second and assume an actual 9-year old can make the disingenuous suggestion linking 1) an absence of God in a public classroom, 2) Freddy Krueger’s alleged likeness in that same classroom and 3) his concern for his classmates’ ardent flight down the road to perdition. The notion of belief is key here because while kids might believe in God, they know Freddy and Jason exist only in movies. Kids are much smarter than Jim Shinn lets on in his little morality play.

What is worse is Mr. Shinn’s lack of knowledge of the Constitution’s explicit dictum concerning the establishment of a state religion — which is exactly what “Christians” like Mr. Shinn would love to see — as well as the guarantee one may worship as one wishes. And that’s the deal: the freedom to worship however one wants in exchange for staying the hell out of the government.

What Mr. Shinn and his “little Bible thumper” Samuel need to understand is that the Founding Fathers knew how terrible and divisive religion was. The horrors of the English Civil War were still fresh 125 years later: a conflict where Protestants and Catholics — good Christians all—butchered each other in a religious war where the goal, earthly power, was at root. The bloody history of Christianity (i.e., Salem Witch Trials, the Spanish Inquisition, the list goes on) was a chilling reminder the Signers firmly kept in mind in their creation of our constitution.

To bring that point home, note the ‘establishment clause’ dealing with religion is the first of the five freedoms of the First Amendment. That is no accident.

Before anyone pegs me as a follower of Satan, let me reassure those Christians gnashing their collective teeth as they read this that I have nothing against organized religion per se. I remember when religion was a private affair, a source of comfort in times of duress which gave one strength. This strength is by nature humble, like Christ, and was displayed by example. I would think this is the way to sell one’s belief system rather than jamming it down others’ throats whether wanted or not.

Samuel’s complaint to his mother concerning his perception all other kids were far too into witches, ghouls and the like rings false: “That stuff makes me think about hell. It reminds me of what it will be like for those who don’t know Jesus!” What does Samuel tell his Jewish friends (if he has any), or his Buddhist or Islamic classmates? This competition as to which is the One True Path is, well, refer to my explanation of the First Amendment above. I’m sure the agnostic or atheist kids couldn’t care less.

When I first read Mr. Shinn’s piece I was immediately reminded of Ned Flanders’ kids on “The Simpsons”: “Liver helps me play better!” or “Oh boy, bedtime! Now I can dream about Jesus!” With Samuel, we get the joke but without the irony. There is more truth in one episode of that show than anything Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts and their colleagues ever said. Whether they’ll admit it or not, Christians of Mr. Shinn’s ilk are solidly behind those various “Christian” commentators/leaders/personalities who use popular culture and its technology to advance their stilted views (and pleas for cash) on the rest of us.

When the hateful Ann Coulter says Jews need to be “perfected” through Christ, she damns millions including Mel Brooks, Sandy Koufax, even the designers of her beloved Iraq War, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle and Douglas Feith. When Pat Robertson promises the people of Dover, Pa., will experience catastrophe because they rejected the teaching of “intelligent design” in their public schools, it is the wrath of Pat Robertson and his adherents that will prevail, not that of a just God. And when George Bush vetoes a bill funding stem cell research, he condemns millions of his own countrymen to lives of unnecessary difficulty. Why? Because it’s God’s will or, more accurately, politically expedient.

When Samuel, his Stepford mother and Ward Cleaver dad begin to act with true Christian compassion, a sense of reality and a tolerance toward others, it is possible Mr. Shinn’s lesson might be taken more seriously. Until then, we should thank God these people don’t run the country any more or, uh, as much as they used to.

>> Scott Fullerton is a teacher who lives in El Centro.


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Comments:

Thank God I'm not a Fullerton! wrote on Nov 27, 2007 7:47 PM:

" Great comments, Jerry. It's sad that the intolerant preach about intolerance incessantly. Just because one is godless, as Scott obviously is, doesn't mean he can't be a hypocrite, which he is. Unfortunately, no matter how many complaints from parents, students and other teachers there are, he remains, teaching intolerance to those most easily influenced - our children....another great example of how tenure is ruining the educational system. I thank God (or whoever it's okay to thank these days...)that my kids won't have to deal with him. "

PinoMatus wrote on Nov 27, 2007 11:21 AM:

" wesley 2007 not 1777 "

Prov3 wrote on Nov 27, 2007 8:59 AM:

" Well stated, "godseymail". "

LexA wrote on Nov 27, 2007 8:51 AM:

" ricocafe99, you are absolutely right! Great comments. "

ricocafe99 wrote on Nov 27, 2007 8:42 AM:

" Religious training is the responsibility of the parents not the government. Society has changed significantly since the bible was written as well as since the constitution was adopted...there should be some flexibility to allow for changing social mores within reason. The people who wrote the bible did not know of the existence of people who lived far from them and their religious beliefs and our Christian forefathers could not have foreseen the mixed heritage of today's America. We all must respect others whether we agree with them or not...within reason. "

godseymail wrote on Nov 27, 2007 12:49 AM:

" Isn't it ironic that someone who is calling for tolerance uses phrases like, "little Bible thumper," "Stepford mother and Ward Cleaver dad" and "stilted views?" True tolerance means that Mr. Fullerton should be as generous to Mr. Shinn as he expects Mr. Shinn to be to everyone else. It never ceases to amaze me how intolerant we can be when we call people intolerant... "

abelito wrote on Nov 26, 2007 11:13 PM:

" The predicted Apostasy began full force when Emperor Constantine made "christianity" part of the Roman Empire. The "rotten fruits",(Matthew 7:15-28) of that unholy merger have been evidently abundant ever since. "

CDJ wrote on Nov 26, 2007 10:25 PM:

" Westly is right on here. There is no separation of church and state 'stated' in the constitution. The BoR are negative law. 'shall make no...', 'shall not infringe', etc. By design they are prohibiting the government from areas of intrusion on The People. CDJ "

abelito wrote on Nov 26, 2007 9:26 PM:

" Wesley, Many "christians" overlook Jesus' position regarding mixing religion and politics,as stated in ,John 18:36, "my kingdom is NOT a part of this world, if it was, my disciples(christians),would have fought so I wouldn't be delivered unto the Jews." If being a "Christian" means following the teachings of Jesus,where does that leave those that want to fight to make his kingdom "a part of this world"? The answer lies in Matthew chapter seven: "I never knew ye." "

anniemaud wrote on Nov 26, 2007 9:09 PM:

" Good rebuttal!! What went through my mind was that Samuel's parents are grossly negligent in not enrolling little Samuel in a Christian school where hopefully there is no fun to lead little Samuel astray. Let's face it, little Samuel is being raised to be religiously intolerant. My folks taught us to be respectful and mindful of the beliefs of other people and to keep our religious beliefs to ourselves. But I am not as tolerant as Mr Fullerton, my message to little Samuel and his folks is; if you don't like it here, move to some other religiously intolerant place or planet where you might feel more at home. Now, if you will excuse me, I am late to the after Halloween sales! "

georgia wrote on Nov 26, 2007 9:01 PM:

" you're making a fool of yourself Wesley. I have no problem with Christianity as long as it is practiced as Jesus said it should, in the home. Bible-beaters like Ann Coulter and others who argue for a greater presence of religion in government violate my right to not have to have their beliefs shoved down my throat. I am a Christian myself, but I make sure to respect the rights of others by respecting the decisions they make in terms of religion while still keeping my faith strong. Isn't that what we're supposed to do anyway? "

kozzackkelt wrote on Nov 26, 2007 8:46 PM:

" English Civil War....Catholic v. Protestants ? I thought this was mostly between the Parlimentarians and Royalists over control of British Government and who had the paower; "elected" Parliment or the King......wasn't the 30-years War that ripped "Germany" and spilled over into Austria, France, the low Countries, between "Catholic" and "Protestant" ? As for the US Constitution, IIRC, wasn't it Thomas Jefferson who championed a "separation of Church and State" ? And, not in the Constitution, but in one or a couple of his many letters of coorespondence with other learned men ? Sadly, too many in history have used religion as a stepping stone for their personal gain. Mr. Fullerton and those who responded....keep writing and discussing....you can't do this in Iran, or North Korea, or really even in modern 21st century Russia. Bravo for Amendment One of our US Constitution. "

lacosta wrote on Nov 26, 2007 6:40 PM:

" Right on the mark Wesely!This country is already morally corrupt! Seems that the educators are trying to push an agenda rather than teach the 3 R's. Muslims can take time out in school for praying, our kids should be able to recite the "pledge" in it's entirety. "

wesley wrote on Nov 26, 2007 3:58 PM:

" How funny abelito. Would those be the same thought police that have banned the Boy Scouts from using public venues because of their Christian beliefs? Would this be the same thought police that tried to destroy the Mt. Soledad Cross in San Diego, a war monument. There's thought police alright but they are out to get Christians and any other group that has the least bit of morality. "

wesley wrote on Nov 26, 2007 3:45 PM:

" pinomatus, of course I am biased. I'm biased in favor of the US Constitution, which was created by men of faith, the Christian faith. Any reasonable person can see that Christianity is being drummed out of the public square by those that despise American values. The US Constitution says what it says. The establishment clause of the first amendment states that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion. That means the US Congress is banned by the Constitution from enacting a law that makes any one religion a national religion. There is no such phrase of "separation of church and state" in the US Constitution. Contrary to Mr. Fullerton's opinion, the US Constitution does not ban "God" from the classroom. "

abelito wrote on Nov 26, 2007 2:53 PM:

" The "end game" will be when "Little Samuel" comes crying home and tell his parents that "the neighbors don't worship god the way we do." Mommy will call "The Thought Police" and have the neighbors dragged out of their home, in the middle of the night, to never be heard from again. Scary stuff that will make Freddy Kreuger and Halloween seem like a nursery rhyme. "

pinomatus wrote on Nov 26, 2007 2:28 PM:

" wesley your points sound biased. i would say due to your religous preferences. mr. fullerton well stated. "

wesley wrote on Nov 26, 2007 1:21 PM:

" This has nothing to do with the constitution. The establsihment clause Mr. Fullerton refers to, states that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion. It doesn't state that every last vesitge of Christianity must be banned from the public square. The fact is individual states can enact their own state religions. If the California state legislature wanted to enact a law making Catholicism the state religion, it could do so. Such an act would not violate the US Constitution. "

wesley wrote on Nov 26, 2007 1:11 PM:

" can discern the difference= can't discern.... "

wesley wrote on Nov 26, 2007 1:09 PM:

" "Kids are much smarter than Jim Shinn lets on in his little morality play." This is stated by Mr. Fullerton. Then we have this by Mr. Fullerton: "The notion of belief is key here because while kids might believe in God, they know Freddy and Jason exist only in movies." As well as this: "Let us suspend belief here for a second and assume an actual 9-year old can make the disingenuous suggestion linking 1) an absence of God in a public classroom" Apparenlty nine year old kids are only smart if they agree with Mr. Fullerton. According to Mr. Fullerton nine year old kids can discern the difference between real and fictional characters yet they can't discern whether or not there is hostility towards their beliefs. "

LexA wrote on Nov 26, 2007 1:08 PM:

" Well stated Mr. Fullerton. "

wesley wrote on Nov 26, 2007 12:53 PM:

" This is an insgnificant and rather meaningless event. So, what if some kid doesn't like Holloween? The bigots will jump at every chance to bash Christianity. Of course when students are given assignments to act like muslims that is fine Mr. Fullerton. "

ricocafe99 wrote on Nov 26, 2007 10:07 AM:

" As a child of the 70s and a parent today I feel today's kids miss a lot of what Christmas is really about. They and the nation seem to think that it is all about spending, spending, spending, all of the collected media are pushing consumerism upon us which I know is necessary for the economy but still it seems that the "reason for the season" is lost. When I was a child we had Christmas songs and pageants at school so we had a more genuine feel for Christmas as the celebration of Jesus' birthday. I know that in today's society we have many different religions, more then when I was in school. Social norms inevitably change and recognizing that Christianity is not the only religion is an example. I do think many of today's children are missing out on the meaning of the holiday, but that is not the public school system's mandate. Religion should be taught at home. My children attend church regularly with me so they do know what Christmas is all about but they sure seem to want presents more than I did...or maybe it just seems that way since I'm paying! "

abelito wrote on Nov 26, 2007 8:05 AM:

" Good article. Mr. Shinn forgets that, despite man's best,sincere efforts to make "the Kingdom of God" part of this country's, or any country's government, God is not of the same inclination,(see John 18:36). "

gpitm wrote on Nov 26, 2007 4:23 AM:

" I'd turn to religion if I had to endure the everyday torment of living in the Imperial Valley! "


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