The Treaty of Tripoli (Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary) was the first treaty concluded between the United States of America and Tripolitania, signed at Tripoli on November 4, 1796, and at Algiers (for a third-party witness) on January 3, 1797. It was submitted to the Senate by President John Adams, receiving ratification unanimously from the U.S.Senate on June 7, 1797, and signed by Adams, taking effect as the law of the land on June 10, 1797.
The treaty was a routine diplomatic agreement but has attracted later attention because the English version included a clause about religion in the United States.
As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen [Muslims],—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan [Mohammedan] nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
Hello faithful readers!
After reading some of the absolute drivel being posted on news articles on facebook (don't those always start me on a blog rant?) I just felt like I had to write something.
I've made my views on gay marriage pretty clear. I believe the science, I believe that being gay is no different than being left handed, or having naturally curly hair. It's genetics, it's not a choice.
I posted the above snippets from Wikipedia regarding the first amendment of the constitution, and also the treaty of Tripoli. Both of these passages make it pretty clear that our government was not based on the Christian religion. Our laws were never intended to be based upon the Christian religion or Christian morals.
I am a Christian. However, I take the bible as a biased book, one that is rooted in the cultural aspects of its time period. When things that weren't understood were condemned. And that includes Jesus Christ himself. But regardless of how you interpret the bible, it has absolutely no place in the laws of this country. That is made abundantly clear, time and time again, despite all the people crying that, "Our founding fathers never intended this." in regards to gay marriage.
The bible interpretation used by most Christians is irrelevant, or should be, in the gay marriage debate. In fact, other than, "Eww it's gross." the bible is the only other flimsy excuse that people have for denying gay marriage.
You all are free to believe whatever you like. If you want to believe that being gay, or eating shellfish is a sin, you go right ahead. But religion has no place in our government. NONE. Zero! It's simply a moot point.
I used to think that national gay marriage was something that wouldn't happen in my lifetime. Or even in the lifetime of my children. However, now, I see it on the horizon. More and more judges are finding it unconstitutional. Some people here in Indiana think that the voters should decide whether to add a ban to our state constitution. But what they don't realize is that voter opinion doesn't matter if the item at question is unconstitutional. Period.
I've never understood why states are allowed to have such varying laws. Why do we bother having a federal government at all? It would be so much more simple if everyone followed the same rules, regardless.
Someday, everyone will have equal rights and all this will be behind us. We'll look back and wonder how we were ever so backward. Like we do now with race.
That's all my rant for now. Thanks for listening :)
Dawn
