Kentucky Atheists want God out of Homeland Security

Speaking of separation of Church and State, a coworker just sent me this article.

Before we even go there, I am constantly amazed at the ignorance displayed by the people who play this game.  What really gets to me is that some of these people are legislators, who are supposed to know the difference.

American Atheists, Inc., sued to get a state law struck down that stresses God’s role in homeland security.

This sounds completely legitimate to me.  Putting God in legislation is Establishment, which is forbidden by the First Amendment.

The part of the article that made my head spin is:

“But Democratic state Rep. Tom Riner, a Baptist minister, said he considers it vitally important to acknowledge God’s role in protecting Kentucky and the United States.”

Here is a state legislator who obviously has no idea how to legislate anything other than his personal beliefs.  This is clearly unconstitutional and to propose it makes Rep. Riner nothing more than a really ugly stereotype.

Let me put a finer point on this.   Let’s say I’m a Pastafarian (adherent of the Flying Spaghetti Monster).  I demand from my state representative some legislation that acknowledges the role the His Noodly Goodness plays in keeping us all free from flying elephants (and more people named Bush).

People would be pretty pissed.

Did you know there’s a Congressional Chaplain?   Every session of Congress starts with a prayer.  Is this separation?  No, it’s Establishment.  It’s patently illegal, but as we know, that never stopped Congress.

I could fix the problem.  Just make certain that one morning, the chaplain opens the session with a satanic prayer and the entire issue will go away.

In any case, this is why we have the First Amendment.  To protect our right to Speech and to worship (or not) in the fashion we see fit.  Any mention of any religion in legislation is Establishment and is in violation.