My mother and Step-father are evangelical Christians, and so, like many here, I periodically get an email that is part of a mass forwarded email. Most of the time I just ignore or delete them, but I had a different reaction when I got this one. The beginning paragraph of this email intrigued me, and something happened to me along the way. Initially my reaction was to simply send the word DELETE back to them and leave it at that. Then I felt like I needed to explain why. While writing the email however, I suddenly realized I had an opportunity to actually encourage them to do something constructive rather than just immediately going to the tired "War on Christmas" frame they usually use. I did so, because there was a legitimate religion and free speech point to be made. I just believe they made the religious point wrong.
Here's the email in question that I received.
Subj: AGREE OR DELETE
This is by a daughter of a murdered couple in Raytown, MO ,
who had a Bible and Bookstore on 63rd street .. She says:
When I had to testify at the murder trial of my parents a week ago, I was asked to raise my right hand... The bailiff started out, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
I stood there and waited but she said nothing. She said, "Do you?"
I was so stunned I blurted out, "What happened to "so help me God'?"
She came back with, "Do you?" I replied yes, but I was perplexed.
Then the judge said, "You can say that if you want to."
I stopped, raised my right hand, and finished with, "So help me God!"
I told my son and daughter that when it came time for them to testify, they should do the same.
I don't know what can be done about it, but it's time for us to step up and DO something.
NBC this morning had a poll on this question.. They had the highest number of responses that they have ever had for one of their polls, and the percentage was the same as this:
86% to keep the words, 14% against.. That is a pretty 'commanding' public response.
I was asked to send this on if I agreed or delete if I didn't.
Now it is your turn.. It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.
Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having, "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Why is the world catering to this 14%?
If you agree, pass this on, if not, simply delete....
In God We Trust
If You Choose To Delete
Perhaps Then You Are Part Of The Problem
Me? I'm Passing It On.
It seems to get worse daily.
My initial reaction was to trivialize the email and say it was silly, my general feelings when it comes to the same kind of people that believe in the "War on Christmas". I really hate the false sense of victimization that emerges from that belief, especially when it cynically seems to be aimed at forcing other people to recognize their beliefs, or, let's be honest--yes I'm talking to you Walker Texas Ranger--represents a simple desire to hijack a religious holiday to make a buck.
So my email was initially confrontational. But I also felt the need to validate the Judge's actual approach. To encourage the woman to state her beliefs, and that was OK.
So I edited my email, took out the more confrontational aspects and sent the following response.
Delete, resend with modifications. Please read why before you react. That means please read to the end.
I believe you would have an argument if the Judge or bailiff said they couldn't say "so help me God." The courtroom is about the truth, absent belief, regardless of how strong that belief is. If the only way to persuade people to tell the absolute truth is to morally bind them with "so help me God", then we've got a much bigger problem than you think.
What should be done? Get the word out to all religious people that they should add "so help me God" to their own declaration of truth. If any Judge or bailiff objects, then you've got a justifiable complaint that should be acted on. Unfortunately, the call to arms in this email is not to use one's freedom of speech to declare one's truth and trust in God, but to insist that the state be the active agent to enforce religious doctrine and bind the truth to God's will. Seems backwards to me. Her reaction to ask, hopefully not order, her son and daughter to add the phrase seems like the best solution. I encourage any Christian, Muslim, Jew or other religious person to do so.
I always feel uncomfortable when anyone claims that it is the legal system's or country's responsibility to enforce religious doctrine. If the state prohibits you from practicing your religion that's one thing, to insist that the state enforce religious beliefs . . . no thanks. Our Constitution was written specifically to avoid that and I 'll happily hide behind the Constitution on this email.
IMHO the poll question does not provide justification for people's desire for the state to be the active agent, but instead represents the majority's desire to bind their own truth to God will. Let it be done. Exercise your right to free speech and proudly declare. "I will tell the whole truth, so help me God."
As a professional pollster I also felt the need to use my expert opinion to argue what I believe most people were trying to say when they answered the poll question. It was poorly written. I blame the media for helping these political Christians to generate fake outrage over an issue that has a simple solution. I have no idea what reaction it will produce, but I hope some people take it seriously and recommend that people use their right to free speech rather than undertake political action to force the state to do what I believe is clearly unconstitutional.