We obviously need to replace all the Bibles in hotel rooms with copies of the Constitution. The Pew Research Center released a study today that showed 32 percent of Americans believe you have to be a Christian in order to be an American.

Thirty-two percent of Americans said one should be Christian to really be American, compared to just 13 percent of Australians, 15 percent of Canadians and 15 percent of Europeans who felt the same way about belonging in their homelands. The same number of Americans — 32 percent — said that being born in the United States is key to being an American. More Americans — 45 percent — said that sharing “national customs and traditions” was important, and many more — 70 percent — said being an American meant speaking English. Religion was the only question on which Americans were an outlier. On birth, language and customs, America fell in line with other industrialized nations. (WaPo)

Seriously people? Do I need to sign a blood oath? To start, this country was founded by people trying to escape religious oppression. Or did you sleep through history class? This bullshittery exhausts me. My religious beliefs have nothing, and I mean NOTHING to do with my being an American. Are Jews UnAmerican? My church taught that Catholics were not Christian. Does that mean Catholics aren’t American?





Merriam-Webster defines patriotism as “love for or devotion to one’s country <Although poles apart ideologically, they are both unashamed of their patriotism. — Christopher Hemphill>.” Note the quote…that although people can be ideologically on opposite ends of the spectrum, they can still be just as patriotic. That is something completely missing today from the general discussion. I found a great deal in common with and respect for principled conservatives leading into the election who were #NeverTrump. I do not think it occurred to any of us to question the other’s level of patriotism or status as a “real American”.

You can wrap yourself in the flag or you can set it on fire in protest; you can read the Bible out loud or you can toss it aside as irrelevant; you can stand for the national anthem or get down on one knee. All of those actions are equally patriotic and equally American. I don’t have to agree with you, worship the same god as you, vote for the same candidate as you, to be equal to you. One party is not more godly than the other. Even if it were, it does not make it more American.

Finally, Christianity, especially the white evangelical flavor, is losing its power in this country. Every single report, external and internal, shows this. It is not a secret. Screaming and yelling and fighting tooth and nail as the ship is sinking will not save it. Beating people over the heads with Bibles and attempting to legislate your religion will not win souls. Rewriting history to make America a Christian nation will not change anything. If you cannot win souls with your message, the problem is with your message, and you need to change your message. Might I suggest starting with taking down the Confederate flag and baking wedding cakes for everyone? Bless your hearts, you’re just making your problems worse.