Peter Roskam Promotes Establishment of Religion - Disses Constitution

[Thanks to Champaign County Ohio Democrats for the heads up on this. ]

In 1791, the people of the United States amended their new Constitution to state that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” They hoped to avoid the religious establishment and persecution that had existed under England’s rule.

Not long ago, Peter Roskam and 30 fellow religious extremists in Congress decided that the establishment clause of the Constitution did not apply to them and signed up as co-sponsors of H. Res. 598: Supporting the goals of the Ten Commandments Commission. The meat of the resolution is as follows:

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–
(1) supports the goals of the Ten Commandments Commission and recognizes the vital contributions of America’s tens of thousands of spiritual leaders, churches, synagogues, fellowships, ministries, and organizations participating in Ten Commandments Weekend; and
(2) congratulates the Ten Commandments Commission and all supporting spiritual leaders, churches, synagogues, fellowships, ministries, and organizations for their key role in promoting and ensuring recognition of the Ten Commandments as the cornerstone of Western law.

Ten Commandments Weekend came and went earlier in May without this piece of drivel ever having been voted on. It has gone, and will go, nowhere. It is important nevertheless, because it tell those of us who Peter Roskam represents in Congress that Roskam actually supports the establishment of Judeo-Christian religion by the United States government or, if not, has extremely poor judgement as a legislator. Roskam was alone among the Illinois delegation in supporting this resolution.

The mission of the Ten Commandments Commission, whose goals Roskam supports is a bit incoherent. Its web site proclaims that:

The Ten Commandments Commission was formed in the spring of 2005. The main purpose behind the organization was to create a global think tank with the world’s leaders who have already recognized the power behind the TCC…

…The focal point is the annual Ten Commandments Weekend that will be held on the first Sunday in May…

…Our objective is to have 5 million strong members/supporters and bring the Ten Commandments – Watchman United on the Wall message to every church and ministry in the nation…

…We are encouraging everyone to wear the Ten Commandments Pin that we have made available as a powerful display of unity and reverence for God’s holy word. The pin is available for $15.00 and is also a unique fundraising platform. The Ten Commandments pin is available in bulk orders (50 and more) to ministries at a cost of $7.50 each, plus shipping. Financial contributions by ministries and the sale of pins are the commission’s greatest sources of fundraising…

…We have designed ways to reach out to potential members by making it easy for them to SIGN OUR PETITION TO SUPPORT ISRAEL. By signing on the web people take a stand with Israel to support their fight against terrorism. It is also a petition to the US Administration not to abandon Israel but to stand up with her plight for freedom…

…One of the ways to increase awareness and urgency was to establish a weekend in which we can come together and celebrate God’s eternal moral law…

…WATCHMEN UNITED ON THE WALL” mission also includes: Efforts to help restore the futility of the depleted “Garden of Eden” through the regeneration of the land: rich, fertile soil in which to grow healthy, life-sustaining vegetation and livestock. This new breakthrough in organic soil conditioning was developed by a group of Believers and respected Agricultural Scientists. It uses a ‘Sustainable’ approach which focuses on maintaining the resources the Creator has given us, and not depleting them. The system in its early stages has already proven to revolutionize conventional agricultural methods to a more natural system that builds soil organic matter and humus levels, thus yielding a much greater quality and larger quantity of food products…

…TCC will become Watchmen for curricula being disseminated throughout American public high schools and colleges, specifically regarding the history of the Middle East and the current conflict that is biased toward Islamic interest. We recently discovered that huge sums of money had been given to US Universities by Saudi Arabia to write such curricula and foster research to substantiate their cause. It is TCC’s intent to stop this practice and insure that the curriculum being taught to our youth is accurate, truthful and balanced in the perspectives presented…

I think their mission statement needs a little work. Confused? Maybe this video from Ron Wexler, the TCC’s founder will help:

No, doesn’t help much. Would it be too much to ask that if our Congressman must support some wacko extremist organization, he at least choose one with a little message discipline.

The point is, this is all highly offensive to those of in Roskam’s district who are (1) sane and (2) do not to subscribe to the Judeo-Christian creed, and (3) support the Constitutional protection of freedom from established religion and (4) hope for a peaceful two-state solution in Palestine and not further conflagrations in the Middle East. Roskam owes us all an apology.

While I have your attention, can I interest you in my “My Congressman is an Idiot” stick pin. Only $15.00, $7.50 in bulk orders of 50 or more.