American preoccupation with religion is not laughable, as would appear on first glance, but frightening. Once again the US Supreme court must decide if theology has a place in government. It’s a far-ranging issue south of the border, where children pledge their allegiance to America under god, and even their coinage makes reference.
This is a country that is “spreading democracy” to the world, starting with Islamic, oil-bearing states. That the countries in question are not in fact having free elections, is irrelevant to the spread of democracy. As is the fact that America is not a democracy either.
America must get its head out of its collective potato-chip ass (ooh, lets pander to more stereotypes!) and get a grip. American Government is not about freedom, it is about control. Absolute control. As a famous and well respected (non-American) politician once said, the government has no place in the bedroom. And theology should have no place in government. It warps people. Rational discussion becomes difficult, and other countries that adhere to different religious beliefs become natural enemies. They have to, if you think about it. They threaten your very way of life.
If a Canadian or Western European politician were to mention god in public, they’d be run out of town on the nearest rail, if not nailed to the closest tree as well. When the government is attached to one theology, all the other theologies must bend to its will. That’s not freedom. It’s oppression, masquerading as tradition, and it’s counter to the First Amendment. The USA is currently the most powerful theological government in the world, which makes its military action in any non-christian country into a crusade. Worse, America is, as it always has, claiming the moral high ground. Hypocritical AND wrong is a bad place to be when your Ankh-toting neighbors are starting to get annoyed and talk to one another.
Get god out of the government, America. It’s in dollars we trust anyway.