Great and important hot button conversation, thanks! Pence is highly skilled at stirring fear and twisting words to rally White Nationalists. Referencing crossing the Line in #3 above... We have many transplants here in Colorado Springs. Walking through any parking lot I see numerous out of state license plates that have "In God We Trust" printed on them. A little research and I found that some states had it as mandatory (prior to recent lawsuits) and for many it is still the standard plate. These states now offer alternates, which for a fee will surely target you as a "non-christian”. And in some states, it's a paid option with the funds going to various religious organizations. Yikes! (Of course, it is also on our currency, upheld as legal by the Supreme Court.) Obviously Project Blitz is moving forward and gaining support <https://www.blitzwatch.org/in-god-we-trust-license-plates> Recently renamed as "Freedom for All", the organization purports to support religious freedom and liberty for all... aka freedom to "liberally" insert White Nationalist beliefs everywhere. Too many people aren't paying attention or don't seem to care. We need more conversations, thanks!
There are many In God We Trust license plates here in NC, although the default is First in Flight (in honor of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk). There’s also First in Freedom (in recognition of two important events: the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 1775, and the Halifax Resolves on April 12, 1776). These two are no extra charge. There is a fee for In God We Trust and Choose Life plates, as well as a zillion others. Not clear where the fee goes.
Project Blitz has been ongoing for many years, flying under the radar, so to speak. I intend to write about it, along with some other similar efforts. There are some other important aspects of the systematic attempt to take away our religious freedom that I’m going to write about. The big issues, of course, is that the people who want to repurpose religious freedom to be Christian Nationalism have succeeded in getting six of the nine justices on board with the program. We can expect to see erosion of religious freedom accelerate.
Excellent, simple, thorough explanation! The right is waging a war on all Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Due Process Clause where the Constitution or statutory language fails to deliver explicit authority (except when the Court interprets the law to fit the tightest agenda. The application of the 14th Amendment to the States is open to Court reversal of precedent, that could send rights determinations back to the States, including the time-honored meaning of “freedom of religion”. Perhaps the best argument against such revision is the fact that the Second Amendment right to bear arms was also applied to the States. Nevertheless, the current Court can distinguish the “common understanding” of the people at the time to conclude that the States’ propensities to be Christian are distinct from the “fundamental” right (preexisting the Constitution) of a citizen to bear arms. In short, your lucid analysis is subject to obliteration by a Court seemingly intent on preserving the illusion that we were spawned by the Church of England, the Huguenots, and other Christian sects and any other religious belief is outside the freedom of religion (including atheism, and Judaism!!) We are in a fundamental fight for our basic human rights.
The words "under god" were added to the pledge of allegiance in my lifetime, but they were there by the time I was expected to recite the pledge in school, as many students in public schools still are. At least the reading of bible verses seems less common now (although I do not spend much time in classrooms). Thanks for doing this.
I was born after the words were added. What I remember from elementary school is being required to recite the Lord’s Prayer, certainly not something appropriate for a little Jewish boy.
At least most of the bible verses we heard in school were from the old testament (Psalms seemed to be a favorite), but I am certain that my Jewish classmates were not comfortable ... indeed I did not even know until much later that I had Jewish classmates ... such were the times.
Very well said!!! This is very concerning to me as since my brand of Christianity doesn’t fit and I work with many various people of many religions. Northern Ireland certainly shows what happens when religion owns a state
Line 3 is when government resources are used to promote religion. For example, placing a large cross on public property is using government resources to promote religion. I’ll write more about this topic in the next newsletter.
Well done article on an important subject that has and continues to have impact on freedoms well beyond the freedom to worship. Pence is also in an interesting place after doing the right thing, even though he could do more, but pretty much takes him out of the picture for 2024. 🙏
Great and important hot button conversation, thanks! Pence is highly skilled at stirring fear and twisting words to rally White Nationalists. Referencing crossing the Line in #3 above... We have many transplants here in Colorado Springs. Walking through any parking lot I see numerous out of state license plates that have "In God We Trust" printed on them. A little research and I found that some states had it as mandatory (prior to recent lawsuits) and for many it is still the standard plate. These states now offer alternates, which for a fee will surely target you as a "non-christian”. And in some states, it's a paid option with the funds going to various religious organizations. Yikes! (Of course, it is also on our currency, upheld as legal by the Supreme Court.) Obviously Project Blitz is moving forward and gaining support <https://www.blitzwatch.org/in-god-we-trust-license-plates> Recently renamed as "Freedom for All", the organization purports to support religious freedom and liberty for all... aka freedom to "liberally" insert White Nationalist beliefs everywhere. Too many people aren't paying attention or don't seem to care. We need more conversations, thanks!
There are many In God We Trust license plates here in NC, although the default is First in Flight (in honor of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk). There’s also First in Freedom (in recognition of two important events: the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 1775, and the Halifax Resolves on April 12, 1776). These two are no extra charge. There is a fee for In God We Trust and Choose Life plates, as well as a zillion others. Not clear where the fee goes.
Project Blitz has been ongoing for many years, flying under the radar, so to speak. I intend to write about it, along with some other similar efforts. There are some other important aspects of the systematic attempt to take away our religious freedom that I’m going to write about. The big issues, of course, is that the people who want to repurpose religious freedom to be Christian Nationalism have succeeded in getting six of the nine justices on board with the program. We can expect to see erosion of religious freedom accelerate.
I look forward to your next essay, Lee. As always, your articles are well-researched and well-written. Thank you for continuing this effort.
Excellent, simple, thorough explanation! The right is waging a war on all Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Due Process Clause where the Constitution or statutory language fails to deliver explicit authority (except when the Court interprets the law to fit the tightest agenda. The application of the 14th Amendment to the States is open to Court reversal of precedent, that could send rights determinations back to the States, including the time-honored meaning of “freedom of religion”. Perhaps the best argument against such revision is the fact that the Second Amendment right to bear arms was also applied to the States. Nevertheless, the current Court can distinguish the “common understanding” of the people at the time to conclude that the States’ propensities to be Christian are distinct from the “fundamental” right (preexisting the Constitution) of a citizen to bear arms. In short, your lucid analysis is subject to obliteration by a Court seemingly intent on preserving the illusion that we were spawned by the Church of England, the Huguenots, and other Christian sects and any other religious belief is outside the freedom of religion (including atheism, and Judaism!!) We are in a fundamental fight for our basic human rights.
The words "under god" were added to the pledge of allegiance in my lifetime, but they were there by the time I was expected to recite the pledge in school, as many students in public schools still are. At least the reading of bible verses seems less common now (although I do not spend much time in classrooms). Thanks for doing this.
I was born after the words were added. What I remember from elementary school is being required to recite the Lord’s Prayer, certainly not something appropriate for a little Jewish boy.
At least most of the bible verses we heard in school were from the old testament (Psalms seemed to be a favorite), but I am certain that my Jewish classmates were not comfortable ... indeed I did not even know until much later that I had Jewish classmates ... such were the times.
Reference for above comment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance#Addition_of_%22under_God%22
Very well said!!! This is very concerning to me as since my brand of Christianity doesn’t fit and I work with many various people of many religions. Northern Ireland certainly shows what happens when religion owns a state
Excellent article. Fits me to a T. I missed where line 3 was. Thanks Lee!
Line 3 is when government resources are used to promote religion. For example, placing a large cross on public property is using government resources to promote religion. I’ll write more about this topic in the next newsletter.
Well done article on an important subject that has and continues to have impact on freedoms well beyond the freedom to worship. Pence is also in an interesting place after doing the right thing, even though he could do more, but pretty much takes him out of the picture for 2024. 🙏