A mother speaks out:

[Christa]

From a friend:

After reading the story concerning Sarah Palin's speech at the Assembly of God Church I cannot sit here and remain silent. I am the proud mother of a fine young man who has stood in harm's way 5 times now supposedly fighting for among other things, religious freedom for us, and the people over there. It is appalling to me whenever any politician makes irresponsible statements that put the war in Iraq under the heading of God's Mission.

Those fine young men and women, are NOT on any damn mission for the Christian God, or any other God or Goddess. They are standing in harm's way because they joined whatever branch of the military they did to fight for things such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and other freedoms! They are patriotic young men and woman who believe that ALL people should be able to speak, and worship freely, without tyrants and politicians dictating what they can say, or what God, or Goddess they can worship. The politicians who keep spouting off about this war, or any other war being God's Mission are doing those fine men and woman a great disservice by trying to make it appear they are fighting some Holy War sanctioned by the Christian God. May all of them doing this Rot In Hell for the disrespect they are showing the men and woman who are putting their lives on line in the name of FREEDOM.

Freedom my friends, cannot be won through Holy Wars! It can ONLY be won when those fighting for it win the battle against tyranny and religious fanaticism. And yes, if Sarah Palin, George Bush, or any other politician tries to turn this into a Holy War sanctioned by their precious Christian God then they are no better than fanatics who caused so much death and destruction on 911! I implore those reading this to PLEASE make it plain to the politicians that We The People will not sanction ANY war that is a Holy War, be it one fought by Muslims, Christians, or any other religious section.

[Betsy Ross]

1. K & R n/t

[DangerDave921]

2. Holy Wars are bad

The only good wars are those for oil. Or for spreading democracy whether they want it or not.

[vaberella]

5. Unfortunately the oil went to China...make it viral...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/world/middleeast/29iraq.html?ref=world

[vaberella]

3. Fantastic. These RWers are offending a strong number of the majority. n/t

[seabeyond]

4. oooosh. good for her. i hope she feels better. another, good for her. n/t

[Az]

6. The first freedom is freedom of thought and belief

All others freedoms hang upon those two. Which is why the very first thing mentioned in the very first amendment giving us our rights is the establishment clause. The government is not in the business of establishing religious faith. The government exists to protect our rights and defend our nation. It is there to provide for justice, tranquility, and the general welfare. It exists for We The People. Not We The Christians or We The God Fearing. Too many nonbelievers gave their lives defending this nation for these zealots to dismiss their efforts.

[truedelphi]

7. Your argument is correct. However these zealots will tell you

That among their many missions (getting rid of/converting Homosexuals, killing every Muslim that lives and breathes, driving expensive SUV's, etc) is the MOST important mission of re-creating this nation into a theocracy. That that is the frist and foremost thing that matters to them and their God.

OUr rights are far less important to them - in fact, as most of them are of the Authority worshipping subset of humans, a military dictatorship with God mentioned in every law, war movement and speech is most highly desirable.

[Az]

9. Not hoping to reach them

Zealots cannot be turned. They can only be convinced to detach themselves from the GOP because they are shown they keep getting burned by the political process. Fundamentalists traditionally did not mix with politics until relatively recently. The NeoCons dragged them into the mix by promising them something like a theocracy. But the GOP will not go the entire way because the core of the GOP is still corporations. They need to fundamentalists but they cannot entirely give in to them. So compromises are made. And that is one thing dogmatic doctrinal types cannot do. So they get burned. They are fleeing the GOP. But they are not cut off entirely as yet. And that is why Palin was picked as VP. To try to convince the religious right that they still have a say in the process.

[Christa]

8. Her follow up

This is my son and his son shortly after he was born. I am posting his pic here today because at the moment he is standing in harm's way for the 5th time fighting for among other things, religious freedom for us and the people over there in the great sandbox. He is NOT fighting a Holy War for the Christian God or any other God or Goddess. He is putting his life on the line because he wants his son to grow up free to worship however he chooses. This my friends, is the face of one of those fighting that battle for us all! Please, respect him and ALL those standing in harm's way by NOT saying he is fighting some damn Holy War sanctioned by the Christian God or any other God.