calling all of you English peoples again
ok so here's the essay so far. lemme know what you think.
Jamie Tobin
11/21/04
Payne
National Prayer Day, the opposition to Gay Marriage, and the ban of partial birth abortion are all recent changes. This has piqued a great interest in how George W. Bush Jr. has allowed his own personal faith to interfere with his job of being a president. The president of the United States of America has proposed or backed the majority of these new changes, violating the separation between church and state that this country has sworn to uphold. It does not even end with the bills that have been proposed and backed by the president; his own vision of what he should do is religious to the point where it scares many citizens throughout the entire world. The opposing side will claim that all of these agenda items were getting America back on to its original, moral track. However, these morals are greatly derived from the Bible, a book of faith. George W. Bush has taken his church into the state with him, violating a specific guideline handed down by the founding fathers of this great country.
Friday, September 14th, 2001, after the brutal terrorist attacks on 9/11, George W. Bush, Jr. decided that this would be a National day of Prayer. The original version was passed in 1952, which required the president to decide which day it would be on. This was amended by a bill proposed by Strom Thurmond in the Senate, and Tony Hall in the House. George W. Bush also backed the bill heavily. The idea of having a National day of Prayer has enraged many because in the United States of America, there is supposed to be no connection between church and state. By creating a National day of Prayer, the line between church and state has been blurred. Bush has been known for his fundamentalist Christian views, which he holds very dear to his heart and all he does. At a conference held in The East Room the president addressed the nation at approximately 7:47 on May 1, 2003. The topic was the National day of Prayer. The importance that he placed upon this day was incredible. Within the first few minutes of his speech he had already made his views clear. “I want to thank each of you for participating in the National Day of Prayer. It’s a good time to be praying - every day is a good day to pray.” This in itself can be easily interpreted into a subliminal message to influence the public on the importance of prayer. While some may feel that it is extremely important, the president of the United States of America should not stress this, regardless of how strong they feel about the issue. He went on towards the end to praise the Christian God on live television broadcasted all over the United States, and probably the world. “…Yet we learn to depend on His loving will, bowing to purposes we don’t always understand.” In the eyes of many, this should never have came out of his mouth and to the ears of the American public. Yet again, his own personal views of which religion is correct were shown. In the United States of America, where there is supposed to be no pressure as to which religion to practice, the president should not be lobbying for his own views. The idea of a National Day of Prayer is in itself blurring the line between Church and State, let alone when the president is extremely vocal about his own personal choice in faith.
George W. Bush has vehemently opposed same-sex marriage. On Friday, July 23, 2004 the house passed the Marriage Protection Act. This bill removed the Federal Court’s power over cases involving same-sex marriage. It was introduced by twelve members of the house and backed heavily by the Bush administration. This bill would make it so that the rulings of same-sex marriage would be created by in a judge-by-judge situation. While this is good in theory because it would limit the hold that the Federal Government would have over states, the judge’s personal beliefs would have a very easy time interfering in it. The GOP with backing from Bush described it as a way to make sure that Federal Courts could not force a state to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states where it is legal. George W. Bush and other members of his administration have declared same-sex marriage to be immoral. However, these morals come from a single book, the Holy Bible. Being a Baptist, Bush holds this book to be the Truth and is vehement in his own views of it. However, it is because of this that his ability to be an unbiased president is compromised.
There are several other examples of Bush’s faith influencing his actions as president. One of which is partial birth abortion. In a speech celebrating the passing of Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, George W. Bush’s reasons at first are reasonable. He claims that it is cruel to the child and the mother. However, further on in his speech he again references the Christian God. “This right to life cannot be granted or denied by government, because it does not come from government, it comes from the Creator of life.” Yet again, one of his main reasons for opposing Partial Birth Abortion is his faith and the fact that the Bible goes against abortions of any kind. Another example of his faith is when he was elected president, he was claimed to have said that God gave him the presidency. To many this sounded incredibly close to claiming Devine Right, a practice in feudal times to explain why only a certain family ruled. God had chosen them to be the rulers, just as Bush claimed that God had given him the presidency. According to some, he then went on to say that the reason as to why God had chosen him was to save America. Yet another example would be the war against Iraq and the war against al Qaida. In a meeting from one of the cease-fire negotiations between Israelis and Palestinian Bush’s comments on why he went to war are frighteningly religious. According to Abbas, the Palestinian Prime Minister, Bush claimed that only the Americans could pressure Sharon. Immediately afterwards, Bush said “God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them, then He instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did…” If the president of the United States of America is going to war because God is telling him to, how can he possibly refrain from letting his faith interfere with his ability to govern a nation where there is a very sacred tradition of division between Church and State.
Opposing views would claim that Bush is simply trying to bring America back to its Christian roots that it was founded upon. However, there is a fundamental problem with this argument, America was founded with a strong seed that would grow to make sure that there was a distinct separation between Church and State. Not only that, but Thomas Jefferson drew from the 17th century philosopher John Locke. Also, the Bush supporters claim that he is simply attempting to end the immoral corruption taking place in America. However, this is again an argument of faith because the majority of the people claiming that America is becoming immoral also claim that America needs to turn back to the Christian God. Again, their own personal faith is influencing their view of America.
George W. Bush’s faith has created a presidency that cannot be free of religious influence, thereby violating the separation between Church and State. From his views on same-sex marriage to the war against Iraq and al Qaida, everything he does is influenced by his religion. His claim of getting America back on a moral track is again extremely Biblical. Bush cannot be free of religious influence due to his faith.
i know the concluding paragraph needs some work, any have any suggestions?
Jamie Tobin
11/21/04
Payne
National Prayer Day, the opposition to Gay Marriage, and the ban of partial birth abortion are all recent changes. This has piqued a great interest in how George W. Bush Jr. has allowed his own personal faith to interfere with his job of being a president. The president of the United States of America has proposed or backed the majority of these new changes, violating the separation between church and state that this country has sworn to uphold. It does not even end with the bills that have been proposed and backed by the president; his own vision of what he should do is religious to the point where it scares many citizens throughout the entire world. The opposing side will claim that all of these agenda items were getting America back on to its original, moral track. However, these morals are greatly derived from the Bible, a book of faith. George W. Bush has taken his church into the state with him, violating a specific guideline handed down by the founding fathers of this great country.
Friday, September 14th, 2001, after the brutal terrorist attacks on 9/11, George W. Bush, Jr. decided that this would be a National day of Prayer. The original version was passed in 1952, which required the president to decide which day it would be on. This was amended by a bill proposed by Strom Thurmond in the Senate, and Tony Hall in the House. George W. Bush also backed the bill heavily. The idea of having a National day of Prayer has enraged many because in the United States of America, there is supposed to be no connection between church and state. By creating a National day of Prayer, the line between church and state has been blurred. Bush has been known for his fundamentalist Christian views, which he holds very dear to his heart and all he does. At a conference held in The East Room the president addressed the nation at approximately 7:47 on May 1, 2003. The topic was the National day of Prayer. The importance that he placed upon this day was incredible. Within the first few minutes of his speech he had already made his views clear. “I want to thank each of you for participating in the National Day of Prayer. It’s a good time to be praying - every day is a good day to pray.” This in itself can be easily interpreted into a subliminal message to influence the public on the importance of prayer. While some may feel that it is extremely important, the president of the United States of America should not stress this, regardless of how strong they feel about the issue. He went on towards the end to praise the Christian God on live television broadcasted all over the United States, and probably the world. “…Yet we learn to depend on His loving will, bowing to purposes we don’t always understand.” In the eyes of many, this should never have came out of his mouth and to the ears of the American public. Yet again, his own personal views of which religion is correct were shown. In the United States of America, where there is supposed to be no pressure as to which religion to practice, the president should not be lobbying for his own views. The idea of a National Day of Prayer is in itself blurring the line between Church and State, let alone when the president is extremely vocal about his own personal choice in faith.
George W. Bush has vehemently opposed same-sex marriage. On Friday, July 23, 2004 the house passed the Marriage Protection Act. This bill removed the Federal Court’s power over cases involving same-sex marriage. It was introduced by twelve members of the house and backed heavily by the Bush administration. This bill would make it so that the rulings of same-sex marriage would be created by in a judge-by-judge situation. While this is good in theory because it would limit the hold that the Federal Government would have over states, the judge’s personal beliefs would have a very easy time interfering in it. The GOP with backing from Bush described it as a way to make sure that Federal Courts could not force a state to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states where it is legal. George W. Bush and other members of his administration have declared same-sex marriage to be immoral. However, these morals come from a single book, the Holy Bible. Being a Baptist, Bush holds this book to be the Truth and is vehement in his own views of it. However, it is because of this that his ability to be an unbiased president is compromised.
There are several other examples of Bush’s faith influencing his actions as president. One of which is partial birth abortion. In a speech celebrating the passing of Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, George W. Bush’s reasons at first are reasonable. He claims that it is cruel to the child and the mother. However, further on in his speech he again references the Christian God. “This right to life cannot be granted or denied by government, because it does not come from government, it comes from the Creator of life.” Yet again, one of his main reasons for opposing Partial Birth Abortion is his faith and the fact that the Bible goes against abortions of any kind. Another example of his faith is when he was elected president, he was claimed to have said that God gave him the presidency. To many this sounded incredibly close to claiming Devine Right, a practice in feudal times to explain why only a certain family ruled. God had chosen them to be the rulers, just as Bush claimed that God had given him the presidency. According to some, he then went on to say that the reason as to why God had chosen him was to save America. Yet another example would be the war against Iraq and the war against al Qaida. In a meeting from one of the cease-fire negotiations between Israelis and Palestinian Bush’s comments on why he went to war are frighteningly religious. According to Abbas, the Palestinian Prime Minister, Bush claimed that only the Americans could pressure Sharon. Immediately afterwards, Bush said “God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them, then He instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did…” If the president of the United States of America is going to war because God is telling him to, how can he possibly refrain from letting his faith interfere with his ability to govern a nation where there is a very sacred tradition of division between Church and State.
Opposing views would claim that Bush is simply trying to bring America back to its Christian roots that it was founded upon. However, there is a fundamental problem with this argument, America was founded with a strong seed that would grow to make sure that there was a distinct separation between Church and State. Not only that, but Thomas Jefferson drew from the 17th century philosopher John Locke. Also, the Bush supporters claim that he is simply attempting to end the immoral corruption taking place in America. However, this is again an argument of faith because the majority of the people claiming that America is becoming immoral also claim that America needs to turn back to the Christian God. Again, their own personal faith is influencing their view of America.
George W. Bush’s faith has created a presidency that cannot be free of religious influence, thereby violating the separation between Church and State. From his views on same-sex marriage to the war against Iraq and al Qaida, everything he does is influenced by his religion. His claim of getting America back on a moral track is again extremely Biblical. Bush cannot be free of religious influence due to his faith.
i know the concluding paragraph needs some work, any have any suggestions?