(1) I applaud this. I'm a non-religious non-American non-lawyer, but I value this court ruling because it's actually about the freedoms to which every human should be entitled.
Increasingly, only US citizens can rely on enforcement of their human rights. Count your blessings.
Increasingly, only US citizens can rely on enforcement of their human rights. Count your blessings.
(2) I've long argued that religious freedom is a fitting proxy for all freedoms. That is, where religious freedom is actively protected, so will other freedoms be protected.
If you're an undecided US voter hesitating to vote GOP bc of religious policy issues, I hope I can help.
If you're an undecided US voter hesitating to vote GOP bc of religious policy issues, I hope I can help.
(3) When I opened this Twitter account in 2014, my focus was on secular politics, so I chose the name @Godlessnz.
I've thought many times about changing it but I will keep it for two reasons. (1) It's now my brand. (2) It stimulates discussion about freedom in general.
I've thought many times about changing it but I will keep it for two reasons. (1) It's now my brand. (2) It stimulates discussion about freedom in general.
(4) In the past four years I've observed increasing division between the left and the right, worldwide, but especially in the US.
Unlike 97% of the abjectly incompetent & biased media, I don't see division as inherently bad. It just is.
Some want division; others want unity.
Unlike 97% of the abjectly incompetent & biased media, I don't see division as inherently bad. It just is.
Some want division; others want unity.
(5) When I was a secular activist, I supported the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Having now done a ton of reading & observing, I prefer to support groups that strive for freedom OF religion.
If you want to be free of religion, do it. You may not order others around.
Having now done a ton of reading & observing, I prefer to support groups that strive for freedom OF religion.
If you want to be free of religion, do it. You may not order others around.
(6) Obviously there are nuances to this, & to keep this thread short I won't tease them out here.
Every SCOTUS ruling that enforces freedom of religion contributes to enforcing other crucial freedoms that Americans enjoy.
If you don't like that, do some more reading about it.
Every SCOTUS ruling that enforces freedom of religion contributes to enforcing other crucial freedoms that Americans enjoy.
If you don't like that, do some more reading about it.
(7) I've been there. I was a Bernie supporter in early 2016. I had been brainwashed from birth to lean towards the left.
What I saw the DNC do that year made me stop trusting or respecting them. I reasoned that if they really cared about winning, they'd have nominated Bernie.
What I saw the DNC do that year made me stop trusting or respecting them. I reasoned that if they really cared about winning, they'd have nominated Bernie.
(8) 2016 showed every Bernie supporter that establishment Democrats cared more about keeping the party away from it's far left, than they did about defeating Trump.
Many Berners became #AfterBerners like me.
Many held their nose & voted for Hillary.
Many Berners became #AfterBerners like me.
Many held their nose & voted for Hillary.
(9) I thought the phenomenon of Berners voting for Hillary was insane, but I didn't worry because it was abundantly clear Trump would win, especially as election day drew closer.
Now the DNC has allowed Bernie & friends to take over the party. Making a win all but impossible.
Now the DNC has allowed Bernie & friends to take over the party. Making a win all but impossible.
(10) If you are worried about the GOP reducing your freedom to practice or not practice a religion, please understand this:
Your founding fathers and mothers carefully drafted a Bill of Rights & made it the foundation of the greatest set of Constitutional rights in history.
Your founding fathers and mothers carefully drafted a Bill of Rights & made it the foundation of the greatest set of Constitutional rights in history.
(11) I suggest reading the US Constitution in full, making notes of questions to ask. There are abundant secondary sources online that can explain the background of every aspect of it. I've spent the past four years finding this info & processing it for myself.
(12) I believe that if you use an objective approach to looking for info about your rights in the US, your fears will be allayed.
If you get stuck, ask us. Most Trump/GOP supporters I see on Twitter would be only too happy to discuss the Constitution as they understand it.
If you get stuck, ask us. Most Trump/GOP supporters I see on Twitter would be only too happy to discuss the Constitution as they understand it.
(13) The court decision at the top of this thread is instructive. Have a read of the short article.
Put simply, lower courts in Puerto Rico misinterpreted the Constitution in an effort to police and micromanage a religious group. There's absolutely no basis for doing that.
Put simply, lower courts in Puerto Rico misinterpreted the Constitution in an effort to police and micromanage a religious group. There's absolutely no basis for doing that.
(14) There are many faith-based groups with the resources to fight a court case all the way to the top. They have various motivations, such as commercial realities as owners of hospitals and schools, and political activism in defending the hard won gains of previous generations.
(15) You're free to build a secular-based group that can do the same. The court system is meant to provide a level playing field, and that's another issue that GOP supporters and groups focus on.
The left give you soundbites, not factual analysis.
The left give you soundbites, not factual analysis.
(16) The power is in your hands. You don't have to settle for the superficial slogans and unsupported claims of the left. Use your brain and dig deeper into the info that is available online.
Then decide for yourself. You don't have to tell anyone.
Then decide for yourself. You don't have to tell anyone.
(17) I know that ahead of this election, there are undecided voters secretly studying online info about the policy ideas of the left & the right. I know because I did that in 2016, and have seen countless others say the same.
People are leaving the Democrats in droves in 2020.
People are leaving the Democrats in droves in 2020.
(18) The GOP of 2020 is a "big tent," which is a jargon term for what the Democrats used to be.
It appears that Democrats are becoming more "small tent" all the time.
Trump & the GOP leaders who supported him before it was cool, knew that a big tent approach would be needed.
It appears that Democrats are becoming more "small tent" all the time.
Trump & the GOP leaders who supported him before it was cool, knew that a big tent approach would be needed.
(19) Trump has skillfully taken over the sane middle ground that Democrats held for so long.
Secular folk in the Trump movement are not worried about the strongly religious vibe around us. We have looked at the bigger picture.
Secular folk in the Trump movement are not worried about the strongly religious vibe around us. We have looked at the bigger picture.
(20) So I hope this thread has been food for thought. I will respond to good faith questions below, on any subject.
Obvious bots/trolls/TDS sufferers will be dealt with accordingly.
Thanks for reading.
Obvious bots/trolls/TDS sufferers will be dealt with accordingly.
Thanks for reading.
