So on January 23rd, 2012…….The
House of Representative in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania unanimously adopted
a resolution
that calls 2012 ‘The year of the Bible’. Why? House Representative laid claim
that “the Bible, the word of God, has made a unique contribution in shaping the
United States as a distinctive and blessed nation of peoples.” Never mind the
challenge to its constitutionality, which is being argued by everyone on both sides
of the debate; I would like to draw attention to the idea that our Representatives
have gone out of their way to recognize the minority influence on this country
and not the majority. Who is this unspoken for group that accounts for more of
the population than any sectarian group? Why it’s the citizens of our country
that represent the pluralistic, multicultural, multi-religious combination of
peoples. But this point is ostensibly neglected, and instead the
Representatives feel that a more appropriate ‘congratulatory’ resolution should
state that, “renewing our knowledge of and faith in God through holy scripture can
strengthen us as a nation and a people….” However, this seemingly innocent excerpt
is much more damaging than any of the Representatives could possibly imagine.
Why? Because this phrase is set to only unite ONE sect of our very diverse Commonwealth
and nation. As an Atheist citizen, I share my district, my state and my nation
with Muslims, Jews, Hindus, African Americans, Chinese Americans, etc. who contribute
to the striving businesses and unrelenting community support that is what makes
our collective unity in this Commonwealth and nation transcend the recognition
of any one religion.
So I am going to make a new
resolution. My resolution is to make 2012 ‘The year of all Pennsylvanians’ as
to recognize the influence of all cultures, religions and ethnicities that have
come together in lieu of their differences to make this Commonwealth what it is
today. This state belongs to everyone and everyone deserves to be recognized,
not just Christians and their pandering Representatives. I don’t believe in
God, but I believe in our better natures and I believe that the solidarity of
the peoples of Pennsylvania goes far beyond recognizing a book that has been
interpreted more than any other piece of literature where its meanings are
disputed daily. What is not disputed is that with or without that book the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and this nation is built upon and strives toward
greatness because of its diversity and solidarity. We’ve had to overcome
slavery, Civil War, Depression, and terrorist attacks and we did so holding
hands and looking toward each other for support….not because of a book.
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