Hey gang,
As promised I'm offering an alternative to the weekly CEB (Current Event Book) assignment due every Thursday.
You can still provide me three articles WITH YOUR COMMENTS in your book or via email...OR...you can join the online discussion here on the class blogspot with weekly animated political cartoons from my favorite (and sometimes aggravating) liberal cartoonist, Ann Telnaes.
I will provide you a cartoon each Saturday from here until the end of the year with some supporting material that will help you understand the issue. You will need the Flash plugin to view these (oh...and turn up the sound). Then just join in on the discussion/debate.
You must provide in your discussion point two things:
- I agree or disagree with Miss Telnaes' viewpoint
- Here's why...
You will still receive 3 points for the assignment [one point for viewing it, one for agreeing/disagreeing, one for your reason(s)]. The discussion ends Thursday night for credit!
Now if you want extra credit, debate with your classmates and provide alternative points. Each counterpoint will be awarded.
Join the darkside of debate...and engage in the discussion!
Here we go:
Click the image to open the video
| IF you are having problems getting to this site, try going directly to the video: http://www.agapegraphics.net/class/CEBs/DanburyLetter.html. IF that doesn't work, go directly to the link at the Washington Post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/telnaes/telnaes04102009.html BUT THEN COME BACK HERE TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS! |
The Danbury Letter of 1802 was Thomas Jefferson's answer to Danbury Baptist Association from Connecticut. It was written to address their concern for minority religions, such as the Baptists, and how the state legislature would deal with them. It also provides us the famous "separation between church and state" phrase that was essentially already apart of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution - the Clause which provides us "Freedom of Religion". Read more details at this great Constitution website.
Read the Danbury Letter here.
So - are we secular or not? Is Gingrich right? What does the Danbury Letter have to do with the debate? Or does it?
Join the darkside!....
Mr. Johnson,
ReplyDeleteI tried joining in on the discussion, but every time I click the download link or the image, it directs to some pharmacy website...
Hey "Unkonwn" (is this you, Michael?)
ReplyDeleteI saw that problem also this weekend but fixed it on my end. I have NO idea why it's doing that. Try going directly to http://www.agapegraphics.net/class/CEBs/DanburyLetter.html
If that doesn't work, try going to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/telnaes/telnaes04102009.html
BUT then come back here to make your comments!
Mr. J.
I don't think the Danbury Letter is an excuse though, to ignore the fact that the Constitution says, "We are endowed by our Creator, with certain unalienable rights." I mean, can we really just ignore the fact that God is mentioned in the Constitution?
ReplyDeleteMost Americans actually believe the phrase "separation of church and state" is in the Constitution, because of what Jefferson wrote--Jefferson wrote it, but not in any of the founding documents--in the letter to the Danbury Baptist priest. Someone took this out of context and it completely snowballed. God IS in the Consitution, his name and principles. We can't ignore it.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I believe that Jefferson meant that state cannot interfere with relious issues, thereby dividing the church and state...not that the church can't influence the state. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". ~EMILY
ReplyDeleteI don't know, all Jefferson seems to be saying in the Danbury Letter appears to be this: "Baptists, I firmly believe that religion is between man and his God, and shouldn't play a dominant role in congress."
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I'm not sure it directly relates to Gingrich talking about America as a secular nation, or if the Danbury Letter is even supporting evidence for America NOT being a secular nation.
Currently, I think the US is more secular than not, but yes, we are founded on principles of a Higher Authority.
(This is Michael if my Google Account still refuses to cooperate :P )
Great comments, gang!
ReplyDeleteI'm not joining the debate 'cause I want YOU to discuss among yourself (unless I see something completely out in leftist field....sorry....bad pun...).
I'll post another discussion point on Saturday.
See you tomorrow, Lord willing.
Mr. J.
Tim couldn't log in but sent me this via email:
ReplyDeletePerhaps the church should be separate from state. The State is solely involved in things political, or should be. If the Church gets involved, it can easily lose sight of its main goal, to save souls. Politics would be a distraction. The Church should stay out of the political realm because it must focus on the individual's soul. If the Church was distracted from this goal, it is useless. The Church cannot stick as many fingers it has into the pies of politics.