This is Not a Christian Nation

I am an American.

My name is not Jimmy Johnson, it is not Virgil Goode and it is not John McCain. But I am an American. No more, no less than any of these people.

My name is Cenk Uygur. And I am proud of it. It might sound a little different to your ear, but it doesn't make it any less American. That's the whole point of the country. If I wanted to live in a place where your race, ethnicity or religion mattered, there were plenty of other countries to choose from. I chose to be an American because I believed we were all equals in the eyes of the law.

Apparently, 42 United States Congressmen are not so sure. The House passed a resolution today celebrating the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The point of the resolution was to show that we are an open country and that a Muslim-American is equal to any other American. That we are all to be celebrated as Americans. Forty-two representatives couldn't get themselves to agree.

These Congressmen did not vote for the resolution, they voted "present" instead. Is this a silent protest? What are they protesting? Do they disagree that we should celebrate all of the cultures in the country? Do they disagree that we should have Muslims in the country at all?

One of them, Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) has already said that on the record -- and refuses to apologize. He said we should have less Muslims in Congress and less Muslims in the country at all. His colleagues didn't see fit to correct him. Moveon takes out a newspaper ad questioning one general and Congress goes ballistic. A US Congressman says we should discriminate against a whole group of US citizens and not a peep.

When John McCain said he wanted a Christian president earlier in the week, I didn't pay much attention to it. I think we overemphasize gaffes on the campaign trail. I care how these people are going to lead the country, not how many errors they make while speaking 24/7 on the campaign trail.

By the way, how did a media so obsessed with verbal blunders decide that George W. Bush was the right man for the job - twice? We were told John Kerry misspoke too often. What a topsy-turvy world we live in.

So, I didn't want to get caught up in this game. At this point, I am unfortunately used to people deriding people of the Muslim faith in America anyway. It has become an ugly reality of our country. It's so common that it's taken for granted now.

A couple of days ago, Ann Coulter was on the Today show and she said the real problem with Senator McCain's comment was that he later said he would vote for a Muslim if he agreed with him. How dare he? Doesn't he realize that a patriotic American would never vote for a Muslim? They are the enemy. They are less than other Americans. They are not equal. This is a Christian nation!

You see, that's what bothers me. I am not a religious Muslim at all. In fact, I am agnostic. I don't participate in Ramadan. I don't need a resolution celebrating it. But once you bring it up for a vote, to purposely not vote for it is a clear sign. It is not a slip of the tongue or a miscommunication in the midst of a hectic campaign schedule. It is a deliberate act meant to send a message. And that's what I do care about. It is a sign that we are not welcome.

You think these bigoted, xenophobic Congressmen care whether we practice the tenets of Islam, or how religious we are or what our actual beliefs might be. Of course, not. They just look at us and say those people are not of us.

Well, whether you like it or not, we are Americans. And I will not bow my head. I will not accept being classified as a second class citizen. I will not let you spit on my people and act like we are beneath you because of our ethnicity.

We had Naomi Wolf on our show last week and she was making a point that once the government starts depriving US citizens with names like Yaser Hamdi of their constitutional rights, soon they will come after people with names like Chris Robinson. She meant well by it and she is right. But think about what that says to me. My name is Cenk Uygur. Why shouldn't other Americans be concerned until they come for Chris Robinson? Shouldn't they care if they come for Cenk Uygur, too?

We had Senator John Danforth on the show this week and he said he was disappointed by John McCain's comments. The former Republican Senator and Episcopal priest stated emphatically that we are not a Christian nation. We are a nation that brings all different beliefs together and mixing our government with a specific religion corrupts the government and the religion.

He is right. And think about what it says to all the rest of us when people feel perfectly free to go on television and declare that this is a Christian nation. They are putting out a huge sign saying -- You Are Not Welcome Here. This country is for Christians!

Read the constitution. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and George Washington did not agree. They were careful to point out that this is not a Christian nation. That unlike every other country in the world at the time, they were going to make America a nation that had free exercise of religion -- any and all religions. They were not going to let any religion rule the country or identify its inhabitants.

Read the constitution. You're wrong. It specifically says that all religions are welcome. The whole point of the country was to escape from religious persecution. No one religion can force its views on all of us, even if that religion is Christianity.

Read the constitution. I am an American. And under no circumstances am I going to let you take that away from me.

This is not a stand to protect me, my religion or my ethnicity. This is a stand to protect the idea of America. This country was supposed to bring all of us together. It was supposed to establish the idea that we are all equals. I still believe in that dream, and I will fight for it. I am an American.

Comments

[Dallas112263]

Show me the word, the one spelled G-O-D, in our Constitution...?
It makes no appearance... It isn't there at all, maybe it's hiding? Perhaps it requires a personage such as the Rev. Robertson to find it in the document... After all most of what they think is in the Bible isn't there either and much of what is would surprise these august men of God.
This is the second most dangerous myth that is commonly accepted by large numbers of Americans. The other one has to do with how men really behave in combat and the nature of warfare.
RGJ/Dallas112263

[thatvisionthing]

This word is in the Constitution:

I - M - P - E - A - C - H

Just thought I'd mention it.


Also, when you get way, way, way down to it, before the Constitution, before the Declaration of Independence, what it was that Thomas Jefferson took as the authority for this country to declare its independence was not faith of this or that persuasion, and not legalisms, but self-evident truth. Back then, the self-evident truth for all to behold was that all men are created equal. The air must have been clearer then.

[slaphappyinannapolis]

Before anyone gets inspired by the recently infuriated John Danforth please remember that he championed the Supreme Court appointment of Clarence Harpo Thomas.

As regards the main topic of this article of course we're not a Christian nation, we are melting pot of mutts. In the 1970's a group of robber baron oligarchs financed several evangelists leaders to promote their fascist agenda and they are now enjoying the fruits of their labor. With any luck they will soon become strange fruit.

[IanMacLeod]

I couldn't agree more! "Christian" fanatics Jesus would have disowned in a heartbeat have caused civilizations throughout the world more damage, have killed more people, have set the human race itself back in development, more than any single cause in human history. And no, I am NOT a Christian, of any kind.

Congress has shown that the vast majority of them are indeed unfamiliar with the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, as well as with the writings of our Founders. They do not understand the very core principles of America; they do not understand what their own purpose is, or what the oath of office they took entails, much less what their own powers under the Constitution are. Too many of them are frauds, political hacks looking for power and a ticket into the monied elite at any cost. They have forgotten our crimes against the Japanese Americans we incarcerated in WWII. We finally apologized for it not very long ago, and swore "Never again". We have compensated the surviving Native Americans at least somewhat, and everyone says, "We would never do such a thing again, not in this day and age". But all our oaths and promises have been self-serving lies of the moment.

The variety of America, in better times, has always been acknowledged to be the source of our wonderful vitality and the variety of thought which, for all its differences, was all still American. Now this lying group of conscienceless thieves who stole their offices is in charge, and instead of using its legal powers as a co-equal branch of the government to preserve the core of our country as they SWORE to do, Congress and the "free" press are currying favor in an attempt to hop onto the neocon gravy train, and the neocons have co-opted every agency that might stop them.

These "good Christians" have done generations worth of damage to our very heart. That Congress itself has become such a travesty is also a tragedy, and I will mourn for this loss as long as I live.

[truthmachine]

I'm opposed to the government celebrating an religious holiday, and I believe this resolution to blatantly violate the spirit of the 1st amendment. I also want "under God" removed from out money.

[RobertPaul]

Combine iron, nickel, copper, lead, and various other metals and you wind up with what's called an "Alloy."

The alloy is often stronger than any of the ingredients and is used in place of "weaker" items to withstand the heat and pressure of external conditions.

By the same token if you combine elements of various religions into the "Melting Pot" that is known as AMERICA, you wind up with something stronger than any of the initial elements involved.

This is why America has stood so long as a bastion for the oppressed and downtrodden in the world.

THEY want to become like US! Not the other way around.

What other country has so many people trying (and in some cases dying) to get INTO it?

Cenk is right. He IS an American. So am I even though my ancestors fled the religious oppression of England and Ireland hundreds of years ago.

We are Americans.

NO mealy mouth politician can take that away from us.

The Alloy forged in the melting pot of the US has created a force that is for good.

Despite the actions of some of the misguided politicians that CLAIM to represent us.

Thank you Cenk!

[auberon]

well said and thank you for saying it. i've been increasingly perturbed at what has seemed to be an attempted hijacking of our nation by one religious group...

most definitely not what the founding fathers had envisioned.

[CornellRedneck]

No, we are not a Christian nation. We are a free nation where we can believe in whatever we want to as long as we don't interfere with the freedoms of our countrymen.

Wish you didn't get so riled up by the actions (or non-actions) of a handful of fools.

[Gakl]

The problem is that these non-actions of tools are made by those who hold an elected office in our government, and their actions may have effects that go far beyond them. If fools and tools have power, there is a very good reason to be "riled up."

[Sephirothii13]

thank you Cenk, you are right. it is like Pat tillman and how his family was treated for not being in some fairy tale, or the soliders that were wiccans that their families had to fight to have the wiccan markings put on their gravemarkers. we are a nation free of religion to believe as we see fit or not believe at all

[Andydp]

Excellent points.
If I remember my American History, in the 19th Century the "Know Nothing Party" had a basic platform against any foreigners especially those Papists (Catholics). Later on the famous sign "No Dogs or Irish Allowed" made appearances. Fast forward some more and you have anti Italian attitudes in the early 20th century (For the record my dad immigrated in 1915).
We've always had xenophobic "Americans" around and will continue to do so. Its nothing new, only the names have changed from Brian to Gennaro to Amhad. Reguardless of legal status, immigrants and people who are "different", wether native or immigrant will always have these attitudes to contend with.

[brownearthling]

Right on Cenk! From one brown earthling to another, I salute you, respect you and love you. There is no such thing as a Christian nation, or a Christian democracy, for that matter. Let them all explain the lack of dinosaurs in their books while we turn our attention towards a bright united future. Equals, all of us.

[TRUE BLUE AMERICAN]

Hey brownie, This is a Christian nation. Our foundation, heritage and traditions prove this without a shadow of a dought. The ten commandments influenced our first laws,Our first president kissed The Bible in his inaugeral address, Jefferson thought the Bible should be required reading,Congress prayed before every meeting,the ten commandments adorn the walls of the supreme court, In God we trust, God and country, national holiday called Christmas etc, etc.Since the 60's the fight to remove Christianty from the public square has been working. Since then we have gone down hill, does anyone see a correlation. This country was founded on the idea that people can come here and worship any religion they want, it doesn't mean we have to forget our undeniable foundation which the God of the Bible was the cornerstone. Many of us are sick of immigrants moving to this country and setting up their own country within our borders. Some Mexicans want to fly their own flag here.They don't see why this is insulting to many Americans.I'm of German background and the German flag means nothing to me. My country is the United states of America, My allegiance is to this country. The immigrants of old adopted this philosophy but not today.Research what it takes to become a citizen, the official way. Not the sneak in the backdoor type.
God Bless America

[ihavenobias]

Jefferson removed all supernatural references in his copy of the bible (a large chunk of it). You can buy this more reasonable version of The Bible in your local bookstore or online dealer.

Also, US Law is NOT based on the Ten Commandments, it's based on British Common Law which had existed for decades *before* Christianity spread in England (200 years before in fact).

Christmas (like just about every other Christian holiday) was originally a pagan holidy filled with drunk orgies, eventually changed to suit the needs of converting the masses to something new.

Now it's a consumerist (and fun I might add) holiday that's clearly more about gifts than Jesus for most people, even if they don't admit it. But are you telling me that "liberals" are to blame for this?

[Zanti]

Any fight to remove Christianity from the public square is being fought by a minority of fanatics--think of them as the flip side of those who want Creationism taught in schools. The average atheist/agnostic/none-of-the-above doesn't break out in sunspots when someone says "Jesus," anymore than the average "believer" goes into shock when someone postulates a godless universe. What we have is a debate that--free of media distortion, amplification, and exploitation--would be taking place quietly and without consequence. And without most people noticing.

That would be Heaven....

[AOGutierrez]

Check my earlier post in this thread. It contains all of the pertinent article from

"Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796"

ARTICLE 11.

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion. . .

and cites a source. Its called research which produces evidence to support an argument. You should try it. For further clarification, as a ratified treaty this is the law of the land and it was ratified by none other than the founding fathers. If you are going take a position contrary to this please do so by addressing the points individually and citing equally valid sources. You're entitled to your opinion it just doesn't qualify as a fact.

[Dap]

That's why I heart ya Brother Cenk...

You're all American in my book. Agape.

[WASanford]

Oh,..Great article! I've read all of your comments and I don't think you're getting this.
Read Orwell's 1984 again. Repeat reading it until you do get it. Consider it a manual to understanding the Bush Administration. What was it, the five minute hate? It didn't matter who the hatred was aimed at, just that the population hated SOMEONE! Big Brother is'nt just watching you, he's manipulating you!

[realitytrumpsbull]

Cenk, my recommendation would be to just become a complete heathen and forget the religion biz.
Yes, 'biz', because there's billions, if not
tens of billions of dollars wrapped up in it
in the United States alone. And, whether it's
Allah.com, Jehovah.com, or Jesus.com, it's
still not Old Time Religion, it's a 21st century
business with political aims etc.

If you want to find god, the magic tree, the great pumpkin, whatever you find holy, chances
are your footprints are going to have to
lead out and away from these major mainstream
religious groups and institutions AND their
political influence AND their money.

I recommend that you stop and take the time
to really analyze and see whether or not
you recognize, as I have, that organized
religion is basically bullshit. George Carlin
put it best, the best trick the Catholics
ever pulled was getting people to believe
in the Invisible Man...now, you can spend the
rest of your life in a monastery, or beat your
head on the wall, or beat your head on the floor, or, or, you can stop all that crap,
put away the magic beads and the religious
literature and instead, pick up a science
text. The modern world faces a lot of problems,
a lot of them man-made, and the solution to
a lot of these problems will likewise be
man-made. I submit that organized religion is
in fact one of those problems in and of itself,
and that the solution to it is to stop encouraging these people by giving them your attention and definitely don't give them
any more of your money. You didn't give them
money, did you Cenk? Tell me you didn't give
these people money...you did, didn't you? LOL

[Ravenlea]

Thing is, that this isn't about religion (and Cenk has said that he is not religious, he is an agnostic). Religion as the right uses it, is just a smoke screen for bigotry and fear. The Bush administration works overtime keeping people fearful... of terrorism of other people, of anything that they perceive as "different." That fear is then used to justify the kinds of criminal behaviors the current administration has continued to pursue unchecked. Make sure that you continue to give the message that Muslims are "less than" and people will have an easier time allowing you to torture human beings associated (rightly or wrongly) with that faith.

There is a famous quote by Pastor Martin Niemöller during World War II

"First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me."

You don't have to shout hate and bigotry from the rooftops to make your point. Just sit out a vote acknowledging another's faith and you have said that you don't approve of "those people". Can you imagine any of these senators acting the same way on a vote commending Yom Kippur? Too many votes at stake. It's not about religion. It's about hate and racism and it's profoundly unAmerican... or at least it used to be.

[TRUE BLUE AMERICAN]

To realitytrumpsbull-your advice in finding God is to get away from religion. If you do that you have 300 million plus Americans with a different percepion of God, all based on man. God wants you to know what God thinks, not what man thinks. I'm not a believer in religion, I'm a believer in God. If it's in His Word(The Bible) then it's the way. You don't need a church to have a relationship with God, He does however like His people to have fellowship with each other.Believe it or not but He wants you, not your money,but you have declined His offer,and replaced it with man.Good luck with that one.
As for you comment on science, if it is so perfect why are they just theories?

[sandpiper]

As a German-Irish-Italian-Swedish American, born in the once-choking environs of Pittsburgh, PA, I've noted some interesting facts that point toward American geography itself as a factor in matters relating to prejudice.

I've been a practicing journalist and happy West Coast resident for most of the last 40 years. But strange things happen when I revisit the East.

There, I find that one of the first questions posed by casual strangers in introductory conversations is (to me) a strange one:

"What are you?," they ask, usually with a perfectly straight face.

I pause. Then, thinking they may mean my profession, I tell them I'm a newspaper editor.

"Yes, but what ARE you?," they invariably repeat.

I start filtering through possibilities. What in the world are they talking about? What AM I? Hell, I don't know. A male human being? An omnivore? A recovering Catholic? A sushi-lover?

Finally, after a couple of exchanges to clarify, I learn that what they want to know is my ethnicity.

It seems that what is critically important to learn, for these denizens of the old industrial East,is whether my ancestors were Poles or Italians, Hungarians or Finns.

Here -- after four decades in California, Oregon or Washington -- I had long forgotten the commonality of the old "What are you?" question in the land where I grew up.

In short, I find that in matters of religion and ethnicity, Westerners for the most part simply don't give a damn, while Easterners do. In fact, it appears to be their primary concern, since it is almost always the very first question they ask.

Perhaps, Cenk, instead of the "What" question, they should begin asking (as is more common hereabouts), "WHO are you?"

The answers would be far more meaningful, more enlightening, more entertaining, and more to-the-point.

After all, my four grandparents, each of whom got off the boat at Ellis Island about a century ago, came here to escape this kind of ethnic and religious pigeon-holing and become part of the American experience.

Nice post, dude.

[relevancematters]

For those who might doubt this post, I'm here to second it. The only people I have ever known in 50 years of living here who cared about these things came from somewhere else. Just as the major communications outlets in this country have co-opted our non-accent as the universal, I wish the rest of the country could lay down their 'worldviews' and start working together. I never thought I could ever have reason to be ashamed of my country, but I am.

And True Blue, your posts are so obnoxious. Jesus must weep. It will be people like you who destroy Christianity in the end; never would he have countenanced the sorts of things you say.

[TRUE BLUE AMERICAN]

revevancematters-I'm not sure why Jesus would weep at what I said.Please explain. Man destroys Christianity by not believing or following His Word.We seem to be headed in that direction.

[LeftRight]

"My name is Cenk Uygur. Why shouldn't other Americans be concerned until they come for Chris Robinson? Shouldn't they care if they come for Cenk Uygur, too?"

I am concerned that they might be coming after citizens with names like yours, Cenk. I'm also very concerned that they ARE going after non-citizens with names like yours. Granted, in WWII we were stupid and detained the Japanese-Americans, but that doesn't make it right now to repeat the same mistake.

AMERICA IS FREEDOM, LET THE MEN HAVE THEIR RIGHTS BACK!!!