Posted on 07/04/2002 5:35:52 PM PDT by rhema
Gov. Jesse Ventura's proclamation of "Indivisible Day" sure has divided some folks.
Ventura set off some early fireworks at the Capitol when he took the suggestion of an atheist group and declared July 4 as "Indivisible Day" in Minnesota. The proclamation reignited a long-simmering debate about the governor's attitude toward religion and the separation of church and state.
"This process is continuing the governor's hostility towards religion that was originally revealed in his Playboy interview when he said religion is a sham and crutch for weak-minded people," said Aaron Hall, a spokesman for the Minnesota Family Council. "He's continuing that attack in a more politically correct way using his public office.''
Ventura declared "Indivisible Day" on the suggestion of a group called Atheists of Minnesota for Human Rights, said David Ruth, a spokesman for the governor.
"The governor thought it was a good idea," Ruth said. "The proclamation really talks about unity. A lot of people are thinking it's about religion, and they're mistaken. It's talking about bringing people together on a very important day. It's not in any way meant to divide people."
Ventura signed the proclamation Tuesday before leaving for the July Fourth holiday. The document quoted former President James Madison on the separation of church and state and extolled the virtues of diversity and tolerance in protecting "one Nation, indivisible."
That line echoed the Pledge of Allegiance "one nation under God, indivisible" — except with reference to God deleted. In May, Ventura vetoed a bill that would have made public schoolchildren recite the Pledge once per week unless the school board opted out or the student specifically chose not to participate.
Late last month, a U.S. Court of Appeals panel in California declared the Pledge's forced recitation in public schools unconstitutional because of the reference to God. The controversial ruling was later put on hold.
Ventura's proclamation reads: "Eternal vigilance must be maintained to guard against those who seek to stifle ideas, establish a narrow orthodoxy, and divide our nation along arbitrary lines of race, ethnicity, and religious belief or non-belief."
Those were fighting words, according to the Minnesota Family Council.
"The governor's proclamation is not about neutrality, but hostility toward religion," Hall said. "Who is he talking about? It's obvious that it is people of faith. This is another shameful attack on people of faith in the public square."
The controversy represents the latest salvo in an ongoing dispute. Ventura also has refused to sign a proclamation declaring a National Day of Prayer in Minnesota, citing the separation of church and state and saying he represents all citizens of the state, including those who don't believe in prayer.
Ruth said critics simply had misinterpreted the meaning of the most recent proclamation.
"It's clearly not an attack," he said. Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer said she was troubled that the governor created controversy at what should be a time of unity.
"No, no — it's Independence Day," said Kiffmeyer, who ironically signed the proclamation as part of her official duties. "This is a national holiday. To interject division and this language into this holiday time is unnecessary."
"This language is from an atheist group," she said. "They're entitled to their opinion and so are the rest of us. I'm exercising my right to have an opinion just like they can. But what I do find troubling is using July 4 as a time to proclaim that."
"Indivisible Day." November 5th can't come soon enough.
Politicians are jokes. Every time they take a stand they hide behind crap like this. He cant do it, not because he doesnt believe in it though. No, its because he represents everyone and some people are against it so he cannot enact it. Okay, well then I guess taxes can never be raised, since some people are against it. Abortion cannot be legalized since some people are against it. Etc etc. Oh wait, sometimes they can go against people they "represent"? Imagine that.
No, it's I COULDN'T care less. Got it? It means that you care so little about the issue that you couldn't possible care less than you do.
I swear, I shall never rest until this error is eradicated from the face of the Earth!!!!
Our imperious governor fairly "bristles with hostility to religion," to borrow Justice Rehnquist's phrase.
He's also eager to placate the "reproductive rights" minority on the issue of abortion. He vetoed a Woman's Right to Know bill (after promising to sign it when he was campaigning for governor), claiming that a 24-hour waiting period was his obstacle. That bill, with the 24-hour waiting period, was favored by 73 percent of Minnesotans (and 77 percent of women).
On the issue of abortion itself, six percent of Minnesotans would make it legal without restrictions for the first six months of pregnancy. Five percent would make it legal with no restrictions for the entire nine months of pregnancy -- the current abortion policy (to which Ventura does slavish obeisance) in Minnesota and the country.
When you get right down to it, our solipsistic Jesse is not interested in minority rights as much as he's intent on enshrining his own hedonistic irreligion as state policy.
Dan
I'm guessing it's the cumulative effect of those Atomic Buttdrops, which have lowered the collective IQ of the WWF fraternity by gargantuan proportions.
BUMP for good syntax.
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