'Godless' Liberals

The word 'godless' is an insult true and without time; the principles which it demonstrates remain consistent whether spoken by a priest of the Spanish inquisition in the Fourteenth Century or an exceptionally caustic radio host in the Twenty-First. It is quite easy to use - you must merely aim it towards the closest person superficially different from you - and even perhaps considered to be justified in said use, as religion is a choice of the soul and not a quality of body or heritage. The sneer itself, though, shows appalling hate, judgment and superiority, none of which I deem it appropriate to tolerate on the topic of religious freedom either in the realm of government or in that of common life.

Liberals, in America, have been 'Godless' since the advent of Communism, and since the deep association between the political left and a truly terrible foreign enemy. There is no question that Communism is wholly unsuccessful; and, indeed, in liberal policies of expanded government and graduated taxation one may find echoes of Communist or Socialist policies, as one may perceive a person taking two steps towards the North and thus accuse him of attempting invasion of Canada.

Not only is the association false, but the term 'Godless' itself has no grounding in fact. This does not deter those who level the term; they are entirely unconvinced by either figures of overall church attendance or personal anecdotes of religious incidence on the liberal side.

Furthermore, this country was not founded on religious tenets. That certain populations within this country would insist that membership in a particular religious group is essential towards 'Americanism' angers me greatly. There was quite a concrete reason the framers of the Constitution - myself and the soon-to-be Democratic-Republicans, for the most part - insisted on a Bill of Rights and a passage including the freedom of religious practice.

I have no conception when patriotism evolved into simple praise of this country's principles and practices. It is as though one must preclude every argument with an insistence that America is a great nation - as though its accomplishments and freedoms do not speak for themselves! If such were the definition of patriotism then I, readers, am the least patriot of all, as I never passed the opportunity to call the government into question, even when I was at its head.