Government Intrusion

Alright, I don't want this blog to be purely political so I promise next week I'll do somethin' different.  Today, however, I'm in a shit mood.  I'm in a shit mood because I'm sick of society.  I can't stand the direction that this society is headed.  Every day there's more rules and regulations.  Patriot Acts, wars on porno, and evangelical politicians trying to force their way of life on the country through politics.  First of all let's get one thing straight: the government is not a tool to be used to enact personal vendettas, to promote your own financial windfall, or to try and impose your beliefs on the rest of the country.  Example: the FCC.  It is inconceivable to me as to how a country whose constitution guarantees people the right to free speech can have a government organization controlling every single thing that airs on television, but maybe that's just me.  Example #2: the "war on pornography."  It is also unconceivable to me as to how a country that prides itself on freedom can have such a blatant disregard for individual privacy, so far as to declare a war on pornography, but again, maybe it's just me.  On a side note I would like to know why the FBI has so much time on their hands that they can carry out a war against pornography, especially considering we are currently fighting wars against both terrorism and Iraqi insurgents.  I could go on and on about how government authority is misused, but instead I'll cut to the chase.  I think that this trend of control has come about because of the increasing role of Christianity in politics.  Before I go any further, I would like to point out that I am a Christian myself and that I hold deep the teachings of Christ and the word of God as transcribed to us in the Bible.  However, I am hereby denouncing any organized form of Christianity.  I believe that organized Christianity has lost sight of the true word of the Lord.  Instead of preaching his word and setting an example for our savior, Christians now opt to impose their beliefs through politics and righteous indignation.  Just today I saw a Republican on TV promoting the passage of laws that have a clear Christian agenda behind them.  While I do not oppose some of the beliefs behind these laws, I believe this is a huge misuse of government power and Christian doctrine.  I strongly believe that religion of any kind has no place whatsoever in government.  This coincides with my belief that no one can truly be saved by being forced to believe in something.  I also realize that this is truly a diverse world and that everyone is entitled to believe what he/she wishes.  Some of the first immigrants to this land came here to escape religious oppression and this land was founded on many basic freedoms, including religious freedom.  Allowing religious beliefs to control government policies is not only a gross misuse of government power, it is a giant loogie on the constitution of this great country.  Although I accept the diversity of other religions, I still maintain my faith in Christianity alone.  I do believe that these politicians who push religion are not only misusing their power, they are misusing their doctrine.  They go around chastising people, using God's word as grounds to impose their own laws and regulations.  They twist God's word to fit their purpose, diminishing its meaning with every blaspheming word.  Every day I draw comparisons between what I see and what I've heard about from history.  Stories of the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition come to mind.  The killing and torture might not be there, but the hatred is.  Every day my father refers to homosexuals as "the gays."  They're not people to him anymore, only a scourge that stands in his way.  This isn't what Christianity is about.  Christ didn't stand for hatred and intolerance.  This is where our society is headed.  Any time you don't understand something you label it and try to destroy it.  This is where our "democracy" is headed.  An organized Coup d'etat disguised as an election.  Just remember, in this age of control and deceit one thing still counts, your voice.  This country was founded on people, and as long as we exercise our first amendment right they will never be able to take it away, try as they might.  Until next time, fight the power.