Mama tried to raise me better

My Mom provides a valuable service, forwarding to me some of the idiocy that her Wing Nut friends pass around the internets. Here's the latest:

How Could 50 States Be So Wrong?

Somewhere along the way, the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court have misinterpreted the U.S. Constitution. How could fifty States be wrong?

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING! Be sure to read the last two paragraphs. America's founders did not intend for there to be a separation of God and state, as shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledge God in their state constitutions:

Alabama 1901, Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution

Alaska 1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land

Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...

California 1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom ..

Anyway, you get the idea.

This is really interesting. After all, wasn't the Constitution crafted so that the Fed could rule on certain issues, and that on most other stuff not specifically controlled by the Fed, the states could rule.

But here we seem to have an argument that, since the states all do it, the Fed should too. Hmmm, I'll have to re-read Jefferson & Madison to see where they come down on this.

The email ends thus:

After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!

"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." --William Penn

If you found this to be "Food for thought," send to as many that you think will be touched by it also.

God Bless America.

After some serious Google (whew! Hard work!)surfing, I found this email reproduced a few thousand times, usually at web sites for religious or evangelical organizations. No surprise there.

I also refreshed my memory of William Penn, who besides organizing Pennsylvania was an active Quaker minister. Not so surprising that he would make that statement. Interestingly enough, nowhere at any of the sites I looked about his writings did I find the above quote. Plenty of others about the servant obeying the master, and comments about the Prince ruling the people. Some sounded noble, some Machiavellian.

But nothing changes the Constitution. You, or I, can worship at The First Church of Ralph The Cabbage, or nowhere at all, and the State has no interest in the matter. People may be interested, but not the State, which has to remain uninvolved in this topic.

Sorry folks, pray whenever you want, at whatever occasion you want, don't make anything about it Law.