Do you think Americans understand how vital it is to democracy that we separate church and state? Do we, as John Adams affirmed, that it was not only vital to democracy, but for the purity of religion itself? Or we have swept all this painful learning from European and classical history (Arian Christians vs. "Orthodox" Christians), or the Taliban, in order to re-create and slowly re-establish a new dark age once again?
We proudly proclaim that we have brought DEMOCRACY to Iraq and Afghanistan. Have we? Have you even read how law is explicitly determined in both the Iraqi and Afghanistan constitutions?
The Iraqi Constitution:
Article 2: First: Islam is the official religion of the State and it is a fundamental source of legislation:
A. No law that contradicts the established provisions of Islam may be established.
The Afghanistan Constitution:
Preamble: We the people of Afghanistan:
1. With firm faith in God Almighty and relying on His lawful mercy, and Believing in the Sacred religion of Islam,
Chapter I The State
Article 1 [Islamic Republic]
Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic, independent, unitary and indivisible state.
Article 2 [Religions]
(1) The religion of the state of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the sacred religion of Islam State Religion.
(2) Followers of other religions are free to exercise their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions of law.
Article 3 [Law and Religion]
In Afghanistan, no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam.
It's important to recognize that Islam, itself, is pretty explicit in how government should be practiced. Islam does not, in anyway, shape of form, recognize a separation between church and state and even less the emancipation of women. But the Turks got this. To check Islam, they had to level a secular government stronger than the sphere of influence that Islam projects. Also, it should be noted that with the Iraqi Constitution, where it states that "No law that contradicts the principles of democracy may be established (Article 2:B) is in fact in contradiction to Islam.
As a side note, should we be surprised that Religous right wing conservatives actually bring a bona-fide secular democracy to Iraq and Afganistan, as they try to actively demolish those barriers at home. Do we?)
Now consider all of that, and compare it to the United States Constitution:
Amendment I - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. 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.
No law respecting religion. This is exactly why the Presidents Office of Faith Based Initiative has explicity betrayed. This program, which could never get passed through congress, is simply unconstitutional in its accommodation of not only religion, but of a right-wing religion.
But do we get it in this country? Every single, blessed event, whether its a football game or Wisconsin's Democratic Party Convention, must be blessed under the invocation of God. Why do we need to seek the gods for credibility that the best form of government, democracy, is that which is not only self-determining but self-governance?
Why? Do we not believe in Democracy?
posted by Suspect Device 
