My Problem with Bob Barr
Aug 25th, 2008 by Brian A. Thomas
Bob Barr is the Libertarian Party candidate for President. I normally support the Libertarian Party candidate, but this time I am not so sure I can. I am fine with him changing his mind on the War on Drugs, same sex marriage, his original support of the Patriot Act and his original support for the War in Iraq… all these things he has publicly came out against his original position and now is firmly on the correct side of those debates.
However, I have yet to hear him apologize for his bill that would force the Pentagon to ban the practice of Wicca. A move that awarded him one of the few Burning Times awards ever given out. Regardless of one’s view of Wicca, the First Amendment clearly states (emphasis mine): “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..”
Too many on the Right seem to want to return to the way it was in Europe (and the Colonies here) when people were burned at the stake for believing something different than those in charge did. Joan of Arc, a Christian was burned at the stake by the very same church that later made her a Saint for failing to believe the way they did. Of course rather than burn people at the stake, they want to return to the burning times via political and legal action. This is wrong, and Christ Himself would oppose it. What too many people on the Right seem to forget is that Jesus didn’t hang out among the righteous of His day, but among the very people the Right want to ban and alienate. They say “What Would Jesus Do?” with one side of their mouth, but the other side of their mouth and their actions (which speak louder than words) show they don’t care about what Jesus would actually do, they just want to force their beliefs and agenda on everyone.
To make a bill that would ignore the Constitution and the important concept of freedom of region is just asinine… it is the ignoring of the First Amendment (among so many other things) that firmly put me in the opposition to Bush/McCain. If Bob Barr was to publicly do a sincere apology, and be accepted by, say the Lady Liberty League (who for the rights of Wiccan/Pagan soldiers… and Wicca/Pagan rights in general) and some others, then perhaps I can get behind him. But I can’t support a guy who opposes the First Amendment.
Brian,
Maybe this is extreeeeeemly important to you it is throwing the baby out with the bath water. I don’t think you would see vast support of Wiccans from ANY of the candidates at all.
If you are waiting for an apology on this as well then who are you going to vote for?
I don’t expect them to support any Pagans or any other religion at all, but I expect them to support the Constitution.