Declaration Of Dependence

Declaration of Dependence

In what could be considered, at best, extremely poor timing (8 days before our nation celebrated it’s 226th birthday) the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals ruled saying the Pledge of Allegiance in public school is unconstitutional because the phrase “one nation under God” is an “endorsement of religion.” If this ruling stands then it will be unconstitutional for children in nine states to pledge their allegiance to the flag of the United States.

In Canada, where President Bush was taking part in an economic summit, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said: "The president’s reaction was that this ruling is ridiculous. The Supreme Court itself begins each of its sessions with the phrase `God save the United States and this honorable court,’" Fleischer said. "The Declaration of Independence refers to God or to the Creator four different times. Congress begins each session of the Congress each day with a prayer, and of course our currency says, `In God We Trust. The ruling was also attacked on Capitol Hill, with Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., calling it "just nuts."

I have never seen this America so united against a judicial ruling as this one. Whenever the Senate and the House vote UNANIMOUSLY on ANYTHING it’s time to sit up and take notice. And when have you ever heard of Jerry Falwell, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson all being united on any issue?

The case was brought by Michael A. Newdow, a Sacramento atheist who objected because his second-grade daughter was required to recite the pledge at the Elk Grove school district. A federal judge had dismissed his lawsuit.

Newdow, a doctor who holds a law degree and represented himself, called the pledge a "religious idea that certain people don’t agree with."

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., was one of many lawmakers who immediately reacted in anger and shock to the ruling. "Our Founding Fathers must be spinning in their graves. This is the worst kind of political correctness run amok," Bond said. "What’s next? Will the courts now strip ’so help me God’ from the pledge taken from new presidents?"

We are losing more and more freedoms because of “political correctness” and people who are “offended” by one of the foundations of this country. July 4th is when we celebrate America’s freedom from England. But we need to remember that this holiday is about so much more than cookouts, parades, and fireworks.

The 4th of July is about a nation founded, rooted and established on Christian principles. On this I’d like to remind us of some of the words our founding fathers said to this matter.

"Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics."

-- George Washington’s Farewell Address to Nation

"The 1st amendment has created a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall, it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government."

-- President Thomas Jefferson in an address to Danbury Baptists.

There are so many things that we no longer hear today. For example, we

are now told that our Founding Fathers were atheists, agnostics, and deists; but consider this statement by Patrick Henry:

“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!” Note: 52 of the 55 Founding Fathers who worked on the constitution were members of orthodox churches.

At the first Constitutional Convention, the delegates were frustrated due to the burdens of the hour. They were so fragmented that they were just about to throw out the whole concept of a constitution completely. Just then an old white-haired man by the name of Benjamin Franklin rose to his feet and said:

“Gentlemen, if it is true that not one single petal from any flower falls to the ground without escaping God’s attention, will the distress of this nation go unheeded? Let us therefore determine to seek His face.”

They promptly got down on their knees and when they arose from prayer, the slogan, epluribus unum was born: ONE OUT OF MANY.

From the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE:

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”