Ana Marie Cox: You Have to Force People to Do Things They Don’t Want To

Writer Ana Marie Cox argued that “you’re going to have to force people to do things they don’t want to do” in a discussion on Indiana’s RFRA law on Saturday’s “Up with Steve Kornacki” on MSNBC.

“I think it’s important for the context of the discussion of the Indiana law to say that it was in part passed in response to what happened in new mexico to try and change the ability of people to — not have to do these kinds of things. I guess I want to — I don’t think they’re reconcilable [preventing discrimination and religious liberty]. I do think you’re going to have to force people to do things they don’t want to do. That’s sometimes what happens in a democratic society” Cox stated.

Thomas Jefferson believed there should be a “wall between church and state.” He did not believe people should pay taxes to support any church. Jefferson worked to get rid of laws that kept the church in power in Virginia. He had the support of Virginia's Quakers, Presbyterians and Baptists.

Jefferson wrote the “Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom.” The bill said that “no man shall be compelled (forced) to frequent (go to) or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever.” This was a new idea at the time. In 1779, the bill was sent to the Virginia Assembly. It did not become a law. But it brought together Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Madison agreed with Jefferson.

Jefferson left for Paris in 1784. He was the US foreign minister to France. It was up to James Madison to get the bill made into a law. Madison presented the bill to the Virginia Assembly. In 1786, the bill passed with only a few changes. Madison sent word to Jefferson in Paris.

When the bill passed, Virginia became the first state to separate church and state.

“Statute of Virginia for religious freedom” at monticello.org

(II.) Be it enacted by General Assembly that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities.

(III.) And though we well know that this Assembly elected by the people for the ordinary purposes of Legislation only, have no power to restrain the acts of succeeding Assemblies constituted with powers equal to our own, and that therefore to declare this act irrevocable would be of no effect in law; yet we are free to declare, and do declare that the rights hereby asserted, are of the natural rights of mankind, and that if any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the present or to narrow its operation, such act will be an infringement of natural right.

Exd: ARCHIBALD CARY S.S.
Exd. BENJ HARRISON Sp HD

Credits:

Image courtesy the Library of Virginia

And she claims recently to have come out as a Christian.....come out?

like it took courage....weird

What makes women like this so common?

Maybe more fulfillment along the lines of her surname might help her enjoy life and dump the bitterness....she’s only 42....lotsa bloom left

It must suck to be a bitter unwanted woman

“Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of American Independence

of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom

& Father of the University of Virginia”

The very inscription he specified. Currently reading his auto-bio & selected writings. Amazed at how much he managed to DO along with all the correspondence in which he engaged, and this only a percentage of the whole.

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