OT this hit deep, think about it.

[Dave from MN]

Posted this on the Politics board, which I rarely do, but I thought I would share this email I recieved. Made me sit and think a while. Please if your gonna bash me, reply on the "politics board"

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning
Commentary.

My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.
And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show
and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it.. no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.

Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

 

[Dave H (MI)]

Why anyone would want to trash you, here or anywhere else, for posting that....I do not know.
Personally, I appreciate you sharing it here because I never visit the other board.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Our founding fathers weren't trying to make an atheist state, they just wanted to keep religion separate from goverment. That's why some people want religion out of government schools and buildings; me included. Religious beliefs can help many people, but they are not required to instill morality. Good parents can do that. Many of the most oppressive states in history were controlled by religious groups and the oppression was done in the name of religion.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Yep...I agree, people usually make a mountain out of a mole hill. And them they stand upon it and pound on their chests and say YOU OFFENDED ME! WE need to get back to the basics...and our old friend (common sense).I alway speak my mind, no matter who feel offended, if they feel offended then they really dont know me, and should not feel offened. I dont know about you guys but everything has become more complicated than it needs to be, from your phone bill to politics. And yes it does make you think...and wish for a more simple world.
Thank you for sharing if, no one else does...I really like the one about the penny. I told that one to a friend of mine the other day

 

[Anonymous-0]

Excellent post--

 

[Anonymous-0]

Where do you think the morality of the parents comes from?

 

[Anonymous-0]

In my opinion the Government on all levels have put this country in an awful mess.They have taken factories out and place them in other countries, they have made it so hard on the small farmer that it forced them out of farming,they have taught people that they don't have to work for a living and have tried to take God out of everything. In the area that I live in my father had a milk route of probably 40 dairy farms , today theres 2 left due to Govt regulations and milk prices. In our area there has been at least 40-50 Self Help government houses built for people who don't work or have a low income. What % of your check goes to people on food stamps or helps to build these government homes. God is very much a part of my life and it breaks my heart to see the government trying to take GOD away. Our Supreme Court were a large % atheist when all these ruls were made concerning removing God from everything. God gives me hope and I sure put a lot of faith in him. We live in a society where the younger generation just doesn't seem to care about anything. The drug culture is destroying our youth and a lot of adults and I can't see things getting any better. We should be thankful to God each and every day for all his blessings.

 

[Brokenwrench]

I ain`t a huge history buff, but...

I think our country was founded on the idea to have freedom of religion, not no religion at all.
I feel the separation of church and state is designed to let you worship in whatever fashion you choose, not a free reign to ban anything that offends a very small minority.

Look up the definition of the word `religion`. Tell me atheism doesn`t fit that bill???

By removing God from everything, the government is establishing a systematic set of beliefs that there is no God...

Seems to me, when it comes to atheism we ain`t doing a very good job of separating church and state.

Not trying to be offensive, but we have to start seeing what true atheism is. It`s not being uncertain about what to believe, or that there might not be a God. It is by the very definition a religion all it`s own. Every one has a right to choose what to believe, but I hope you realize when you start down the road of removing God from anything public, you open the door wide open for a system of beliefs that is the exact opposite of what our founding fathers established....

 

[fixerupper]

AMEN! Thank you.Jim

 

[730 virgil]

mrs 730 goes to a rehab center where 2 young men also come. both of them were shot in the back and are now unable to walk. probably never will again.
the grandmother of one said to me young poeple have no values today life means nothing to lots of them.
the one was at a graduation party of a friend.when the party let out this peice of doggie dodo was parking lot and starting shooting.
i think this punk had been kicked out of the party as he hadn't been invited started acting stupid and was told to leave.
well he left but came back with his gun as he thought you spoiled my fun so i'm going to spoil yours.
lot of good gun control does nnalert.

 

[Anonymous-0]

There will never be such a thing as gun control. I have 5 guns that I never use and no one knows I have those guns. What's going to keep me from selling one of those guns to someone that just might blow someone away. You know, nobody knows what goes on in anothers head. We think we know people but we don't. I wouldn't care to give up all of my guns if everyone else would. Why keep something you never use? We have people in our community that can make a gun.I wonder how many guns are in the average american home. Gun control will never be .

 

[M Nut]

Thank you, Dave. I always apreciate your thoughts. I really admire you for standing strong for what you believe in, and in my observation, it is the things that America is lacking. #1 being integrity!

 

[rrlund]

I don't think it's any members of minorities who do make the noise. It's the self ritious know it alls who have such pitiful lives that they have to act like they are doing something good for those who are "beneath them" that make all the trouble. It's a shame those eletist people can't find something meaningful,something larger than themselves,to make their lives worthwhile.

 

[Anonymous-0]

A dear friend of mine does a lot of public speaking about Jesus and his favorite spots are college campuses. He is very careful to stay on public property, and almost every time the police show up and at least threaten to arrest him, telling him that he has to go away, usually ending up in a long and wickedly expensive legal battle for the city. The funny thing is that if the KKK or the Nazi party shows up and wants to speak the police will be there to protect them, but you say something about Jesus you are a wacko and must be removed. The best one, which I got to hear on tape, happened when a couple cops had been telling him that they had had enough, and they were going to arrest him and take him downtown when one of them asks if he was going to quit fooling with his cellphone and cooperate. He then says" Oh, this isn't a cellphone Officer, it is a digital voice recorder. Now did I hear you right, you are going to make me stop and arrest me?" The first thing the cop says is "Oh no, we never said THAT!"

 

[spanky]

"the grandmother of one said to me young poeple have no values today life means nothing to lots of them."

If the ones who don't value life would just "off" themselves instead of us, then maybe the rest of us could live in peace.

 

[onefarmer]

Thanks Dave, This needs to be passed on to everyone we know.

 

[onefarmer]

Yes good parents can instill morality but it is a whole lot easier if the parents have backup. And the backup is being taken away more every year.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I applaud Ben Stein. He summed it up rather well. I read the other posts on here as well. Religion and/or ones believes is up to them. One cannot say their believes are better than someone elses. That's one of the greatest benefits of living in North America. The problem comes from people trying to force their views onto others. Look at Tom Cruise. His popularity and respect, went way down and rightly so, after his rant about scientology and prescriptions for depression. John Travolta on the other hand has believed in scientology for a long time. His popularity and respect is very high. The difference? John Travolta isn't shooting his mouth off about his own personal believes and lets people decide for themselfs what they want to believe. He deserves a lot more respect for this approach than Tom Cruise could ever dream about. Choice is a good thing. People need to be left to make up their own mind. Dave

 

[jared in wi]

if some one told you to get out of school, the work place, and the govt, wouldnt you just say the hell with it all?? I know i would. this nation was founded on the basic beliefs ot the ten comandments. we are basicly following the ten comandments every day. those that want god out of public places should take a look at the ten commandments and then take a look at our core laws and rights.

Jared

 

[Anonymous-0]

You know I'm not going to bash the posting any at all, because I can see many good points in it. I'm a member of Christs church(The Church of Christ) and I can see it everyday around me here in even our little small town.
Kids having all such types of tattoo's and piercings. We do need to get back to a in God we trust attitude in this country.

 

[comfortking]

Does not the constitution say something to the effect that goverment can not intervene in our religion. I do not believe there is anything that says we can not have religion in goverment in our country. The day God turns his face from us as a country we are doomed.

 

[Kajun]

Gents:

Here are two emails I sentto a whole host of people after reading Dave's post:

Ist email:
"I don’t have much use for the sentimental stuff that floats so readily on the Web , nor do I hold much stock in those (so much evident in our modern media) who love to tell us, directly or subtlely, how to think. (That includes Fox who really doesn’t want us “to decide”.) I also had to do a web search to be sure I remembered who Ben Stein was. And lo and behold I found this on my tractor site. If from a lesser mind , I probably would not pass this on:"

2d Email:
"Kathleen Callaghan pointed out that Snopes says my attribution to Stein was only partially accurate. See here:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/benstein2.asp.

Sorry for not checking it myself --- assumed the accuracy of my trusted tractor buddies. ( Always I believe people in overalls....) Sorry for interrupting your day with inaccurate stuff.

Too bad, anyway, that Stein didn’t say it.

Merry Christmas"

 

[spanky]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

I read this as the US Government can't approve or deny a religion. They have no say what so ever. Government can't make a private citizen pray or worship, nor can they keep them from praying or worshiping.

 

[n8terry]

Am I missing something about no prayer in schools? I or anyone else can go into any school and say a prayer, you just can't expect other people who aren't willing to participate to join you. Its called being considerate.

 

[super99]

I don't care who said it, he was right. As for prayer in school, as long as there are pop quiz's, there will be prayer in school. Thanks for putting it up on here, it should be shouted from the rooftops. Chris

 

[Spook]

I agree, prayer in schools is not banned, you just cannot have "official" prayers. Requiring religious participation is unconstitutional.

 

[35A]

I worked a Gov. job for 35+ years. I believed Gov. should work for people, not against them. In the end, I was forced out by those who used their jobs for their own personal good. If the Gov. on the state & national level is that bad, We are in trouble. I wish we could get more real working folks into Gov. on the state & national level. You don't need a high power education to hold public office, but some good old horse sense would help. { AND Belief in God }

 

[Anonymous-0]

You have a good point there.