Separation of Fact and Myth

Success does best when people are free. And freedom comes from self-reliance and personal responsibility. And in America, basic freedoms are expressed in the Constitution. To keep your freedoms, you must first know what they are.

It always amazes me how many Americans have never read the Constitution. Especially when they turn right around and make like they are experts on it, by virtue of hearing what others say. Perhaps the most blatant example of constitutional ignorance revolves around the First Amendment.

And I am growing weary of people who have never read the document saying that it includes "separation of church and state." It does not. In fact, that is nowhere to be found in any of our founding documents. The phrase comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to a church in Connecticut. And Jefferson was not even one of the people who drafted the Constitution.

What is most annoying are those who also believe "separation of church and state" means that religions - or even religious people - have no right to get involved in government or politics, as if freedom of speech and choice do not exist for Christians.

The First Amendment reads as follows:

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Ratified 12/15/1791.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Does anyone see "separation of church and state" in that? Or even an IMPLIED separation? No. It simply says that Congress may not establish a state religion, and may not interfere with any citizen's choice or free practice of his or her religion. In other words, the government is to stay out of the religion business. But NOWHERE does it state, nor does it imply, that RELIGIOUS PEOPLE cannot affect government. On the contrary, this human right states that, in the free, unrestricted practice of religion we may affect government. Because the government may not interfere in our religious beliefs. And in most religions, the followers are obligated to SPREAD the word, and try to convert others. It is an essential tenet of religions, as it is the only way a religion can proliferate.

While the First Amendment may, indeed, effectively create a wall, it is a one-way wall. The only party that is prohibited from crossing it is government. Nothing prohibits the people from crossing it.

Once again, in the simple terms of the Constitution, itself: Congress may not make any law that establishes a state religion, nor any law that interferes with the free, unfettered practice of religion by the people. In no place does it state that the people are restricted in any way.

In future blog entries, I will post individual parts of the Constitution and comment as I have here, in the hope that some folks who have never really understood our rights will finally get a clear understanding, and to recognize that every right also comes with responsibilities. Particularly, the responsibility to not ABUSE our rights.

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