Saw an interesting quote on the news
We went camping at Whitlock's Bay in central South Dakota for Memorial Weekend. It was cold and the wind was blowing at least 30 MPH all three days. We didn't set up the tent. We stayed in my Mom and Dad's camper. Last night I was visiting my uncle Gary. He had the TV on his his camper and someone was flipping through the channels. I don't know what the news story was about or in what context this quote was given because the volume was muted, but they had the quote printed on the screen so it could be read. I thought it was very interesting and was wondering when it was from, as it seems very relevant today. Here it is:
Per the Congressional Record, September 16, 1981:
There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of 'conservatism.'
--Conservative Arizona senator and 1964 Republican presidential nominee
Barry Goldwater