Letter of a Pilgrim
Dear America;
Has it really been that long since we landed on your shores to start new life, free from religious oppression? As I think back to the time when we stepped onto the shore; scared, sick, and few, I feel a strong, overcoming sense of pride in what you used to be, and who your people were. Who were we? We were a people of God! A union that came together by the wonderful, undeserved grace of God. We were a people that lived but for His glory; why else would we have risked our lives to live in a new, strange and dangerous wilderness? We were oppressed, restricted and forbidden to worship our Creator, and so we took such painful and freeing measures to insure that our children, and the generations to come, would have the sweet freedom and liberty to worship their God in peace. That was all we wanted! We gave up our lives and comfort for this one cause; can you not see that Christ was all we had, and all we wanted? How can you now deny the very name of the God that gave us strength and guidance, which thus allows you to live in freedom? America; what a name. What a word of hope and peace! We have founded these States. We have formed a new democracy; a government that promises freedom of religion and opinion for all people… but you have taken the government and left the God; failing to see that without God, there would be no government. How has our humble sacrifice and dedication to God created the most proud nation on earth?
America; you were once my homeland; rough, wild, and yet God’s presence was there. We found you, claimed you, and by the hand of God made you a democracy. We needed you in order to continue on in our lives for Christ; but we knew you were not the end. We had hopes, even beyond you! We have reached our destination, but left behind not our nation, but a nation twisted and misused by the children who would not carry on God’s work. Look up, all you generations! Tear your eyes away from the earthly pleasures God has brought to you through us. We did not suffer and toil, sweat and bleed to bring you a piece of land, a property. We suffered to bring you, our precious descendants, the love, grace, and salvation of Jesus Christ.
I am sorry to say that many of you have failed us. Those who carry on our legacy, and America’s true mission, are so few compared to what we all had longed for. But even as we watch you from above, we know full well that the day will come when America will once again be one nation, under God.
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a government that promises freedom of religion and opinion for all people
FREEDOM to NOT BELONG to the Christian religous right. That's the point. That's the point of separation of church and state. That's the point of our first amendment. that's the point of America.
Where its OK to be an atheist, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Morman, a Christian, a Jew, a Hindu...and worship freely and openly.
So America is not a "nation of Christ" it is a "nation of Freedom" -- maybe "Under God" for you and your family, but not "under God" for me.
No state sponsored religion. That's the "freedom" of America.
Of course, you, because of our founding fathers, have the freedom to believe that America is not a Christian nation. But, if you read your history books (not the textbooks you find in a public school) you will find that the reason our founding fathers started this nation is because of Christ; they believed in Him and were not able to freely worship Him, and so immigrated to America.
True, America may not be a nation under God today, but it was founded upon Christian morals and principles, and so it used to be a Christian nation.
It was founded by Pilgrims who were seeking a place to have the freedom to worship their God.
Yes, they were Christians. But the purpose in coming to the New World was to worship "freely."
The Quakers settled in Pennsylvania - allowing free and open worship by any religious sect.
Similarly, Roger Williams founded Rhode Island on the same principles.
Spanish settlers in Florida were primarily Catholic.
The history lesson, is that the primary idea was "freedom." Yes, the primary religion was Christianity, and Yes, it still remains the primary religion. But to call us a "Christian nation" based on the teachings of "Christ" ignores the fact that America was founded based on the separation of church and state.
Actually if you took the documets of the founding fathers in context, you would realize that America is indeed founded on CHRISTIAN ideals. When they wrote the word "religion" at that time it meant "Christianity". No joke. You need to remember that words change over time and the way we use the word "religion" today is not the same as what our founding fathers wrote. Sounds harsh but they had no intentions of making this a country where anyone was free to worship whatever God they pleased.
And look it up. Seperation of church and state is nowhere to be found in the constitution. That was taken from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson (a Diest) who said that he would love to see seperation of church and state, but that he realized that it would tear this country apart at the seams. You need to be careful and check all of your details carefully. Go to the original documents and research it yourself. Don't rely on textbooks (Christian or otherwise).
well, thankfully, the country has evolved and allowed for equality of all religions. and we are no longer a "christian-based" nation. communities like Dearborn, Michigan and northern New Jersey....they are primarily Muslim communities. Places like southern Florida, areas of Brooklyn, there are primarily Jewish communities. that our nation allows this "freedom" of choice without oppression is exactly what the Pilgrims were seeking...
Since the Pilgrims allowed the freedom of religion in early America, I don't think you could say we have evolved to that freedom. If anything we have gone downhill in that respect. In fact, I believe we have gone downhill in this matter. And I will pray for the return of prevailent Christianity in America.
Keep praying. Other religions exist, openly and freely. Do you understand the purpose and meaning of the 1st amendment? or at least understand how the courts have interpreted it?
the fact is, you and your family enjoy the freedom to worship God in your home, in your church, in your community, without any fear or repurcussions from the state.
Can't you at least acknowledge that it is equally a wonderful freedom that Muslims are allowed to that very same thing?
The freedom for Muslims and Christians to worshop peacefully in the same country is indeed wonderful. Just so long as the Muslims ARE peaceful....
last i checked the majority of acts of domestic terrorism in this country were by white christian men. Bernard Slepian shooting, oklahoma City bombing, the bombing at the 1996 Olympics, the abortion clinic bombings.
There are millions of "peaceful" Americans practicing the Muslim religion in this country. its the right-wing, right-to-lifers you've got to worry about.
I would say that 9/11 was a lot bigger than any of those happenings. And I have a real problem with the total lack of condemnation from the peaceful Muslims towards the violent ones. They are LETTING the terrorists give them a bad name.
They are LETTING the terrorists give them a bad name.
What are you talking about???
1st. 9/11 was an attack by foreign nationals. Saudi Arabian citizens....NOT American citizens. Therefore, its not "domestic" terrorism.
2nd. Why do Muslims, 3rd, 4th, 5th generation American citizens have to speak out against the attacks??!! What would you have them do??? Most of them just want to live peacefully in their regular lives just like you do? Yet, because they're the same skin color? or same religion you expect that they have to "Speak up?"
Do you speak up when Christians bomb abortion clinics? Do you denounce those behaviors as evil and violent? Do you? I mean, its the same thing youre' asking of Muslim Americans.
Give me a break.
The 9/11 terrorists were Muslims. And they attacked us on our soil. The peacful muslims need to openly condemn the terrorists if they want to prove that they are not supporting the attacks and that Islam can be a peacful religion. I said nothing about skin color. That has nothing to do with this issue. And, I was only eight when the 1996 Olympic bombing happened. I don't recall any abortion clinic related shooting since then- what is there to speak out about?
no. They don't have to "speak out" - any more than I have to speak out - or you have to speak out.
you see, there are MILLIONS of Muslim Americans that have ZERO affiliation with terrorists. None. Zero. Muslims that have lived here in this country for the last century. They are not REQUIRED to be any different than you or any other American because they share the same religion.
Bernard Slepian was an abortion doctor shot dead while he stood in his kitchen and his 4 children looked on in Buffalo, NY in 1998. The killer, a radical member of the pro-life movement.
The Olympic bomber - 1996, another Christian fundamentalist and member of the pro-life movement. he also bombed various abortion clinics in the years after.
Those are acts of "domestic terrorism" caused by US citizens.
9/11 occurred on AMerican soil, but it was an attack by foreign nationals (Saudi citizens, i might add) and members of al-quaeda.
Hey, I'm speaking out for my beliefs. You're attacking them so I will defend them. The terrorists are saying that their violent way of Islam is the right way, so the peaceful Muslims need to speak out against that. Or people will do as you are with pro-lifers, and lump the peaceful together with the violent together as one. I don't understand why you are discounting 9/11. The terrorists were Muslim. All muslims should condemn that. That's what we're talking about here, right? The need for Muslims to condemn terrorism.
1st. The terrorists are saying that their violent way of Islam is the right way, so the peaceful Muslims need to speak out against that. Or people will do as you are with pro-lifers, and lump the peaceful together with the violent together as one.
I am NOT doing that. I know many many Christians who are pro-life who i absolutely do not associate with the violent pro-life movement. What i was doing was giving you an example, a "comparison" to show you how ridiculous it is. Its as ridiculous to say all pro-life/Christians believe in bombing abortion clinics. of course they don't. Its the same thing to say that all Muslims living in America support the terrorists. Of course they don't. But you don't ASSUME someone is guilty of supporting terrorists just because they don't shout out loudly to everyone "hey, i'm not a terrorist".
Innocent until proven guilty, remember? yet you seem to assume they support 9/11 attackers just because they belong to the same religion?? that's absurd. you are smart enough to realize that.
I don't understand why you are discounting 9/11. The terrorists were Muslim. I am not discouting 9/11. I lost friends in the WTC, and I lived in NYC only blocks from the WTC the summer of 2001. I know the reality of what exists in lower-Manhattan. But I also know that this administration has done a really terrible job of finding the people responsible and holding them to account for these attacks. The attacks were not linked to Iraq in any way. All we have done is cause a conflagration of animosity against our nation. There is no better example than the direction of Iran and the electin of Hammas. We didn't finish the job in Afghanistan before unnecessarily invading Iraq. That is what i find a major problem with.
All muslims should condemn that. That's what we're talking about here, right? The need for Muslims to condemn terrorism.
last i checked, most Muslims groups in this country did condemn it. After the attacks there were multiple protests AGAINST al-quaeda by the Muslim/Arab community in Dearborn, Michigan. The community leaders denounced the attacks and disassociated themselves with that any sect of Islam supporting it? was that not good enough for you? what more do you want them to do?
I just have one question for you anonymous; one that is VERY seldom addressed or responded to by anti-war protestors- if you don't think going into Iraq was wrong, what do you think we should have done to take care of the terrorists, to make sure they would not cause another 9/11? Or, how do you think we could have done things differently to take better action in Iraq? While making these questions clear and simple, I would be delighted to get such a response.
1. Find Osama binLaden. they knew where he was, they should have sent more trooops to Afghanistan/Pakistan border region. The primary fighting should have been there.
2. Address Iran. The country we knew to be developing WMDs.
3. Focus on Saudi Arabia. The 9/11 hijackers were Saudi Arabian men. Why has this country faced no repurcussion whatsoever, while they continue to oppress women, teach hatred of westerners in their schools and clerics speak out against the United States.
4. Though I do not believe going into Iraq was necessary, once they decided to go, they should have sent more troops. Enough to complete the job and maintain security. (my friends and family in various units all have commented on feeling "understaffed" and "overworked")
5. Should not have disbanded the Iraqi Army - this led to putting these men out on the streets. trained military men, with various viewpoints of the situation, some probably supported us, some probably supported the Ba'athist regime. Instead, pulled them under American Army's control and given them a job to do.
6. Overall, have a better post-war plan. They have spent billions and billions of dollars and yet certain areas of the country still lack electricity.
Those, are responses I can think off the top of my head. If i spent more time, i could probably come up with more.
5. Should not have disbanded the Iraqi Army - this led to putting these men out on the streets. trained military men, with various viewpoints of the situation, some probably supported us, some probably supported the Ba'athist regime. Instead, pulled them under American Army's control and given them a job to do.
I heard a very good explanation of this on the radio. The army was not really trained military men. They were thugs that harassed and tortured the people under the orders of Uday and Qusay. The people hated them and they would not have been our friends and worked with us. When we invaded, they faded into the wooodwork and came out later as terrorists. There was no "real" army for us to work with when we got there.
if you don't think going into Iraq was wrong, what do you think we should have done to take care of the terrorists, to make sure they would not cause another 9/11?
A large reason why we were attacked is because we support the terror state of Israel, an apartheid nation that oppresses the Palestineans, demolishes their homes, etc. Israel has done nothing for us but attack us (USS Liberty), spy on us, and take the US taxpayers money. And we were dragged into this unwinnable war in Iraq on their behalf. Now the warmongering against Iran is underway. Once we end this miserable alliance we will be much safer.
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