Separation of Christmas and State: Lesbians and Atheists in Office

The last time I posted an article was before Thanksgiving.  This time of year we all get busy.  Holiday parties, shopping, concerts, and waiting in long lines at the post office.  So perhaps you can understand why I have left you all anxiously awaiting this article.

There is a lot to like about this time of year.  I love winter weather and getting together with family.  But I also like to reflect on the purpose.  This is well told by Linus in the Charlie Brown Christmas special.  Christians like me need to be reminded that someone from the most meager and humble beginnings had a world changing message of love and peace.

In Lago Vista , our city likes to help people remember this by erecting nativity sets on city property.  I don’t think they should.  

Yes, this does exhume the previously broached subject of my previous articles.  If you want to put crucifixes, angels, nativity scenes, and Bible verses on your property, go for it.  But when government forces you to pay taxes in support of religious activities, I oppose it.

Maybe those turbo-Christians in the crowd may think I take an extreme position.  I suggest they are the extremists. 

On Dec 12, Houston became the largest US city to elect an openly gay mayor.  I suggest the efforts of turbo-Christians like Dr Steven Hotze represent the extreme.  For them, government is no place for the unclean lesbians and non-Christians.  Interesting how these bible thumpers tend to go the course of Larry Craig, Mark Foley, and Jimmy Swaggart who get caught with their pants down. 

Maybe some day there will be laws to keep non-Christians out of office to keep our nativity scenes safe from the ACLU.  Would you be surprised that there already are?

Cecil Bothwell was elected to city council in Asheville, North Carolina.  The problem is the state constitution in North Carolina will not allow him to take office.  Why?  He is an atheist.  

What about in Texas?  Our state constitution says a person will not be excluded from holding office “provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.”

This will be unwelcome news to the growing number of atheists in the United States.  The trends are against the turbo-Christians and they will eventually be outnumbered.  The problem is when you have state constitutions that oppose the will and demographics of the majority it requires people of rare courage to get elected to state office and change these exclusionary statutes. 

Can this get out of hand in the other direction?  You bet!  Consider the 2nd grader who got sent home and ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation for drawing a cross.   I hope you will agree with me that this is over the line.

The bottom line here is that if you want the Taliban in America, keep voting for those identifying themselves as right wing, Conservative, Republican.  If you want peace, prosperity, and tolerance, there are better choices.

Right now the Libertarian Party of Texas is working as hard as possible to put as many liberty-minded choices on the ballot by Jan 4 as possible.  After Jan 4, we lose our opportunity to fill the ballot.  We hope to give you as many opportunities to vote for liberty in November of 2010.

So this Christmas, feel free to remember the words of Linus.  Feel free to decorate your lawn with Christian exhibits.  When it comes to government, let’s recognize the separation of Christmas and state.