I never thought I would see the day with the Democrats transforming the Democratic National Convention into an interfaith church service. I am greatly disappointed. DENVER - At the first official event Sunday of the Democratic National Convention, a choir belted out a gospel song and was followed by a rabbi reciting a Torah reading about forgiveness and the future.
Helen Prejean, the Catholic nun who wrote “Dead Man Walking,” assailed the death penalty and the use of torture.
Young Muslim women in headscarves sat near older African-American women in their finest Sunday hats.
Four years ago, such a scene would have been unthinkable at a Democratic National Convention. In 2004, there was one interfaith lunch at the Democratic gala in Boston.
But that same year, “values voters” helped re-elect President Bush, giving Democrats of faith the opening they needed to make party leaders listen to them.
The result was on display at Sunday’s interfaith service, staged in a theater inside the Colorado Convention Center, and will be evident throughout the convention agenda and on the sidelines.
There will be four “faith caucus” meetings, blessings to open and close each night, and panels and parties run by Democratic-leaning religious advocacy groups that didn’t even exist in 2004 — not to mention protests from religious groups and leaders opposed to the Democratic platform.
And of course no atheist, agnostic or secular humanist on the list of speakers. If the intention was to show diversity amongst the Democratic party and unity of people from all walks of life, then that should include everyone. Unfortunately, to the believers, Democrats or otherwise, a coalition that supports nontheistic views is not welcome. But those who value the separation of church and state still made their voices heard:
In June, the Madison,Wis.-based Freedom from Religion Foundation, a 12,000-member watchdog group for the separation of church and state, erected a billboard near the Colorado Convention Center that proclaimed “Imagine No Religion.” In early August the sign was changed to “Keep Religion Out of Politics.”
During the convention, the foundation will fund mobile billboards asking for church-state separation and broadcasting its view that religion is divisive.
“Faith does not unite us,” Freedom co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor said. “And this is a time when we should be in unity behind our secular government.”
Most liberals still support Obama despite the religious mumbo jumbo he believes in and that is interjected into politics from both sides now, (me NOT being one of them because I do not trust him...but trust McCain even less...what to do,what to do!). One thing I am certain about is that no matter who your support or who is elected, we must continue to make our voices heard that separation of church and state must be upheld and to keep our secular government from slipping towards a theocracy.
5 comments:
I suspect the Democrats are trying to lose on purpose. Either that, or they are complete losers with a losing philosophy. I bet the Dems will trot out all of their former losers at their convention too, starting with Kerry, Gore, and Carter.
This election would have been a walk in the park for the Dems if they didn't nominate the black version of Dan Quayle. I just hope McCain dies in office so he doesn't pass all of Pelosi's communist bullshit.
Jason, the things that the Dems are doing is mind boggling. It seems as if they are botching things up again. If they would have stayed with the change rhetoric, and stayed away from Republican territory on the faith crap they might still be ahead by several points. Now the gap is closing because Obama is lying to one side or the other and people realize that. Either side is not going to be very happy about being lied to. Better to be true and honest about who you are instead of swaying this way and that way and changing his stance every time he wants to tell someone what he thinks they want to hear. That is backfiring on him.
Pelosi is a weenie. The current Democratic Congress has no balls so no need for Republicans to worry about it.
It's almost as if there is no two parties anymore...they are melding into one.
Don't even get me started with Pelosi!! Cindy Sheehan (I'm sure I'm messed up that spelling but oh well) is going to run against her and I sure hope Cindy beats the crap out of Pelosi!! So many dems I talk to are furious that Pelosi and the other dem leaders have done nothing to stop the dimwit's policies. And there is a large "congregation" of dems and even repugs that want Dubya impeached before he squirms out of office, but Peloski has said that impeachment is off the table!
Not happy with either side right now and of course am NOT happy that Obama is catering to the dimwit xtians that normally vote repuglican!! Frankly, this election is making me ill!
greg, first we have the worst president ever, and now we have the worst congress ever, and then the worst election that I can remember. I swear instead of a swearing in, they are going to hold an ordination in January.
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