alarming new law?

[Paul Finkelman]

This law shows the deep insecurity of politicians in the year before an
election.  Silly barely describes this.  

Paul Finkelman
President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law
     and Public Policy
Albany Law School
80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, New York   12208-3494

518-445-3386 
pfink at albanylaw.edu
>>> susan.freiman.law.65 at aya.yale.edu 12/16/07 1:09 AM >>>
What a silly waste of time.

Thanks to all of you for the information.

Susan

marty.lederman at comcast.net wrote:
> It's not a law -- it's a House resolution, which was passed 372-9 and
which reads as follows:
>
> Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and
many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by
Christians throughout the United States and the world;
>
> Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United
States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the
American population;
>
> Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout
the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the
religion of about one-third of the world population;
>
> Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the
development of western civilization;
>
> Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic
in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history
that points observers back to its Judeo-Christian roots;
>
> Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians
observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior,
Jesus Christ;
>
> Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of
God's redemption, mercy, and Grace; and
>
> Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United
States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve
others: Now, therefore, be it
>
>       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
>
>             (1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great
religions of the world;
>
>             (2) expresses continued support for Christians in the
United States and worldwide;
>
>             (3) acknowledges the international religious and
historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;
>
>             (4) acknowledges and supports the role played by
Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in
the formation of the western civilization;
>
>             (5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against
Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and
>
>             (6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians
and Christians throughout the world.
>
> Attest:
>
> Clerk. 
>
> The most interesting thing about it is that it originally included one
further "whereas" clause, later removed for obvious reasons:
>
> "Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the
salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their
savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the
gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance
with the teachings of the Holy Bible."
>
>
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: Susan Freiman <susan.freiman.law.65 at aya.yale.edu>
>   
>> This just came to me from an atheists' list.  Is it true?
>>
>> Susan
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
>>
>> *PRESS RELEASE*
>> *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* 
>> *The Council for Secular Humanism Chides Congress for Disrespecting 
>> Religions
>> *
>> (December 14, 2007) -- Experts from the Council for Secular Humanism 
>> noted with alarm the passage of H. Res. 847 in the House of 
>> Representatives. This unnecessary, unwarranted, and bigoted law,
under 
>> the misleading title "Recognizing the Importance of Christm as and
the 
>> Christian Faith" passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan
support 
>> It effectively undermines the sort of religious tolerance necessary
in 
>> these changing times. 
>>
>> Just days ago in the midst of the Jewish Festival of Lights, four
Jewish 
>> men in New York City  were attacked on the subway for replying to a 
>> group of ten people who wished them a "Merry Christmas" with a
similar 
>> greeting: "Happy Hanukkah.  For this, these men were first insulted, 
>> then beaten. It was a Muslim man who came to their physical defense. 

>> The actions of the Congress, by passing the resolution and thus 
>> expressing preference to the Christian faith over all the others 
>> represented by the diverse population of these United States , 
>> encourages this sort of behavior.
>>
>> The First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty, and of the 
>> nonestablishment of religion, was devised to create a secular state
in 
>> which all religions would be equally tolerated and none given 
>> preference. The language of the House resolution effectively
undermines 
>> the design of the Founders, and creates an atmosphere where 
>> non-Christians will continue to be targeted, treated like
second-class 
>> citizens, and even become victims of violence like those four Jewish 
>> subway riders in New York .
>>
>> Paul Kurtz , CSH chair, stated, "It is deplorable that in this day
and 
>> age and in light of violence against religious minorities here in the

>> United States that the Congress would stoke those flames with 
>> preferential language in support of a single religion."  David
Koepsell 
>> , CSH's executive director, noted,  "Te First Amendment Guarantee was

>> designed to prevent the sort of religious intolerance that resulted
in 
>> violence in Europe, and our Congress should respect the intent of the

>> Founders."
>>
>> We call on the Congress to reject this resolution, to stand up for 
>> religious freedom, secularism, and pluralism, and to foster a climate
in 
>> which all believers and nonbelievers alike are treated equally.
>> __._,_.___
>>     
>
>
>
>   

_______________________________________________
To post, send message to Religionlaw at lists.ucla.edu
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see
http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/religionlaw

Please note that messages sent to this large list cannot be viewed as
private.  Anyone can subscribe to the list and read messages that are
posted; people can read the Web archives; and list members can (rightly
or wrongly) forward the messages to others.