Thank god the United States is a secular country. Not too sure about Texas.
There’s this hilarious project to send “In God We Trust” signs to TX. The funny part is that they are written in Arabic. https://www.chron.com/politics/article/activist-arabic-in-god-we-trust-signs-17395767.php
That seems to offend certain Texas legislators. I wonder if they’d have been so upset if the signs were in Spanish? What do they have against Arabic? It’s a perfectly fine language.
This is the sort of foolishness that you get when your politicians are more concerned about culture wars than actually running the state. I know they say “Don’t mess with Texas,” but damn, talk about an easy target. I guess fighting the culture war is more popular than keeping the lights on.
I love that the United States has freedom of religion. I also love that we have freedom from religion. *may not apply to all states.
-Sixbears
Maybe what the legislators are feeling are not being able to understand what is being stated. I know when I am alone in a group of people speaking a language I don't understand, I wonder if they are speaking about me. I am sure the same occurs to others in the same who don't understand English.
ReplyDeleteI live along the Texas border, a locale where being bilingual is very handy. Many speak only Tex-Mex (dialect that is very different from proper Castillian Spanish spoke in Mexico's interior). Went to the local Texas Department of Vehicles - whoa,signs in16 different languages, now THAT is difficult. Interpreter is becoming more of a vocation outside the U.N. it seems.
I live along the NH/Quebec border. French is useful here. Quebec French is different than in France. Our local patois is different from both. It can get confusing but a smile is pretty universal.
DeleteA lot of things appear to make TX legislators uncomfortable.
6 bears what moral code do you feel is acceptable across the board?
ReplyDeleteWhen folks talk about freedom from religion like it's in the Constitution, I pull out my smart phone and let them read the Constitution.
Funny how that's NOT said in there, nor is our government described as a "Democracy".
When they try to deflect and say "religion" (meaning Christianity) isn't needed today I ask them if "Thou shalt not kill" is deleted and replaced with "Do what feels good" why should I not just murder you and take your nice car keys? I'd enjoy a new set of wheels.
Fact is without a working set of morals that allow folks to share reasonably peaceful discussions over coffee you don't have the CIVIL in civilization.
I would point out Sharia law in various western countries that surrendered their morals as a prime example.
Give me a moral atheist over a hypocritical Christian any day. You can be moral and non religious. If you believe there is no afterlife it's important that everyone do the best for each other in this life. Of course, arguing religion is a lost cause and I hold my personal beliefs close to the vest.
DeleteMorality doesn't come from religion. Cultures thousands of years before the Ten Commandments had laws against murder, theft, etc. The least-religious countries (UK, Scandinavia, Japan, etc) have the lowest crime rates in the world. Within the US, the least-religious states have the lowest crime rates and the most-religious ones have the highest.
ReplyDeleteThe legislators probably object to the Arabic signs because they think the word "Allâh" on the signs is a reference to Islam. Not necessarily true. "Allâh" is just the Arabic-language name for the same God, just as it's "Dieu" in French, "Bok" in Russian, etc. I have some Christian literature in Arabic, including an Arabic translation of the Bible, and all of it uses "Allâh" for the Christian God. It's the same God.
We have three major religions with the same roots -and that seems to make them all a bit uncomfortable.
Deleteyou are wrong . study a bit more.
DeleteAllah Ahkbar.
ReplyDelete"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams.
ReplyDeleteAn enormous part of America's problems come from the commie lefts mostly successful war on religion.
Religion is an establishment where the Haves can Rule the Have nots .Don't confuse religion with spirituality. Maybe there should be a war on religion. Many of my cousins have died at the hands of another's religion. Christians, Muslims, and Jews all kill in the name of God and justify it by saying these people are this and these people are that. Depending on who the victors are depends on who's got the right religion. A very good reason to keep it out of governance. So I say, yes let's wage a war on religion, "Hoka Hey, Today is a good day to die!" oops that can be considered religious to. Alas what is one to do. Oh here's and idea, become a Communist. When one is a Communist every thing is communal and owned by the state for the people. Oh hell, that becomes a religion to. Damn. I guess we're stuck with rocks and trees. Shit, I did it again. What's left? Stand alone on a Mountain Top, just don't piss into the wind. Look out "They might find you."
Delete