Patriotism means never having to waste time with the truth.
We’ve gone from lies about health care reform, to xenophobia regarding immigrants to fear-mongering about the so-called Ground Zero mosque.
And what has made this journey even more unforgettable is that we’ve done it while trampling over the very Constitution that right-wingers claim to be passionate about defending. They declare their desire to take us back to the Constitution drafted by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
If only that were true.
Our own potential Congressman Tim Huelskamp claims to be a Tenther - meaning he believes the federal government’s authority should be limited to what’s permitted within the 10th Amendment.
This conveniently means, according to Huelskamp and others who drink from the same kool-aid, that health care reform is unconstitutional because it exceeds the list of federal powers spelled out by the Constitution.
However, except for the simple-minded, things are never that simple.
If we are to apply such a strict definition to the 10th Amendment does this mean we should do away with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid? Did Brown v Board of Education that struck down school segregation infringe on state’s rights? Do minimum wage laws and workplace safety laws fall outside the 10th Amendment?
Much of the social progress we’ve made over the past 75 years falls outside the scope of the U.S. Constitution, so the Tenthers claim. But when it comes to backtracking on this progress, they like to have it both ways. In other words, “I believe in the 10th Amendment, but keep your hands off my Medicare.”
This is what happens in an environment where emotions overrule reason.
If we want to tackle the difficult issue of illegal immigration we’re told to get rid of that pesky 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Since 1868, this Amendment has granted U.S. citizenship by birthright to children of illegal immigrants.
Again, right-wing Republicans want to pick and choose those parts of the Constitution they want to keep and which parts they want to throw out.
Surely religious freedom is beyond such debate. After all, we’re talking about the very foundation of this nation. We spent the first 12 years of our educational life learning and relearning that freedom to worship - and a turkey dinner - is what inspired the first Pilgrims to set foot on Plymouth Rock.
Nothing could change that . . . unless you happen to be Muslim. And if some of your Muslim brethren happen to be responsible for the worst terrorist attack in America’s history. Then religious freedom doesn’t apply to you.
Sorry, new time, new rules.
Yes, plans for a mosque - actually more of a community center similar to a YMCA - a few blocks from the former World Trade Center is reason enough to take whiteout to that part of the Constitution which refers to religious freedom - at least when it applies to Muslims.
Strangely enough, we don’t hold the same standard to other religions.
If a Christian bombs an abortion clinic, or is responsible for the next Oklahoma City-type bombing, is that not “terrorism”? Do we begin restricting where Christian churches are built?
Or is it unfair to cast all Christians in the same light as a domestic, home-grown terrorist?
Sure it is. Just as it’s equally uninformed to do the same with Muslims. The majority of Muslims, emphasizes Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, “have nothing to do with extremist ideologies.”
Imagine. Not all Muslims are jihadists. And not all Christians want to bomb an abortion clinic.
While a certain level of misunderstanding can be expected regarding religious beliefs, that can’t be said about the Bill of Rights: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
It can’t be any clearer.
The concise, undisputed meaning of these words have survived numerous political, social and economic upheavals within this nation. And yet, today, right-wing extremists and weak-kneed politicians - Democrat and Republican - are questioning whether this amendment should apply to everyone.
They are reinforcing the image of intolerance that radical extremists want to portray of this nation. They are buckling to the fears of the uninformed and easily manipulated.
The Bill of Rights isn’t a document to be reinterpreted according to the ebb and flow of public opinion.
Freedom of religion isn’t a theory.
Our Founding Fathers understood this. Today’s political opportunists apparently do not.
Rod Haxton can be reached at editor@screcord.com