Lying about religion — in the sphere of politics — ceases to be about religion and instead becomes about power. A power that has sought, repeatedly throughout history, to replace democracy
When Sandra Day O'Connor with the help of her fellow right wing justices halted the ballot recount in Florida in 2000 and gave the presidency to GW Bush, it was apparent that we had an activist court with no regard for the laws of this country but only in advocating for the rich and powerful men who wield the real power of the land.
Oh well said, Thom. It’s interesting how extreme conservatives can quote and twist the 2nd Amendment to their purposes but ignore the founding principles of the 1st. But then people often pick and choose what they want to see.
To put it too simply, part of the issue is that America has always had two overlapping and intertwined strands, the Protestant piety and the practical approach to life. The latter often considers religion to be irrelevant to either getting ahead or seeing the world as it is. Sometimes they work together, such as the robber barons who sincerely gave money to religious charities. And sometimes, as in the Scopes Trial, they butt heads. And often they have accommodated one another. Thus in the 1950s putting “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” on the currency were reasonably harmless and meaningless actions that were billed as showing anti-Communist sentiment.
But this balance is never easy. Was a 1928 postage stamp showing Washington praying at Valley Forge even worth printing? It seemed to be loosely based on several statements by people who had known people who claimed to have seen it. George may have been privately and seriously religious, but he kept it to himself. The issue, without any resolution, is looked at on the ushistory.org website. Put in www. before and /valleyforge/washington/prayer.html after to get the discussion.
But whether Washington did or did not pray is irrelevant. As written in this essay, the problem is that many citizens seem to think the founders were religious, and specifically Christians, which of naturally affects their views of America. I think a lot of this is due to ignorance. My wife was one of the relatively few Jews living in South Dakota, and as a young woman used to visit high schools around the state answering questions about the religion. (The most common involved Jewish beliefs of an afterlife.) Most of the young people had never met a non-Christian before.
While the Internet has made the world more connected, I suspect this lack of interaction still exists in many areas. Certainly a press that simplifies (and too often demonizes) “The Other”, whether it’s Muslims, Hindus, Chinese, Latin Americans or whoever, isn’t helping at all. Neither are textbooks that give a very simplistic view of history. But still, one would expect judges, especially those on the higher courts, to do better.
One way the Supreme Court has been viewed was to see it as the “wise elder” of a tribe, one who would give good advice and hopefully tamp down disputes within the group. And at its best maybe the Court approached this. But today when religion and politics dominates good judgment we have found another way for this country to be terribly polarized. The Dobbs ruling won’t end this particular issue any more than Dred Scott did with slavery. And to ignore the ramifications of what they did is perhaps the Court’s worst crime of all.
So much for the honor of the SCOTUS, it is clearly in the DC Swamp with the rest of the (non)politicians! Will we dig our democracy out of this cesspool?
Another brilliant essay written by a master. I shall never be able to thank you enough for what you do for me and the country. I am an avid reader of history and politics and when I read "The Hartman Report" today I was reminded of two particular books. The first is "Empire of Liberty" by Gordon S. Wood. There are two chapters entitled; "Law and the Independent Judiciary" and "Chief Justice John Marshall and the Origins of Judicial Review." both are directly related to what you pointed out today. The second book is " American Gospel; God, The Founding Fathers, and The Making Of A Nation" by Jon Meacham. Again; everything you wrote about the Founding Fathers and religion is contained in this book. THANKS FOR HELPING TO KEEP THIS LITTLE OLD MAN AWAKE. Peace and Love.
My spiritual friend would say that the creator, angels, and your guides brought you to this point in your life, Thom. She would claim you had a mission when you came here, Earth that is.
I, on the other hand, know you are an autodidact, researcher, prolific writer, and a person that has done something "religiously"---WORK at all kinds of things. Bravo on all that and this column.
We shared a brief warm handshake, I handed you an Obama sign, got to say hi to Louise, and I said "Thank you, Professor." Meant it then, and mean it more than ever. Every teacher, student, legislator or governor, lawyer, hell everyone in charge of anything in this country should take 5 minutes to read this!
Thank you! :)
When Sandra Day O'Connor with the help of her fellow right wing justices halted the ballot recount in Florida in 2000 and gave the presidency to GW Bush, it was apparent that we had an activist court with no regard for the laws of this country but only in advocating for the rich and powerful men who wield the real power of the land.
Oh well said, Thom. It’s interesting how extreme conservatives can quote and twist the 2nd Amendment to their purposes but ignore the founding principles of the 1st. But then people often pick and choose what they want to see.
To put it too simply, part of the issue is that America has always had two overlapping and intertwined strands, the Protestant piety and the practical approach to life. The latter often considers religion to be irrelevant to either getting ahead or seeing the world as it is. Sometimes they work together, such as the robber barons who sincerely gave money to religious charities. And sometimes, as in the Scopes Trial, they butt heads. And often they have accommodated one another. Thus in the 1950s putting “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” on the currency were reasonably harmless and meaningless actions that were billed as showing anti-Communist sentiment.
But this balance is never easy. Was a 1928 postage stamp showing Washington praying at Valley Forge even worth printing? It seemed to be loosely based on several statements by people who had known people who claimed to have seen it. George may have been privately and seriously religious, but he kept it to himself. The issue, without any resolution, is looked at on the ushistory.org website. Put in www. before and /valleyforge/washington/prayer.html after to get the discussion.
But whether Washington did or did not pray is irrelevant. As written in this essay, the problem is that many citizens seem to think the founders were religious, and specifically Christians, which of naturally affects their views of America. I think a lot of this is due to ignorance. My wife was one of the relatively few Jews living in South Dakota, and as a young woman used to visit high schools around the state answering questions about the religion. (The most common involved Jewish beliefs of an afterlife.) Most of the young people had never met a non-Christian before.
While the Internet has made the world more connected, I suspect this lack of interaction still exists in many areas. Certainly a press that simplifies (and too often demonizes) “The Other”, whether it’s Muslims, Hindus, Chinese, Latin Americans or whoever, isn’t helping at all. Neither are textbooks that give a very simplistic view of history. But still, one would expect judges, especially those on the higher courts, to do better.
One way the Supreme Court has been viewed was to see it as the “wise elder” of a tribe, one who would give good advice and hopefully tamp down disputes within the group. And at its best maybe the Court approached this. But today when religion and politics dominates good judgment we have found another way for this country to be terribly polarized. The Dobbs ruling won’t end this particular issue any more than Dred Scott did with slavery. And to ignore the ramifications of what they did is perhaps the Court’s worst crime of all.
So much for the honor of the SCOTUS, it is clearly in the DC Swamp with the rest of the (non)politicians! Will we dig our democracy out of this cesspool?
Another brilliant essay written by a master. I shall never be able to thank you enough for what you do for me and the country. I am an avid reader of history and politics and when I read "The Hartman Report" today I was reminded of two particular books. The first is "Empire of Liberty" by Gordon S. Wood. There are two chapters entitled; "Law and the Independent Judiciary" and "Chief Justice John Marshall and the Origins of Judicial Review." both are directly related to what you pointed out today. The second book is " American Gospel; God, The Founding Fathers, and The Making Of A Nation" by Jon Meacham. Again; everything you wrote about the Founding Fathers and religion is contained in this book. THANKS FOR HELPING TO KEEP THIS LITTLE OLD MAN AWAKE. Peace and Love.
My spiritual friend would say that the creator, angels, and your guides brought you to this point in your life, Thom. She would claim you had a mission when you came here, Earth that is.
I, on the other hand, know you are an autodidact, researcher, prolific writer, and a person that has done something "religiously"---WORK at all kinds of things. Bravo on all that and this column.
We shared a brief warm handshake, I handed you an Obama sign, got to say hi to Louise, and I said "Thank you, Professor." Meant it then, and mean it more than ever. Every teacher, student, legislator or governor, lawyer, hell everyone in charge of anything in this country should take 5 minutes to read this!
Pass it on, people; I know I will.
Really good podcast by Ezra Klein on SCOTUS shenanigans since Bush-Gore. Worthy of your time!
https://overcast.fm/+oiPWb-Z8w