The tail is wagging the dog….

I remember when I was young and living with my parents.  My father, never one to mince words, had a saying for things that did not line up correctly. He would say, “That’s the tail wagging the dog,” whenever he would see something out-of-order, or off kilter.  Most of the times he said it when he would see children who tried to exert control over the parents.  His view was that parents should be in control.   If you could have peeped into the window of my childhood, you would have seen four young children who knew where the boundaries stood, and who had a healthy respect for consequences when those boundaries were breached.

 

I hear his words, “The tail is wagging the dog” frequently these days.  No, not in my own household.  My children are grown and out on their own.  Hubby and I don’t normally fight about boundary issues.  Where I hear my father’s voice is in the political arena.

 

I hear it when I hear the atheists say that all references to God and the Bible should be removed from public life.  Really?  Last statistical report I saw said that 1.6% of the American population were atheists.    That is less than two percent of the population.  How have we Christians, the majority, let ourselves be controlled and dominated in the name of political correctness?  I have no problem with that less than 2% of the population who are offended at the name of Christ or the symbol of the Cross.  However, I refuse to allow them to take these symbols out of public life.   I am making notes and taking names of our public servants who are allowing the ‘tail to wag the dog’ in this instance.  http://religions.pewforum.org/reports

 

Another area I hear my father’s words are in the arena of traditional marriage.  Statistics state that 3.8% of the population is ‘gay.’   Other reports say that as few as 1.7% prefer same-sex relationships to traditional heterosexual marriage.  Yet, we, the majority of the population in the United States are being pressured to approve same-sex unions.   I don’t personally care how you choose to pair up.  However, I do care about my nation.  I do care that my nation was founded on Biblical principles, and historically, marriage has been between one man and one woman.  Why are we, the majority allowing less than 4% of the population define marriage?  Again, I am taking names of the politicians who are standing up, and refusing to allow the ‘tail to wag the dog.’  http://gaylife.about.com/od/comingout/a/population.htm

 

What about you?   How do you feel about your freedom?  Are you going to let a very small percentage of our society define that society?

 

Until next time,

 

Polly

 

 

 

 

  • Chris says:

    You make a few odd statements that you don’t really have any basis for. First, our nation was not founded on Biblical principles. Wherever you read that was fooling you. If you think I am wrong, please point me to some references that state that our founding fathers were using the Bible as a guide (take note of the fact that we find these truths to be ‘self evident’. There was a big discussion about those words. The people who wrote that document went out of their way to make sure that it didn’t state that it came from God).

    Second, why do you care if marriage is redefined. It was originally defined as one man-one woman by closed minded boobs. The Bible has defined marriage many different ways (one man-one woman, one man-many women, one man-many women-many concubines, one rapist-one victim), why do you pick the one that you pick and assume that that is the one that the Bible means for us now? And what makes you think that we are allowing 4% to define things. I’m heterosexual and I’m willing to fight to define marriage as between two consenting adults. Does that change how you feel? Does my sexual orientation make my opinion more valid? Ever heard the phrase ‘tyranny of the majority’?

    Also, what is your objection to homosexual marriage? Do you have any studies or scientific facts that point to homosexual marriage somehow harming society? Or weakening traditional marriages somehow? This should be easy to find. However, I don’t expect you to show any. Like many purveyors of snake oil, you frequently make reference to some health issue that would require whatever it is you sell, yet when asked if there is any proof to back up your statements, you fall oddly silent.

    And as far as the removal of symbols of Christianity… You do know that we have a Constitution that actually makes illegal any Government support for religion, right? I’m Catholic and my faith has nothing to do with the presence of a cross on a courthouse or the 10 Commandments being listed on a plaque out in public. Again, other than you not liking that you aren’t getting your way, what is your argument against these things?

    • Hello, Chris. Please view this link. 204 of the founding fathers were, in fact, Christian. http://www.adherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_Religion.html

      I am not going to turn my blog into an ad-hominem argument forum. This is my blog, and these are my opinions. I do not have to justify them to you or anyone else. If my opinions offend you, please do not read my blog.

      • Chris says:

        First, if you do not want people to reply, you should not end your post with this: What about you? How do you feel about your freedom? Are you going to let a very small percentage of our society define that society?

        That is, in fact, an invitation for people to reply with their opinions. You should have mentioned if you only wanted people to reply if they agreed with you.

        Second, so what? What does their religion have to do with what the basis of our government or country was? For example, perhaps you should take a quick look at how the ‘Father of the Constitution’ felt about religion: http://atheism.about.com/library/quotes/bl_q_JMadison.htm

        I’m curious, how many of the men you referred to as being Christian had a part in the Treaty of Tripoli (1796). It states that the United States is “not in any sense founded on the Christian religion” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Tripoli

        Our founding fathers were not in any way starting a country based on the Bible or Christianity. I’m sorry if you don’t like that, but it just is not true that we are a Christian nation. The people of this country are in general Christian, but that is not the same thing. You are supposed to be a scientist. If you want to reply to my points, actually cite something relevant. Actually address some of the things I said. Mentioning census information about the people who signed the Declaration (a historical document, mind you, not a legal one) isn’t really relevant.

        • I don’t mind your replying. I am not going to argue with you.

          • Chris says:

            Sorry. You don’t need to reply. But you chose to reply to me. If you just want people to respond with their opinion, let them. If you are going to try to take a shot at their argument, don’t act like they shouldn’t be allowed to take a shot at yours. I’m sorry if you don’t like this, but I’m only following your rules here.

            At the very least, though, be honest. We’re either allowed to present facts when we think the other side is misrepresenting reality or we are not. We are either open minded and willing to consider facts that are counter to our opinion or we are not. Your call.

          • As to the question of whether America was founded as a Christian nation. I submit the prayer George Washington prayed on April 30, 1789. The occasion was his inauguration as the first President of the United States:
            “Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that thou wilt keep the United States in thy holy protection; that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.” George Washington

            Following the inauguration, Washington addressed the Congress:
            “It would be peculiarly improper to admit, in this first official act, my fervent supplication to that Almighty Being who presides in the councils of nations, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a government instituted by themselves. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency..Heaven can never smile on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and might.

            From the Constitution itself:

            “When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
            “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
            “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown…”
            “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

  • Chris says:

    Wait. What? Are you implying that a prayer by the first President on his inauguration defines the basis of our countries founding? Seriously, I think you should come out and say if that is really what you think.

    If the answer is ‘yes’, I would ask you to be honest and tell me if you are just looking for things that justify your preconceived notion? Or if you really didn’t know what to think and started looking for evidence to help you make up your mind, one way or the other? You ignored things like the Federalist Papers, broadly documented writings by men like James Madison(The “Father of the Constitution” for goodness sake) or Jefferson (who once wrote “To the corruptions of Christianity, I am indeed opposed”). Even the Declaration of Independence states only that men were granted rights by their creator. That does not mean that the country is ‘Christian’. It means only that the founders did believe in God. No one disputes that. But believing that men received rights granted by God is nowhere near believing that the country should be ‘Christian’. Even read the Constitution… The only times it mentions religion, it is to explicitly EXCLUDE it (see Article 6). Even the Declaration goes out of its way to state that the power of the government is derived from the governed. This is an alternative to essentially every other country in the world at that time that stated that the power of the government was divinely granted (KIngs ruled at the discretion of God, not of the people, but in the US, our government did rule at the discretion of the people and not of God).

    And, you even ignore the Treaty of Tripoli… An official government document, ratified by the Senate, which explicitly states that we were not in any sense founded on the Christian religion! Why do you feel that a speech by the first president outweighs all of this other evidence screaming that we are not a Christian country, but instead a country that allows freedom to practice all religions. Are you really coming at this with an open mind? Or are you looking for justification of your preconceived notions? Again, you are a scientist, are you not?

    • “Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.”

      -Thomas Jefferson (Notes on Virginia, 1782)

      In light of the affront taken by a minority of law-makers, judges, and citizens to the inclusion of “One Nation under God” in our Pledge of Allegiance, a reading of the Federalist Papers can help dispel the fiction that our founding fathers envisioned a “fire-wall” between governance and theist or deist principles.

      Knowing something of the factious temperment of people and the nature of people to divide with animosity over both frivolous and profound issues, our founding fathers did not shy away from initiating legislative measures in the Constitution that would work to minimize the power of any group or person, no matter their power, or numbers, or wealth.

      Our founding fathers recognized that factions are elemental to the running of a government and they sought ways to minimize political and religious tyranny, but in writing the Federalist Papers they certainly expressed the country’s clear connection with moral values and God. To read the entire article: http://federaltheology.blogspot.com/2011/05/god-federalist-papers.html

      One Nation Under God Cover
      One Nation Under God
      America’s Christian Heritage
      James Madison

      James Madison is known as the father of the U.S. Constitution. He was also the fourth President of the United States. He was the primary author of the Bill of Rights and engineered the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Madison believed Christianity to be the foundation upon which a just government must be built. Writing on June 20, 1785, he stated:

      Religion [is] the basis and Foundation of Government.

      Madison expounds further:

      We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God. If you care to read the whole article, http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/cdf/onug/madison.html

      I slightly suspect that you are arguing just so I will do your research for you….. There is ample credible evidence to support the thesis that America was founded on Christian principles. As stated earlier, secularism was not an idea at the time this nation was formed.

  • Chris says:

    Oh, and a correction. You quoted the Constitution, the governing document of our country. But the text you included is actually from the Declaration of Independence. The “Declaration” is just that, a declaration. The legal document that was set up after that were the Articles of Confederation, soon to be replaced by the Constitution itself.

    Remember, the individual beliefs of certain of the ‘Founding Fathers’ should not be confused with the basis for our government. I have heard that argument made many times, that people who want to insist that we are a Christian country point to certain of the Founding Fathers and their publicly expressed religious beliefs as proof. But it is irrelevant. What is relevant is language in the Constitution and other binding government documents of the time.

    • Where is “God” in the Constitution?

      The mistake modern secularists make is obvious. They take a twentieth century concept like “secularism” and read it back into the Constitution. They take a concept that didn’t even exist in the eighteenth century and attribute it to the framers of the Constitution. Unfortunately, this is a very common mistake. The fact that the word “God” does not appear in the Constitution means little. It is actually a rather shallow observation. The reality is “God” is in every word of the Constitution, including the punctuation. Below the surface of the words in the Constitution, there are a mountain of ideas that made its formation possible. The belief that God exists and that all nations of the world are subject to Him sits on the summit of that mountain. As the Supreme Court of Florida said in 1950: “Different species of democracy have existed for more than 2,000 years, but democracy as we know it has never existed among the unchurched. A people unschooled about the sovereignty of God, the ten commandments and the ethics of Jesus, could never have evolved the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. There is not one solitary fundamental principle of our democratic policy that did not stem directly from the basic moral concepts as embodied in the Decalog and the ethics of Jesus . . . No one knew this better than the Founding Fathers.”
      Note 3.

      If you care to be enlightened further, here is the whole article.

      http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1298911/posts