Nation founded on principles, not religion

by Jonathan Seaborn, editor-in-chief

The now imperial empire known as the United States of America is known not only for the freedoms we have, but also the oppressions we impose.

In the last issue, there was an opinion about how America was founded on Christian morals, and that taking “One Nation Under God” out of the pledge, or allowing same-sex marriage, is not what our founding fathers would have wanted.

The Constitution is the legal document that grants us our rights. It clearly separates church and state, so that no one religion would rule the land. We are not a theocracy, and for good reason. What people fail to understand is that your religion will not always be the majority.

A line out of the Declaration of Independence, which is an important document in American history but in no way is a legal document. So, the line stating that our rights come form our creator can’t be used in a argument about laws.

Not all of our founding fathers held these Christian morals that the writer descried. Thomas Jefferson was an agnostic, which is far from Christian.

Running the nation on core Christian morals would almost dismantle the documents Americans hold so dear. So, banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. It’s immoral to Christians, not the nation as a whole. Once again, we can’t have the morals of any religion run our laws.

That ban would be against what some of our founding fathers thought laws were meant for. James Monroe talked about how laws are meant to protect property not to limit an individual’s rights. The first 10 amendments are there not to tell you what you can do, but what the government can’t take away form you.

The story also talked about the need to spearhead Democracy, which the founding fathers warned not to do. In George Washington’s farewell address, he says, “To not have habitual fondness or habitual hatred towards another nation.” He also warns of getting too involved in other nations’ problems, to stay to ourselves.  Being the superpower that we are now, staying to ourselves is impossible. But forcing a so-called Democracy on everyone may not be the answer.

Maybe we should spend some time fixing our own Democratic problems before we shove it in people’s faces. First, we are not a true Democracy. We are a Democratic Republic, because we elect people to vote for us. A true Democracy would be one-man, one vote. 

The problem with this system in our nation has to do with money. Campaign contributions are a problem, because money, not votes, is now the currency of our Democracy. It determines who runs, who wins, and who has the ear of the elected officials.

For example 91 percent of President George W. Bush’s campaign contributions for the 2004 election came form big business and wealthy white populated areas. Therefore, they are worth more to him than the people of the poorer classes in American society.

So if the elected officials need money to run again the next election year, of course they are going to try to please the people who have given them money in the past.

So a large percentage of the nation is not represented. How can we say we are a Democracy? We can’t.

I do agree that if the founding fathers were alive today that they would be appalled. For their words are being misused to forward a Christian theocracy agenda.

So, it is not our nation that forgot where we came from, but people are not taking the time to learn where we came from. This nation was founded on getting away from a religious rule, not forcing one on our nation’s people.

It is never too late to change the things we disagree with. With protest and the ability to go and speak with your local elected official, you can help make these changes. If all else fails, go out and vote.