Where is My America?

America is my home. And I love this place. Sure, there are hiccups in its growth; there always have been and there always will be. That will never change. But the America I see on television and read about in magazines and newspapers is not "my" America. "My" America doesn't seem to exist at the moment, and I'm wondering like Hell just where the fuck it went.

America is an agnostic country. It was set up that way by our Founding Fathers who, though largely Christian, knew that a nation's survival in the future would rely on its ability to be open to all beliefs and philosophies. Don't believe me? Read the Constitution. Find me a reference to the Christian God. And while you're doing so, don't forget to read the passage that states "... no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." It's in Article VI in case you don't know.

You see, our Founding Fathers didn't want us fighting over religious viewpoints. Why bother, after all? People will believe what they're going to believe. Jefferson and Adams knew there would be enough fighting over pure politics, why bring religion into the mix?

But that America doesn't exist.

Where is my America that banded together for almost 5 years in order to rid the world of the oppressive and dehumanizing regimes of the Germans and the Japanese? Of course there were dissenting opinions, but we were almost completely unified in that cause. Why? Because it was right.

Where is my America that watched in awe as the space race took to the stars? Sure, there were people too poor to follow it on television. Sure, there were people too uneducated to really know what it was all about. But find me someone who was alive back then who didn't at least know it was happening... or who wasn't proud about it. Were were practically unified in that cause. Why? Because we were the greatest nation on Earth and we could do it.

Where is that America? Where is the America who bonded together to support a single cause so clearly right that, regardless of political, social, and religious differences, we had no choice but to support it? Where is the America who bonded together to cheer on human achievement so clearly great that, regardless of background, we couldn't help but realize we were chasing greatness?

Are you gone, America? Are you so distraught at all of the new artificial divisions created by associations, groups, unions, and societies that the next great movement will go unnoticed? Are your people so selfish that individual has moved above country on the ladder of importance? Have you lost the ability to handle your so-called melting pot?

Where are you?

I think you're still there, somewhere. Of course you're there. You're just waiting for the religious, cultural, and social in-fighting to stop long enough to show your true colors again.

You're not worried about the political fight. America was founded on political fighting. The aforementioned Jefferson and Adams disagreed on everything political, yet lived and died the best of friends. I only hope you didn't die with them.

And I know you didn't. Your eagle still flies; it's just looking for a safe place to land. But it won't find it until there's another cause, another chase, that will unify your people long enough to remind them that America is great only because its people can be great.

Too bad they're too busy fighting each other to notice your wings are getting tired.

Ten Commandments: an Irreverent Analysis

And there they were, Ten Commandments issued by the Holy God himself (or herself, or itself, depending on your personal interpretations).

Not sure why, but I decided to read them the other day, only to receive a few different copies of the Commandments, with variations based on religion. Hmm... Sure, there are obvious similiarities between the "varied" commandments, but support the idea that there's only ONE "true" God, these different versions do not.

Anyway, for sake of argument, lets use the popular Protestant version usually found in the United States.

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Hmm... this sounds like the ONE "true" God is acknowledging the presence of other gods, doesn't it? Yeah, he/she/it could be stating that there are no other gods, but if that were the case, why isn't the commandment: THERE ARE NO OTHER GODS?

2. Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol.

Um, clear that one up for me? Like, an Oscar? Or a statue? Or Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson? I'm confused.

3. Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of thy God.

Okay... how about letting us know what the RIGHTFUL use of the name of thy God is?

4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

Well, it's a well-known fact that the Sabbath wasn't always on Sunday, so it appears as though nearly every single Judeo-Christian church threw this one out... never mind us agnostics.

5. Honor thy Mother and Father.

Okay, I can deal with this one.

6. Thou shalt not murder.

Murder what? Anything? Dogs, cats, cows, and pigs included? Plants? What the fuck are we supposed to eat? And I hope flies aren't in that list... I fucking hate flies. What kind of god would make an animal that eats shit and then shits on your food?

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

I'm down with this one, too.

8. Thou shalt not steal.

Okay.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness.

Does this mean lie? Or does it have to do with the whole religious "witness" meaning? Or both? As Homer Simpson so eloquently put it: "This book doesn't have any answers."

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.

Okay, fine... but how about that stranger's wife across town?

As Yoda would say, blasphemous I am...