Today Marks Religious Freedom Day 2006

Christian Post ^ | Monday, Jan. 16, 2006

[Between the Lines]

Commemorating the day Thomas Jefferson declared religious freedom for all Americans, the nation today celebrates Religious Freedom Day as declared by President George Bush.

"The right to religious freedom is a foundation of America," said Bush in his proclamation Friday. "Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of freedom of religion to a stable democracy, and our Constitution protects individuals' rights to worship as they choose."

In 1786, Jefferson drafted the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom, protecting the civil rights of people to express their religious beliefs without suffering discrimination. Now, 14 years after the first Religious Freedom Day proclamation by former President H.W. Bush, the 2006 proclamation again highlights the rejection of every form of religious discrimination and prejudice.

"We reject religious discrimination in every form, and we continue our efforts to oppose prejudice and to counter any infringements on religious freedom," said Bush.

A similar voice of freedom resonates with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose birthday the nation also observes today.

"It is fitting that both Martin Luther King Day and Religious Freedom Day share the same significance of 'freedom,'" said Eric Buehrer, president of Gateways to Better Education. "It was Reverend King’s religious faith that animated his fight for civil rights, and religious freedom that enabled him to express his faith and move a generation."

Beyond the civil rights and freedoms within the nation, however, Bush extends the need to advance religious freedom abroad to work against religious persecution around the world.

Persecution is on the rise in such countries as Indonesia and Eritrea with continual suffering in North Korea. Despite ongoing persecution, Middle East countries including Iraq, which recently completed its landmark government elections, have been noted for their human rights and religious freedom progress.

"By helping to secure the religious freedom of people in other countries, we promote the spread of liberty and human dignity," said Bush.

[joesnuffy]

The founders never once dreamed Americans would become atheists,Marxists,pedophiles,pornographers,pagans,Satan worshipers,Muslims,Buddhists,nature worshipers,worshipers of self,sodomites-lesbians,etc etc etc

or that the right to deviancy (in the face of He who was/is the foundation of our country), was what 'religious freedom' was all about.

imo

[TPartyType]

bttt

[mc5cents]

The Founders are without a doubt spinning in their graves! I agree completely with what you said.

[Sangey]

Buddhists did not fly those airplanes into the WTC and the Pentagon. Buddhists did not start the war. Even now, Buddhists are serving to defend this country, as they have since WWII.


LCPL Tenzin Choeku Dengkhim USMC Died of wounds sustained in combat in Iraq - Buddhist - Volunteer.


His mother is presented with US Flag.


Military Buddhist funeral with Marine Honor Guard and Monks
Of course, this young man is not the first Buddhist to sacrifice for the USA. There are the MIS translators, the 100th and of course the 442nd.



442nd Regimental Combat Team - most decorated conventional small unit in WWII - Buddhists, mostly Japanese who fought in Europe while their families were interned in Camps as enemy aliens.

link: http://www.goforbroke.org/history/history_historical_veterans_442nd.asp

Buddhists in America have long history of honorable service and defending the USA. We recognize that freedom to worship and believe as we choose is foundation of our country. It is not fair to deny it because we are not Christians.

Your attitude that Buddhists are equivalent to "atheists, Marxists, pedophiles, pornographers, pagans, Satan worshipers, Muslims, Buddhists, nature worshipers, worshipers of self, sodomites-lesbians" is unjust. To equate Freedom of Religon with the 'right to deviancy' is to reinforce exactly the negative stereotype that liberals often make of conservatives. Just as we point at the extremists on the Left, they would point at you.

This is the type of religious attitude that excludes many from the 'big tent.' I am a Republican. I am a conservative. I am a American. I am a veteran, like so many Buddhists. Buddhists do not want special treatment or subsidies for our temples. We just want to be left to go our own way. Why is it so hard to understand that Buddhists love the USA and pray for it just like you do?

Buddha Bless the USA

[Dawsonville_Doc]

Namaste, and thank you for your post.

Doc