"Those who would renegotiate the boundaries between church and state must therefore answer a difficult question: why would we trade a system that has served us so well for one that has served others so poorly?"
- Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner on the Ten Commandments ruling, June 27, 2005

"The Inquisition! Let's begin! The Inquisition! Look out sin! We've got a mission to convert the Jews..."
- The Inquisition Number from Mel Brooks 'History of the World Part I'

April 9th, 2006

The Constitution begins its preamble with one of the most appropriate three words in the English language – “We the people”. To reiterate the fact that it was us and not some magical fax from a Judeo Christian god that the laws of this country came from human inspiration and not biblical inspiration.

In reality, only three commandments can truly be said to have anything to do with American law.

• Thou shalt not kill. (Murder, Manslaughter)
• Thou shalt not steal. (Theft, Larceny)
• Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (Purjury)

That's it. Everything else can be chalked up to the PR of the Christian Church and the inspiration of captialism.

The commandments that follow can not currently be legally enforced:

• I am the Lord, thy God (um, not my god, but that's me), Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Idolotry - Not a crime and part of the "Freedom of Religion" thing. This is PR for the Christian Church.)
• Thou shalt not take my name in vain. (Blasphemy - Thank Jehovah! It's not a crime!)
• Remember, Thou shall keep holy the Sabbath Day. (That would be the Blue Laws. It's not a crime to work on the Sabbath. Call any IT person if you want or need proof.)
• Honor thy father and mother. (With the existence of DYFUS, that one goes out the window.)
• Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Infidelity. Still not a crime. A civil suit, yes, but not a crime.)
• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. (This one's just stupid. The closest law that comes to this is stalking and that's not limited to anyone's marital status.)
• Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods. (This, my friends, is the entire basis of capitalism. Not illegal and it is encouraged by most Fortune 500 companies.)

As we see, Biblical laws have no real place in America.

James Madison, our fourth president, also one of the guys who was responsible for penning the Constitution of the United States and also an Episcopalian, very deliberately did not include the mention of God at all in our primary legal document. In the Treaty of Tripoli (1797) (another legal document), states very specifically by the founding fathers, that the United States is not a Christian Nation. And although Benjamin Franklin suggested that the Constitutional Convention of 1787 start with a prayer the suggestion was not accepted and that the convention went on without prayers.

Americans today accept a premise of a “separation of church and state” and we enjoy the fact that there can be no legal ramifications in a courtroom because of a person's preference in religion or philosophy.

Well, the Constitution Restoration Act wants to change all of that. Faster than you can say "American Taliban", there is still a bill out there that would introduce Biblical mythology to the courts.

The Constitution Restoration Act of 2004 (now 2005) is as follows:

Can you believe this crap?

Remember, it's ‘We the People' NOT ‘acknowledgment of God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government.' We make the laws here. We use real documents and not a book of myths to create a system of living in this country.

Okay, a little background first. This law was the brainchild of and drafted by former Judge Roy Moore's lawyer, Herb Titus. Those who have read The Despoiling of America will know that Titus was the first Dean of Pat Robertson's School of Public Policy and is a known Dominionist who has advocated the abolition of the government's licensing powers. He has argued that government oversteps when it licenses lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc. Also, an earlier bill titled "Religious Liberties Restoration Act. For those of you who don't remember EX Judge Roy Moore, he was the judge impeached on that entire 10 Commandments thing a while back.

Now, let me translate the meaning and ramifications of this act. Loosely translated, it's the introduction of a Theocracy in America . It would allow religious fundamentalists to introduce religious law into real law and NOT ALLOW THE SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW THEM .

Remember this when you're paying your $50 fine for 2nd Degree Blasphemy. And you may also wish to pay cash the next time you want to watch a Brokeback Mountain DVD, as well. This opens the entire Bible and book of Leviticus up to litigation. If you're not up on your Old Testament writings here are some great jewels written in this chapter of the holiest of Bibles as translated by King James I, the witch burner.

Ready?

Lev 4:27 - "If any one of the common people sins unwittingly in doing any one of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and is guilty, when the sin which he has committed is made known to him he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering.” (I'm sure the ASPCA may wish to have a word about this one.)

Lev 5:1-7 - "If any one sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity. Or if any one touches an unclean thing, whether the carcass of an unclean beast or a carcass of unclean cattle or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him, and he has become unclean, he shall be guilty. Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it he shall be guilty. Or if any one utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that men swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it he shall in any of these be guilty. When a man is guilty in any of these, he shall confess the sin he has committed, and he shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin. But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring, as his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin which he has committed, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.” (It's nice to know you can plea bargain your way from killing ONE OF your lambs, or goats to that of a turtledove. Anyone got change of a goat? Oh! And human uncleanliness translates to “that time of the month”. )

Lev 11:41 – “Every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten.” (How will the folks on Survivor cope?)

Lev 12 - If a woman conceives, and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying; she shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation; and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days. And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement for her; then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean."” (Ouch and ouch. And don't even think of any foreplay. Plus, you may be in for a surprise during that next strip search in Alabama. Now, let me get this straight two turtledoves equal a burnt goat – What's a partridge in a pear tree worth?)

And, my favorite, Lev 18:22 – “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”

I've gone into what Leviticus says about homosexuals in other rants and that seems to be at the heart of the matter. No gay marriages, as a matter of fact, if you are gay and caught you could just very well be stoned to death. Think of that next time you watch “ Brokeback Mountain ” or “Wilde”. We know it's an abomination in Christian eyes, I just can't get over the amount of animal carnage involved.

If I don't have any goats or birds, does that mean the Christians get to kill my dogs? I hope not. I'd hate to add Murder 1 to my charges of touching my own wife when she's cycling.

I know I'm making light of this situation but be certain that this is no joke.

According to the Moscow Times, The Act -- drafted by a minion of television evangelist Pat Robertson -- is the fruit of decades of work by a group of extremists known broadly as "Dominionists." Their openly expressed aim is to establish "biblical rule" over every aspect of society -- placing "the state, the school, the arts and sciences, law, economics, and every other sphere under Christ the King." Or as former Attorney General John Ashcroft has often proclaimed: " America has no king but Jesus!"

According to Dominionist literature, "biblical rule" means execution -- preferably by stoning -- of homosexuals and other "revelers in licentiousness"; massive tax cuts for the rich (because "wealth is a mark of God's favor"); the elimination of government programs to alleviate poverty and sickness (because these depend on "confiscation of wealth"); and enslavement for debtors. No legal challenges to "God's order" will be allowed. And because this order is divinely ordained, the "elect" can use any means necessary to establish it, including deception, subversion, even violence. As Robertson, himself, adjures the faithful: "Zealous men force their way in."

As of September 22nd , 2004, thirty nine members of Congress have sponsored Senator Richard Shelby's (Republican Alabama) bill. The five senator's that co-sponsored the bill were:

• Sen. Allard, A. Wayne [CO]
• Sen. Brownback, Sam [KS]
• Sen. Graham, Lindsey O. [SC]
• Sen. Inhofe, Jim [OK]
• Sen. Miller, Zell [GA]

Yup, that would be Senator Zell “Whatja gonna use? Spitballs?? I'm retiring.” Miller. He's the faux democratic senator that spoke as keynote speaker at the republican national convention for Bush. That senile jackass made his way out of public life faster than his votes for black segregation. Idiot. *

Of the House the following congressmen backed this bill:

Sponsor: Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [AL-4]

Cosponsors:

• Rep. Bachus, Spencer [AL-6]
• Rep. Barrett, J. Gresham [SC-3]
• Rep. Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6]
• Rep. Bishop, Rob [UT-1]
• Rep. Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1
• Rep. Collins, Mac [GA-8]
• Rep. Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [AL-5]
• Rep. Davis, Jo Ann [VA-1]
• Rep. Deal, Nathan [GA-10]
• Rep. DeMint, Jim [SC-4]
• Rep. Everett, Terry [AL-2
• Rep. Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5]
• Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4]
• Rep. Herger, Wally [CA-2
• Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3]
• Rep. King, Steve [IA-5]
• Rep. Kingston, Jack [GA-1]
• Rep. Lewis, Ron [KY-2]
• Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11]
• Rep. Miller, Jeff [FL-1]
• Rep. Norwood, Charlie [GA-9]
• Rep. Pearce, Stevan [NM-2]
• Rep. Pence, Mike [IN-6]
• Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7
• Rep. Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16]
• Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3]
• Rep. Ryun, Jim [KS-2]
• Rep. Souder, Mark E. [IN-3]
• Rep. Stearns, Cliff [FL-6]
• Rep. Sullivan, John [OK-1]
• Rep. Terry, Lee [NE-2]
• Rep. Vitter, David [LA-1]
• Rep. Wamp, Zach [TN-3]
• Rep. Wilson, Joe [SC-2]

Those of you eagle eyed readers may notice that the majority of the idiots sponsoring this bill are from the red states. Yeah, these good ol' boys really do stick together - especially when it comes to their old time religion. You may wish to remember these names when it comes election time. You can maybe do something about their futures. That is unless they tamper with the votes… again.

I can't really do much about this as New Jersey was one of the blue states that wouldn't stand for any kind of electoral shenanigans. So, thankfully, my vote counted in New Jersey.

What none of these idiots consider is the abundance of OTHER religions in this country. So, when the word God appears in the Constitution, would that also include Hindu, Shinto, Greek, Roman, Germanic, Celtic, and Mayan gods? I'm curious that when an offense to the Mayan god comes up will the human sacrifice ritual be in place or are there certain specifications that must occur when the prosecutor holds the still beating heart of the defendant. Would the goddess Kali be slighted because she would not be able to participate in any of these proceedings because she is a “goddess” and not a god. I'm sure that Shiva would gladly fill in – in such a case.

Did they also even consider that the Judeo Christian god may not wish to be part of civic affairs? I mean wouldn't that be a pain in the Lord's butt to come down from heaven for every biblical discrepancy that happens in his name. I mean, according to the old testament, he was the one who made up all of these rules anyway. But, he IS God, so I'm certain that the US government will allow him to write off any kind of commute expenses on his taxes.

Oh! And there WILL be taxes.

When you open the door to church and state merging and make this country a theocracy, the churches will be paying their share of what they owe. So that 7 trillion dollar deficit may just go away once we collect back taxes from all of the southern televangelists.

Senator Zell Miller's voting issues are a matter of public record.