thinking out loud

I once heard that your right to defend yourself ends where my nose begins. Meaning we have rights only insofar as they don't infringe upon the rights of others. Yet, the validity of said rights is directly dependent upon who the 'other' is. I am reminded of Animal Farm. "All animals are equal but some are more equal than others." Who decides who is equal? Who decides who is more equal? Let me back up.

While walking through the Student Center, a brochure catches my eye. The cover said, 'what does religious freedom mean to you.' I don't think much of it but I do decide that I will blog my answer. Then, because I am having a slow day at work, I decide to pick up said brochure. As soon as I opened it, I grabbed a pen because I knew I would have a lot to say. The opening paragraph is a week's worth of blogs by itself. It reads,

The Alliance Defence Fund is a legal alliance
defending the right to hear and speak the Truth.

"Since our nation's birth, religious liberty, has been the bedrock principle upon which our society thrives. The First Amendment to the Constitution is unwavering in its affirmation of religious freedom. Our Founding Fathers knew it was the most basic and inalienable right. Through our legal alliance, we strive to see an America whose laws affirm religious liberty, protect life from conception to natural death, defend the family, and preserve marriage as being between one man and one woman."

Apparently the ADF seeks to protect a person's right to be religious and to express said religion. Of course, when they say religion, they mean Christianity. It seems to me that their established agenda is doing exactly what they claim to be fighting. It also seems to me that they are fighting an imaginary problem. I mean, when was the last time you were kicked out of a restaurant for blessing your food?

Now, I'm no legal eagle. I have never been to law school but I think they are dancing on the line of being unconstitutional. I do believe the first amendment prohibits the establishment of religion, which is exactly what this group seeks to do. I'm not sure how far the ADF hand stretches but I'm sure there are some Congress folk who align themselves with their cause. I mean the call it the religious right for a reason, but I digress.

"Since our nation's birth, religious liberty, has been the bedrock principle upon which our society thrives."

Really, I would have thought it would be freedom of speech and freedom of expression. The crux of the ADF's arguments seem to be that they want the ability to EXPRESS their religion whenever and wherever. The problem is not a religious one but then again religion is always a hot topic. Religion will be people fired up a lot quicker than an argument for freedom of expression.

Our Founding Fathers knew it [religious freedom] was the most basic and inalienable right.

Really? If this is true, would they not have placed this right by itself rather than grouping it with four other most basic and inalienable rights? Isn't the term 'religious freedom' just our way of interpreting what is really written. Correct me if I'm wrong but the constitution does not say there shall be religious freedom.

I have some questions for the ADF.

--If religious liberty is the bedrock principle upon which society thrives, would not all laws inherently affirm said principle?

--If America wants to protect life until natural death, what does she plan to do about war and crime?

--If life starts at conception, then what life insurance company will allow me to take out coverage for my embryo? (I mean, what if I have a miscarriage? Chances are I don't have health insurance, so life insurance should cover it right? It is after all a life.)

--Exactly, how does on defend the family?

--How can one defend the family without defining what a family is? And how can one define the family without creating discriminatory policies?

--How is it possible to preserve that which has not been established but rather only assumed (namely marriage)?

I could keep going but I'd rather not. It is after all just Monday. These are just some thoughts that have been rattling around in my head over the weekend. Sometimes stuff just

Makes. No. Sense.