Twenty words you can't say in Alabama

[Marcus Bryant]

http://www.economist.com/blogs/bageh...nt_say_alabama

[clambake]

the south is amazing.

[boutons_deux]

Bible literalists are dumb s.

[EmptyMan]

the south is amazing.

It is.

I couldn't give two s about religion. Nobody bothers me down here.

[EVAY]

I read this and a lot of the comments following.

As far as it goes, this is not surprising, and surely no one imagines that it is limited to Alabama politicians. Texans would likely get a similar reaction, although one would hope that they would have the political savvy to deflect whatever question prompted the original 'heresy'.

Religious fundamentalism is strong in this country today, and feeds the religious-right's political agenda, which includes getting the federal government to support religious (read fundamentalist Christian) education and practice in public schools, as well as the 'voucher' program to send tax dollars to 'public school alternatives' that are actually religious schools. And our Supreme Court has apparently indicated that vouchers to such schools are not uncons utional. I wonder what will happen when somone wants vouchers to send their kids to a Islamic fundamentalist school.

[Oh, Gee!!]

these so-called religious candidates are doing what all politicians do during election season: lie to the voters. not one of them will follow-through on any implied or explicit promise to bring back school prayer, or ban science, or stop paganism, or convert the jews and gays, or kill the muslims.

they know ma and pa birdbrain will vote for them always because they're "men of faith." they won't deliver and they know they can always point to the godless left as the reason.

[George Gervin's Afro]

the south is amazing.

This is the conservative base!

[DarrinS]

The world is a very different now...and yet the same
revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought
are still at issue around the globe--the belief that
the rights of man come not from the generosity of the
state but from the hand of God.

MY FELLOW Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

[George Gervin's Afro]

what does this have to do with taking the bible literally?