the land of the...

What happened in Concord in 1775? Let's be honest. You're asking me about Concord? I rely on the bus driver to find my own house from here. Concord could be on Neptune for all I know. And what happened 220 years ago?? I'm a kid. I don't know what's going on NOW. I don't have a shred of context for any of this. It's hopeless, Miss Wormwood, hopeless.

~Calvin

when i was growing up - i learned how america was formed in the crucible of religious oppression and religious freedom. And we-all, being the good guys of course, fought for our religious freedom, and won it. the land of the free and the home of the brave.

i assume that's true.

i don't really have enough context to discover otherwise.

this is why we fought the british, isn't it?? I guess? maybe tea was involved somehow, oh wait, taxation without representation... i'm confused. aren't the british mostly christian?

anyways... religious freedom. it's one of our mantra's. i think that's what we fought for. we want it. want to give it to other people. it might be an unalienable right. bush may have heard directly from God on this very issue. the almighty never was big on privacy from what i understand so that makes sense now. but religious freedom in particular. right? any question on that? is there? I mean there could be - but I was thinking that much was settled.

ok, so religious freedom. you want it - we got it. right? cool.

so whats with the hoopla over barack obama being a muslim?

I mean, seriously, I wish he were a muslim. talk about renewed american credibility on the world stage. and a real opportunity to demonstrate to the middle east that this is not a religious war (despite what they ;-) make it out to be... those crazys) and that democracy is not inherently a white christian thing. because, i mean, look: even without this - barack "as is" means so much to the way america could be viewed.

so anyway - the rumours of barack are seriously small minded. i'm not trying to be dismissive to those who have serious questions over this stuff. if that's where you are - seriously check it out. but the issue for me in all this - is that which is giving power to these rumours.

so say someone is a muslim... in a land of religious freedom, that's not a problem? is it. right?

so say someone is an atheist... in a land of religious freedom (i'm assuming the opportunity to "opt out" is part of the deal), this is not a deal breaker either. right?

only it is if you're an atheist. and it appears to be if you were to be a muslim.

so now i really don't get it.

what did all those brave lads fight for? and what do we stand for today? and if we're not who we think we are - are we willing to change? and if you're part of the christian majority and believe in religious freedom - are you willing to stand up for the atheist so he doesn't get oppressed; and stand up so that your fellow muslim brother can practice free of oppression as well? and what would you want him to do if you were in his country?