http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/200...BRlirRo8uCfNdF
When the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, 2009, Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) hopes you’ll be ringing in “the Year of the Bible.”
It’s probably just wishful thinking.
Broun’s simple congressional resolution aimed at honoring the Good Book has produced a push-back of biblical proportion in the blogosphere, with critics dismissing it as either uncons utional or a waste of time. Jews in Congress and atheist activists are dismissing the resolution, while none of the many Democrats in Congress who are Christian have bothered to sign on as co-sponsors.
According to GovTrak.us, the resolution is among the most-blogged-about pieces of legislation, with most posts less than complimentary in nature.
“Does that mean 2009 is not the year of the Bible?” mocked Rep. Barney Frank Luck_The_Fakers_(D-Mass.), who is Jewish. “What is 2012 the year of? The Quran?”
“That’s an endorsement of religion by the federal government, and we shouldn’t be doing that,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), even though he has introduced his own legislation dealing with religion.
“Republican lawmakers with apparently too much time on their hands and no solutions to offer the country are pushing a resolution that will not address the nation’s problems or advance prosperity or even untangle their previous governing mistakes,” blogged the Progressive Puppy.
Broun rejects the critiques leveled at this effort.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with Christianity,” he said in an interview with POLITICO. Rather, he says, it seeks to recognize that the Bible played an integral role in the building of the United States, including providing the basis for our freedom of religion that allows Muslims, Hindus and even atheists to vocalize their own beliefs.
And even as Nadler criticized Broun, he has done his own share of mixing religion and legislation.
Last year, he introduced a bill that would overturn a federal appeals court ruling — an “idiot” decision, he says — that a condominium board in Chicago had the right to ban Jews from installing mezuzahs, which consist of a piece of parchment inscribed with a specific religious text put inside a case and hung on a door frame.
Condo boards shouldn’t be able to interfere in an individual’s right to practice his or her religion, Nadler said.
But he himself declined to install a mezuzah on his congressional office door when asked by a rabbi, even though he does so at home.
“That’s my religious symbol, and the office does not belong to me; it belongs to the people of the congressional district, and no one should feel uncomfortable walking into the office if it’s not their religion,” Nadler said, describing his feelings on religion and Congress.
“Same thing with the Bible. ... It’s not everybody’s religion. And the federal government should not be imposing religious viewpoints.”
Atheists, who might feel themselves a particular target with the declaration of a biblical year, aren’t even worried about Broun’s effort.
“Right now, we’re seeing atheism on such a rise,” said David Silverman, vice president and national spokesman of American Atheists, a group dedicated to fighting for the civil rights of atheists.
“We are seeing Christianity on such a dramatic decline that we’re not particularly worried about it. We’re thinking that this kind of old-style George W. Bush Republicanism is about to go away,” Silverman said, referring to the latest Pew Forum survey of American religious life, which showed nonreligious Americans as the fastest-growing group.
And it may be the best-selling book of all time, as Broun’s resolution points out, but the Bible isn’t such a popular legislative topic.
A search of Thomas, the online congressional database, for “Bible” yields just one other bill: a resolution to have the “Lincoln-Obama Bible” on permanent display in the Capitol Visitor Center.
The resolution specifically asks the president “to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scripture which has profoundly influenced and shaped the United States and its great democratic form of government.”
As for the economy, health care, global warming and all the other issues on Congress’ plate?
“While we must focus on fiscal policies that provide relief to families during these tough economic times, an endeavor I have been working tirelessly towards in this Congress, we must also not forget to protect and celebrate our fundamental freedoms that the Bible has influenced,” Broun said.
Broun has gathered 15 co-sponsors, all Republicans, but says he’s looking for more and hopes Democrats will sign on, as well.
“This is not a partisan issue,” he said. “I want it to be bipartisan.”
Whether he’s successful or not — the same measure didn’t go anywhere last year — at least Broun and his fellow supporters can take heart in one fact: They already had a “year of the Bible.”
Ronald Reagan designated 1983 as one, with Congress’ blessing.
Obama would never allow this. He's the anti-Christ.
exactly........and he's black.
if any phrase was ever truly sig worthy....
“Does that mean 2009 is not the year of the Bible?” mocked Rep. Barney Frank Luck_The_Fakers_(D-Mass.), who is Jewish. “What is 2012 the year of? The Quran?”
He spells his last name wrong.
I lost track of how many times the end was near in my lifetime.
How about you Yoni?
life is a journey........and your journey led you to a strip joint.
Honk if you love Jesus!
almost forgot,
That is hilarious!
I won't lie.
I'm trying to tie up some loose ends before 2012.
God, gays, guns, no taxes, hate government.
Repugs are full of creative, problem-solving, America-advancing ideas.
"And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need" (Acts 2:44-45).The resolution specifically asks the president “to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scripture which has profoundly influenced and shaped the United States and its great democratic form of government."
This will get the Republicans back in power!
I think it's a cheap move, but even I, an avowed atheist, can recognize the influence that the Bible had in shaping America's laws. Of course, that's in conjunction with John Locke's philosophy, the English judicial system and many other bits that were mixed into the pot to produce our government.
The American liberal of today would absolutely hate the speeches given by FDR.
Presidents can talk about God all they want, though they might do well to avoid some religious references.
Legislation like this is stupid.
Progress!
How about a 'Year of the Cons ution'? In theory, that written work is what these politicians should be paying homage to, instead of trying to lick the balls of whatever cons uency they think will ensure their re-election.
Better yet, how about a year of repealing the various laws that violate the spirit of said do ent? How about ending the 'War on ______ (insert whatever nefarious deed you can think of there)'? Holy this country is stupid.
And before I forget, these morons who proclaim themselves to be Christians seem to be forgetting 'render unto Caesar what is his, and give me the rest ye lousy bum sinners.'
BamBam did that yesterday. He might as well have been drooling over the bible because his words were empty and full of hypocrisy.
Let them honor the cons ution. Only a fool would believe them to be sincere.
But but but but I taught cons utional law!
If there was ever a more worthless piece of legislation ever enacted...other than the right to bear arms..then this has to be it.
Well, all but the gay part would solve America's problems.
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