Here we are in the twenty first century having fought to gain our independence from England and two world wars to free the oppressed in Europe. We have endured civil war and natural disasters, economic ups and downs, and yet we have now come to the place where fundamental principles are crashing down.
One of our most fundamental rights is the first amendment of the Constitution. Let’s look at the time when it was written. The world was not a place of free speech and ideas. In many places it was considered treason even to speak against the elitist royalty (and still so today). Governments in Europe were not interested in differing political or religious views and therefore those who spoke out words deemed “dangerous” were dealt with promptly and forcefully. When we think of the first amendment we must understand how revolutionary it was. After all, who did these commoners think they were to have such ideas? The first amendment to the Constitution was not something that appeared out of thin air. It was the results of a mindset that developed over time here in the colonies. In fact the whole philosophical position on the original intent of the Constitution developed over time as our founders came to a great understanding of their God given rights. John Quincy Adams said:
“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity”
Due to the principles of the Christian worldview this nation has thrived. Principles of free enterprise, freedom of association, and freedom of religious and political speech etc. have long made this nation the envy of the world. The Soviets had to have a wall to keep people from leaving their Godless, oppressive system. Conversely we may need a wall to keep too many people from coming here illegally because this nation, built on the principles of Christianity is the place that all people groups long to come to. Here you can live free, here you can own property, here you can practice your religion, and here you can speak freely your political and religious views……or can you?
The new bill in congress passed by the liberal elitist called "The Local Law Enforcement HateCrimes Prevention Act of 2007," is the most disturbing violation of freedom in a long line of government usurpations of Constitutional liberty.This bill makes it a crime to bring emotional harm to a homosexual.That means that any homosexual can claim that a hate crime has been committed against them if for example a person is speaking out against homosexuality. This is insanity! What the liberals do not get is that once you ban one person’s right to speak out you are opening the door to ban others political and religious speech.I mean…come on now! This is basic Constitutional principles that I learned in fourth grade.Do we really want to stop people from offending someone? Do we really want to live in fear that our words may be a violation of law? The thought police are on the move and coming for a performance near you. I made the following statement in my book “Wake up and smell the truth”
“I do not like when people say what I consider to be hateful things about me. I am not happy to hear the names I am called by the “peace loving” liberals. Having said that, I believe they have the right to think what they want and to express their thoughts without fear of punishment from government, even if they say that they hate me because I am a Christian. The line is drawn on their actions. They may not do anything to violate my right to be protected by the law”
If we are honest about it, the people who are most maligned in the pop culture today are Christians. The left loves to portray itself as kind and compassionate and yet they are the meanest and most vicious people in America. They will cut you down personally if you disagree with them, and lie about you over and over. I have been on the end of their lies numerous times. The left is constantly speaking against Christians and guess what…they have a right to. I also as a Christian have a right to speak against or for whatever I want to. The idea that free speech is limited to political and religious discourse that will not offend someone is absurd! If all speech was palatable to everyone there would be no first amendment. If speech is slanderous that is a different matter. It has never been the case that slander is protected speech but it has always been the case that political and religious spoken communication in America is a God given right!
You may be reading this and in favor of homosexual marriage. You may think that this is great because you are a homosexual yourself. I warn you that although this law is designed to force all Americans to accept homosexuality as normal, there is a greater point here in this law. The idea is to shut people up. Do you want to be shut up? Do you really want others to not be able to speak their mind because it offends you? Is that what America has come to? The supporters of this bill would have us believe that no preachers will be prosecuted for what they preach. They tell us that hate crimes must be punished and that is what this is about. I for one do not trust the government to interpret the law in any way other than what suits them. They have made a mockery of the constitution with McCain - Finegold legislation and that alone should prove to everyone liberal and conservative that our free political and religious speech is being ripped from us.
Ask yourself a question. When is a murder not hate? When is pistol whipping an old lady not hate? When is stealing not hate? Are those crimes based in love sometimes? Every crime is hateful. There is no love in crime and therefore every crime is a hate crime. The real reason for “hate crimes” legislation is to intimidate anyone who dares to speak out in a non politically correct way. If a person has a crime committed against them for any reason the criminal should be prosecuted. The idea that you can police the thoughts of people is another matter and should be scary to anyone who values the free exchange of ideas.
There are so many people who fall for the nonsense of political correctness. If a person does not like what someone says they have the right to counter with their own view. This is not good enough for the left in this country. The want to force their view in the public school system and this is the way they will do it. Whatever they can make law they will. They have a (shall I say it?) religious fervor to their contempt for anyone who holds to traditional values. They complain about preachers like me with a zeal that rivals the greatest old time preachers. While they seek to destroy Christianity they also seek to impose their own religion of politically correct secularist dogma. Here are the left’s ten commandments:
“Thou shall not speak against the liberal world view”
“Thou shall not think contrary to what the left deems acceptable”
“Thou shall have no other gods but political correctness”
“Thou shall not raise thy children according to your Christian faith”
“Thou shall have no school choice for that would curtail indoctrination”
“Thou shall remember to always speak evil of Christians”
“Thou shall never admit the founding fathers had a Christian world view”
“Thou shall always have faith in government programs”
‘Thou shall never claim anything as absolutely true unless it is in keeping with the latest leftist propaganda”
“Thou shall always worship the mother who kills her unborn child”
The above may be harsh but they are true. This is their agenda and they will not stop until they wreck this nation and destroy any vestige of our heritage. They are after the minds of your children. Wake up people, please! Of all responsibilities given to society, the education of its young is the most important for long-term prosperity. To allow government to indoctrinate children with philosophy contrary to the family is one of the worst usurpations of parental authority. Liberals have no respect for the Christian family and thus they endeavor to fill Christian children with their twisted leftist views. We must all stand against the continued assault on our liberty before it is completely gone. Please make your voice heard against any government attempt to stop freedom of religious and political speech.
Disclaimer: Worldview Weekend, Christian Worldview Network and its columnists do not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article posted on this site. We do however, encourage a healthy and friendly debate on the issues of our day. Whether you agree or disagree, we encourage you to post your feedback by using the feedback button.
Dr. Berman I have to say you and others like you frighten me to a great degree. I am a Christian and have read the hate crime bill and as another poster states very intelligently because he obviously did his research on the bill. Nowhere does it state that causing emotional damage to a homosexual is a hate crime and I will reiderate what the other poster said, do not make things up for the glorification of this article it makes your writing very untruthful and if you are very convicted about this, falsifying statements is only going to make people not take you seriously at all. Secondly why as christians are we so up in arms about homosexuality why is this the so called "dealbreaker sin"???? Many columnists on this web site claim that the actions and writings and the passion they have for the issues is purely biblical huh....well if we want to be biblical lets do that for a second. One, we are called to imitate Jesus, Jesus was NEVER concerned with the politics of his day he didn't care and he proves that to us when he chooses Simon the zealot and Mathew the tax collector to become two of the twelve disciples and for people who don't understand the desparity of the two its like picking rush limbaugh and Paul Wellstone to become disciples. Again if were going to be biblical the number one statisticlly talked about sin in the Bible isn't homosexuality in fact Homosexuality is one of the least talked about sins. The number one sin that is overwhelmingly talked about is gluttony, But why aren't we trying to legislate Gluttony, make it illegal to be fat, if were trying to be so biblical then gluttony should be our number one focus. The reason it isn't is because it is so much easier to preach and speak out against a sin that all your congregation isn't guilty of. In conclusion if you are going to write an article do your homework and also Jesus never tried to legislate sin either should we. Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/16/07 12:13:33 PM
Age 57, AZ
I would worry less about a made up 10 commandments when one cannot even keep the original 10 commandments.The original version has something to say about bearing false witness.The author states that H.R.1592 makes it a crime to bring emotional harm to a homosexual.That is a lie.H.R.1592 states to willfully cause bodily injury to any person or,through the use of a fire,a firearm,or an explosive or an incendiary device,attempts to cause bodily injury to any person because of actual or perceived religion,national origin,gender,sexual orientation,gender idenity or disabilty of any person.I don't care how stupid you think atheists are,I am sure they would not back any kind of bill that would allow a religious person to prosecute them for bringing emotional harm to a persons religious beliefs.Reading the entire bill I cannot find any reference to emotional harm.You simply made this up.All that said I am still against the bill.Using dishonesty dilutes your message. Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/15/07 02:23:06 PM
Age 27, AR
Here's the illegal immigration version:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1830255/posts
I. Thou shalt allow multi-million dollar corporations who exploit illegals to cheat the tax code and put the burden of the expenses of illegals on the American taxpaying worker.
II. Thou shalt ally with organizations that promote socialism, a form of government that has persecuted millions of Christians worldwide.
III. Thou shalt claim that illegals are the needed by the economy even though they are less than 5 percent of the workforce.
IV. Thou shalt accuse anyone who criticizes illegal immigration of being racist, xenophobe, “uncompassionate” and other names regardless of their argument.
V. Dishonor United States sovereignty, laws, citizenship, culture, and the effort of legal immigrants to become citizens by legalizing illegals.
VI. Thou shalt allow anyone to commit crime who happens to be an illegal, poor, minority, female, and has kids.
VII. Thou shalt ignore the drugs, weapons, criminals, diseases, and terrorists that enter this country because of illegal immigration.
VIII. Thou shalt ignore the fact that 2,158 Americans are killed every year by illegal aliens. More than by Iranian and Syrian backed terrorist in Iraq.
IX. Thou shalt only show “compassion” to Hispanics when it can be blamed upon the United States of America and ignore the suffering Hispanics in their Countries by negligent governments.
X. Thou shalt ignore the belief in Jesus Christ, The Ten Commandments, the un-born, government corruption, family values, and other Christian values to make your definition of “compassion” as the requirement for being a Christian. Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/14/07 02:37:02 PM
Age 60, MO
I think we should be careful when identifying the roots of the United States as being Christian. There may have been a few individuals who would have liked to have had it that way, but for the most part, America's roots are imperialistic, led by monied elites such as Jefferson, Madison, and others. Indians were forcibly displaced from their land, and slave trading was prevalent. In addition, the comparison of the two prominent parties in the USA, only reinforces a tradition that has proven itself to pro elite and anti commoner. Most of the dialogue between these two parties is hollow rhetoric. To think that one has a choice in this country is to be deluded. George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/12/07 09:23:13 AM
Age 52, FL
I knew one day this would happen. I don't remember who it was but a communist leader stated once that his party would destroy America from within. Well, I guess he's succeeding. Christians must be strong and maintain their faith. My opinion - the Christians in this country are the ones keeping God from destroying this nation like He did Sodom and Gomorra. As Christians we need to stand firm and continue the fight. I have cried out to God please return this nation back to you. I want my country back! Be patient, be vigilent! He knows, He sees everything going on. Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/11/07 11:01:43 PM
Age 47, CA
True however, is the conservative right any better?
Newt Gingrich divorced his first wife while she was in a cancer ward. It happens and we do not know all the details so I myself was willing to say "This is what he was." Then it turns out that while he was procecuting our then "Rapist in Chief" he himslef was having another affair. He later divorced his second wife and married his secratary. It was not something he "Was" but still "Is".
A GOP Congressman was a child molester.
The head of the Evangelical Association was also chasing boys.
A Female Christian singer was caught having an affair, divorced her husband and married her manager. She made nfounded acusation of physical abuse as an excuse for her behavior. A Classic excuse from the godless left.
A Male Christian singer was caught having an affair after getting his mistreess pregnant. The Christian record company advises him that there is a mrals clause in his contract but will not exercise it if he repents. Instead, he arrogantly proclaims "My personal life is none of your business!" (Another classic godless left excuse). The record company replied "Then you are none of our busniness either!"
A Conservative radio talk show host and icon of the right is caught addicted to pain killers.
Time and time again, the conduct of not only the right but also of so called Evangelicals is little or no different.
While paying lip service to morality, repentance, family values. The Conservatives and the Religious right (More accurately, the opostate right) Are turning out to be the same adulterous, homosexual, baby aborting drug addicts as their counterparts on the so called godless left.
And this is what we want to liberate the world into with our current gospel of bombs & bullets? Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/15/07 10:47:10 AM
Age 68, MA
You missed the entire pont of the article, the Hate Crimes Bill that will police your thoughts. You did not answer the question... when is a crime against another is not hate. But you were allowed to express your view, even though it was about individuals who call themselves Christians, conservatives or about a particlar political party.
When trouble reaches our shores you will be begging for the defense of our bombs & bullets. Some of the feedback here is just rabbit trails meandering off in any old direction. I am astounded at the lack of critical analysis and reasoning that passes for feed back.
First, determine what people are by what they do, not by what they say. People can call themselves anything they want, but it isn't necessarily who they are. Secondly, this about our Constitution not individuals. The quotation from John Quincy Adams says it well.
" The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the princiles of civil government with the principles of Christianity."
What part of this do you not understand to reflect a Christian origin ?? Those who despise this have a need to tear down the Constitution. You can quote all the evil, mischief, and sins of individuals, BUT Christianity is not about that. Neither is our Constitution. This bill is an assault on the Constituion and this is what you need to focus on. Otherwise your freedom to respond by going off on a verbal tangent may very well be at stake some fine day, maybe sooner than you think. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/16/07 09:06:28 AM
Age 47, CA
Being a veteran myself, I have an idea what it takes to invade and occupy another country. Can you open a Janes book of fighting ships and show me which country has the vast armada poised to deliver the millions of men dressed like Lawrence of Arabia who are about to ocupy us and force us all to burn our Bibles and Bow towards Mecca? Can you open your Bible and show me where the Church is commanded to to take control of any government, build wonder weapons using money we don't really have, and "Liberate the world inot democracy"?
Can you open your Bible and show me anywhere "The will of the people" AKA "Democracy" is even spoken of in a favorable light much less called for?
Where are we even called upon to cower behind any nations wonder weapons and corrupt military industrial complex?
Sorry, but in this case, WE are the invaders and I cannopt blame the enemy for doing to us what I would be doing to them if they were over here.
You said it yourself, a what a person really does says more than what he claims.
So called evangelicals decry these "Commandments of the left" While they themselves practice them. The right and the so called evangelicals who support them are turning out to be the same drug abusing, fornicating, baby aborting homosexuals thay claim to be against. God is not a mascott for any political party. The right is just as wrong as the left. Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/11/07 10:26:47 PM
Age 56, OR
You said it Brother. We are stuck. We let them creep up on us for years and years and years and did not oppose it. The Darwhinnying-Leftmongering-DeHumanistic World Plan has succeded in gagging us. That is the whole point. Sadly, Christians were too busy being 'prosperous' to note the rot that robbed millions of unborn lives, millions of evolutionary school-souper's minds and de-Christainised our 'christianity'. The ground of the 'new world' has been cursed and will bring forth the fruit that was sown. God is not mocked. Someone said, "All that is necessary for evil to abound is for good men to do nothing".
That is the crop we are now reaping. We will literally GAG on it. We are too chicken to take up arms again. We are to civilized to be so 'crass and physical'. Yet our children are mostly encouraged to watch vicarious slaughter, and we throw up holy hands in mock dismay at VA-Tech. Is the Lord God AMUSED? Is the cursed ground NOT crying out for vengence? Unless blood be spilled for the act of spilling blood there will be NO FORGIVENESS. Here we are, pussyfooting around allowing the laws we pass in good conscience to be RE-NEGOTIATED under our very noses by politicians that belong in 1984. Take the "One Man, One Woman" vote in Oregon? Passed overwhelmingly by vote of the people. The local gods-of-govenment IGNORED it and now allow homosexual marriage. Same goes for many laws that just get "re-appraised" by politicoes that 'know what is good for us'. Why does the Left feel they NEED to take our arms away? Wait until THAT happens. You aint seen anything yet! Then it will be easy to throw us in prison for homeschooling, like in Germany. Or just take our kids away because we are not fit to raise them. Just wait for the horrors to begin. Tribulation begins in many subtle forms. It has begun. Get ready for far worse since no one will fight anymore! Take a look at history and see how the world's totalitarian governments got started. PGW Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/11/07 08:08:11 PM
Age 58, WV
that is why we need an exodus!
See http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/05/free_christian_t-shirts_availa.php Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/11/07 08:03:49 PM
Age 20, MN
Couple things. One: where in the bible does it say that "political and religious spoken communication in America is a God given right!". I don't know of any verses that talk about this subject, let alone talk about America either. Two: your ten commandments of the liberals thing....my own personal experience would claim that the same ideas are true for conservatives too. You wouldn't believe that crap i got at my church for not being republican. Republicans can be just as shallow and unwelcoming to different political beliefs as liberals tend to be. Three: one of youe commandments claims that liberals always speak evil of christians. I would claim that conservatives are just as damaging to christianity as liberals are. They abuse God for political gain (i wonder how prevalent republican christians were before the 80's when Reagen, Robertson, and Falwell decided that they could start a movement that would fix christian lack of unity by picking a political party to attach themselves to, and eventually take over it too), they do things that aren't Christlike (Tom Delay, anyone?), and they create a false sense of security for the american public by telling them that if the public follows all these christian laws, they are heaven-bound (which, as we all know, is a works-based faith that is clearly taught against by Jesus, and Paul, numerous times in the bible). Make sure you aren't being biased. -Dan Smith Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: The Liberal left’s Ten Commandments:
Posted On: 05/15/07 04:17:14 PM
Age 34, PA
In reference to the 20yr old who thinks that liberals arn't bad I beg you to go to a state college campus and talk to some students and professors about what they are learing and teaching.Yes I agree that some professing christians have done a great deal of evil in the political arena, and I do not think that this nation would be just as corrupt as or more corrupt if it was a so-called Christian run government, the reason that it may be even more corrupt is that many professing christians are so easy to decieve. Depending on what your definition of "conserviative" is I go to college campuses and preach open air, a message of sin, righteousness, and judjement to come if they don't repent, if that is your definition of conseriviative then ok, come and watch and see if I am doing as much damage as the liberal professors. I do it not because I like to be made fun of by other "professing" christians or to be called names by the students but because I care for the students and the direction that we are headed as a nation. And as far as a works based faith its not but read John 14:21 the commandments will be kept if you are truly a christian because to not is to go against the character and nature of God, and once again if you are a true christian you will not willingly go against them. I would like to dialog you a little I think you are an independent thinker and those are the people who if thay are on Gods side can have an impact on many lives. God bless Greg Click here to reply to this post
No one is perfect (except God)
Posted On: 05/14/07 07:28:07 PM
Age 19, MN
There is no doubt in my mind that there are plenty of hypocrites in the GOP. The difference is that this party at least, to the best of it's human abilities, stand up for biblical values. The Dems tend to not to (not saying that all GOP are pro-life and all Dems are pro-choice, but I'm referring primarily to the leadership). In terms of a verse for the 1st Amendment, I don't know of one off hand. However, I can state that since God does give us the choice to either choose Him or to continue to rebel against Him (for the time being), should we not give this option for people to state their own views. It does provide protection, to a ceratain degree (from govt. intervention), for Christians to spread the gospel (something that American Christians aren't doing that well right now on the whole. Not saying that you, Dan, arent, I'm just making a general statement). One thing you must realize is that, unlike your definition, the word "liberal" is often synomynous with "Secular Humanism". So that may be more what Dr. Berman is referring too. I don't know about "Christian taking over the Republicans", but on the other hand, the Democrats don't exactly have a nice history either (look up the history of the parties during the Civil War and you'll understand what I'm talking about). Liberals don't always=Democrats (such as Rep. Peterson of the 7th District of MN), nor do conservatives=Republicans (think Rudy Giulani). P.S. I am sorry that you had such a bad history of being a Democrat at your church. I recognize that it is too easy to make GOP=Christian. However, I would ask you (and I'll be honest, I have been looking carefully myself) to please really look at what the DFL believes and promotes and ask youself, "Can I truly vote for someone who espouses these views?" And I'll be honest, I don't relish the thought of some of possiblilties of GOP presidential hopefuls, so I guess I'm a conservative independent (not the party) voter in a sense. You have a great day and God Bless. Click here to reply to this post
