Whether You are Religious or not, Everyone who Supports the Constitution must be Concerned

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart

Anyone who refuses to believe that the American people are engaged in a Second Civil War in 2024 is not paying attention. Donald Trump’s fascist party, once known as the “Republican Party,” is actively attempting to overthrow the parts of our Constitution which protects human rights and our freedoms while loyal and patriotic Americans are attempting to save the nation of our Founding Fathers.

THE FIRST BATTLE INVOLVES PROTECTING THE FIRST LINE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Our Founding Fathers packed up and left England after King George III declared the Anglican Church the one true religion of the British Empire. This is why every American is guaranteed the right to practice the religion of their choice or none at all.

In the 1970’s, a group of extremist Christian leaders formed what is literally a lobby with the intention becoming involved in the governance of the United States of America. During the administration of Ronald Reagan, its power grew significantly thanks to his open support of a single religion, Christianity.

Originally called “the Religious Right,” it is now more accurately known as "the Christian Religious Right." However, the Evangelicals who lead this lobby have proven themselves to be hypocrites. In 2016 they supported a totally godless candidate, Donald John Trump. Sadly, they continue to support him in 2024, although it is a fact that he is an old, white man without morals or principles. Trump is a confirmed sexual predator, a pathological liar, and a lifetime criminal, preventing him from being a legitimate member of any organized religion.

The latest battle in the Second Civil War involves the red state of Louisiana. Republicans, who dominate the state’s legislature, recently passed a law requiring a copy of the Ten Commandments be posted in every classroom. Another section of the law eliminates a requirement that all public-school children be inoculated against Covid-19, and any rule requiring any vaccine to attend school.

There is no doubt that this law will be overturned by a federal court, and if necessary, the Supreme Court.

THE SECOND BATTLE IS A NECESSARY ESCALATION OF A BATTLE WHICH BEGAN IN 1973

In 1973 a legitimate and respected Supreme Court upheld a woman’s right to make personal decisions about her mental and physical health. It became known as “Roe v Wade.” However, with the addition of three justices, nominated and confirmed by Trump and Moscow Mitch McConnell, this right was removed by a corrupted and politically biased Court on one of the darkest days in American history, June 24, 2022.

An extremist, right-wing group calling themselves the “Heritage Foundation,” has been working on a plan for 2025, should America lose its collective mind and allow the worst president in history to return to the White House. This group of old, white men and less than a handful of women, were instrumental in both the selection of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, whose only qualifications were a promise to overturn Roe v Wade. Their ultimate goal is to prevent any and all abortions forever.

A group of Democratic female Senators, fears that this extremist group will attempt to use the Comstock Act of 1873 to surreptitiously prevent all women from terminating an unwanted pregnancy. They are seeking its repeal to prevent actions from the Heritage Foundation.

[In the 1870s, Ezra Heywood, a feminist who studied women’s role in society, wrote Cupid’s Yokes, in which he asserted that women should have the right to control their own bodies. Anthony Comstock considered this obscene and arrested Heywood.]

He used the original wording of the law to prosecute the alleged perpetrator.

“The Comstock Act of 1873 made it illegal to send “obscene, lewd or lascivious,” “immoral,” or “indecent” publications through the mail. The law also made it a misdemeanor for anyone to sell, give away, or possess an obscene book, pamphlet, picture, drawing, or advertisement.” It also forbade any mention of contraception or abortion.

A DARK DAY AND A REGRESSIVE ACT ENHANCING THE RIGHT-WING’S WAR ON WOMEN

Since that very dark day, every state government controlled by men and women who call themselves “Republicans” escalated their wars on women. Texas has been the most successful in passing legislation to prevent any and all abortions with severe punishment for both those who receive or administer assistance.

I find this entire situation disgusting and moronic. If the Christian Religious Right was not in collusion with right-wing politicians, making this personal right a political issue, abortion would have remained a difficult but private decision. However these two hypocritical groups are using this issue to secure votes from men and women who call themselves “Christians” who violate the words of Jesus Christ by taking violent actions after spreading lies filled with anger and hatred.

Finally, it doesn’t matter if you call yourself a Christian, Muslim, a Buddhist, a believer in Judaism, or even an Atheist, attempting to force your beliefs on another is wrong. It disrespects the right of free thought and free will. If these promises are ignored or repealed, the United States will cease to exist.

Op-ed by James Turnage

My novels are on Amazon

Sources: https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/19/politics/louisiana-classrooms-ten-commandments/index.html

https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/comstock-act-of-1873/