[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', '
')When asked why they are there, nobody really has a coherent answer, although a lot of them say things about being some sort of free thinkers

[Expatriot]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'I')t's a pretty good blog rant too...

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gollum', 'I')t's a little off the subject, but it's a shame we don't have rigorous separation of corporation and state the way we do church and state. I consider the banksters a hell of a lot more threatening to the future of my country than I do the Mormons, Jews,Muslims, Baptists or whatever.

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gollum', 'I')t's a little off the subject, but it's a shame we don't have rigorous separation of corporation and state the way we do church and state. I consider the banksters a hell of a lot more threatening to the future of my country than I do the Mormons, Jews,Muslims, Baptists or whatever.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', '
')I'm not sure the 1st amendment had much to do with diversity of belief, we were all protestant christians at the time .

[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', '
')When asked why they are there, nobody really has a coherent answer, although a lot of them say things about being some sort of free thinkers

[gollum]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gollum', 'I')t's a little off the subject, but it's a shame we don't have rigorous separation of corporation and state the way we do church and state. I consider the banksters a hell of a lot more threatening to the future of my country than I do the Mormons, Jews,Muslims, Baptists or whatever.

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'I')'m not sure the 1st amendment had much to do with diversity of belief, we were all protestant Christians at the time and everyone else was going to hell.

[hillsidedigger]

"Maryland was a CATHOLIC only colony fer crying out loud!"

So, that's why it's called 'Mary Land'. I didn't know that.

Somehow they turned 'Charles Land' into Carolina.

[PrestonSturges]

Don't forget the "Quaker State."

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tanada', ' ')First off about 5% of the population were Jews, not Christians.

[Plantagenet]

The Pilgrims came here for just one reason ---- to ESCAPE religious persecution in England and other other countries.



Other religious minorities like the Quakers, Calvinists, Moravians, Huegonoets, etc. soon followed.

[PrestonSturges]

The Puritans left because everyone was sick of their crap and the Puritans were looking for new people to persecute.

These religious factions were all mixed up in the English Civil War, which was largely a religious war. Some Puritans were Calvinists with Oliver Cromwell. You know all those ruined churches and monasteries in Ireland? They were all leveled by Cromwell.

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hillsidedigger', '&')quot;Maryland was a CATHOLIC only colony fer crying out loud!"

So, that's why it's called 'Mary Land'. I didn't know that.

Somehow they turned 'Charles Land' into Carolina.

[Pops]

I'm ignorant because...

A) I didn't say all flavors of all religions hate and persecute each other - to the extent of Protestants outlawing Catholicism in Maryland?

B) Because I think the establishment clause has more to do with self interest than charity and tolerance?

C) Because the correct answer to gollum's question is "freedom of religion" is just a by-product of the Enlightenment, which was mostly about making money via industrial capitalism (now corporatism) as opposed to the old feudalism/mercantilism/whateverism?

[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'I')'m ignorant because...

A) I didn't say all flavors of all religions hate and persecute each other - to the extent of Protestants outlawing Catholicism in Maryland?

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', '.')..Hitler... Nazi.... Hitler....Fascism.....etc. etc.

[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', '.')..Hitler... Nazi.... Hitler....Fascism.....etc. etc. [/quote}

[PrestonSturges]

Plantagenet - Did you notice when you started spouting off about "Liberal Fascism" in that other discussion that you pasted a gif from a "Liberal Fascism" parody and not the actual cover of the book? Admittedly, it's a crappy book, but you seem to have exposed yourself spouting off about something that you had not actually read, or even seen, or even looked up on Amazon.

[zoidberg]

I watch Glenn Beck's program every day on Fox News. I know I'm now some sort of Big business republican brainwashed racist nazi.

Now, why is that so easy to say? Is it because Beck preaches racial hatred? No he goes to great pains to show how racial politics is used by liberal elites to divide and conquer. Its easy to say because the people who hate him say it constantly to everyone, including to the "converted" and "preaching to the choir". Listen to the man, his is a message of faith, hope and charity. It is a message of replacing lies with truth. I only started watching Beck because I knew nothing about the man, and shared a snide derision of him, mostly from mainstream media(and the daily show whose fawning over everything obama is getting to be the butt of the joke). I truly believe he has changed, and even if it is some sort of con-man game, it doesnt matter. His message stands on its own, independent of political, national, or racial identity.(With the possible exception of atheists, although he has allowed for the possibility of moral self-regulation of atheists without divine punishment to teach them).

I see the world a little bit differently, a little bit better now. I know he doesn't cover every issue as thoroughly as say Obama's political associations, but then again I've never been one to be a blind follower, devoted to one source of information. And to his credit Beck NEVER encourages people to blindly follow his research. He ALWAYS tells you to do your own research, to come to your own conclusions. And quite frankly after having watched him for a couple months now I can see the difference between what he says and how the media portrays him. He stands with truth(on the issues he likes of course), his detractors only have smears and past problems, which he always acknowledges. At some point though we need to understand our leaders are imperfect people. Only in the movies are they faultless heroes.

Finally the man generates so much controversy because he might really be apolitical. He often says Rep and Dem are a meaningless distinction. Both parties are part of the business as usual problem. Theres such extremes in the crowd size difference because the event was politicized from without, not from within. The power elites are scared because they know they command no loyalty, they have no edge to bring down this movement, because for at least right now, it really is what it says it is. Thats what confuses people, they expect some sort of hidden political agenda, funded by shadowy interests. And again, even if that was the case of this rally, I think it'll backfire against any sort political hijacking, as long as people stay committed to principles Becks espouses.

Dont be a blind hater, dont be a book burning lets boycott people we disagree with a la colorofchange.com type of brainwashed sheeple.

Give hope and Beck a chance, listen learn and discuss. Watch his program, see how the hate flows towards Beck, not the other way around.