Born in the U.S.A.

I'm an American. Granted, I'm not always proud to admit it because of our farce of a government and their ineptitude (although things seem to be getting better), but I am indeed a "great white devil". But something that's become a trend since 9/11 is forced patriotism and an attack on the freedom of, and my rights to freedom from, religion. Those are two of the most un-American activities I could think of one to engage in, yet they are two of the most embraced actions condoned not only by the general population but also the government itself.

I'm all for nailing the bad guy, and I'm definitely for people uniting under the banner of a worthy cause, but not out of fear of being found disloyal and treasonous. Use your brain and don't run with the pack, especially when the pack and its leaders have proven themselves to be the type of brainless, war-mongering idiots that they are. Forced patriotism is a bigger problem than no patriotism - I'd rather someone be patriotic because they want to be, or not at all, than because they were forced to be. Being forced to do something against your will goes against everything you're supposed to be pledging allegiance to.

This brings me to my next point: the abolition of the Pledge of Allegiance. It's one thing to be proud to be a citizen of your country, but it's a whole other thing to be told you have to be. Being forced to swear your allegiance to a country is no different than certain other countries persecuting dissenters for speaking out against their tyrannical governments - granted, we don't execute people for it literally, but we certainly like to make sure we do it figuratively. The government and our schools aren't even promoting the Pledge of Allegiance as it was written by Francis Bellamy:

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Doesn't ring a bell, does it? Oh yeah, that's right... he forgot the "under God" part! Can't have that!

Another thing that's sickening is that most people who like to dispute my "religion out of government" point-of-view usually always incite the forefathers in their arguments, which, as I'm about to illustrate, makes them sound stupider than they already do.

Our forefathers were mostly deistic - a form of theological rationalism that believes in God on the basis of reason without reference to revelation - and they founded this country on the principle that religion was an individual institution, not to be supported in any way by government. Don't believe me? Check out this quote:

"As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims] ... it is declared ... that no pretext arising from religious opinion shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries ... The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or a Mohammedan nation."

That quote is from John Adams, one of our most beloved forefathers, in the text of the Treaty of Tripoli. Ready for another one?

"No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief."

That was from Thomas Jefferson, who is widely regarded as THE forefather. This is the guy who wrote the document that the rights and freedoms of our whole society is based on, after all. One more:

"Government should not establish a religion, and enforce the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any Manner contrary to their conscience."

James Madison. The guy who wrote the U.S. Constitution. Remember that thing?

If you want your kids to say prayers in school, send them to a private religious or parochial school - it's as simple as that. You'd kill two birds with one stone that way: public schools and other such places would be free from your religious ranting and raving, and your child would be going to an all-access, extremely convenient brainwashing institution. It's a win-win!

Yes, I'm proud to be an American. But I'm not proud of being associated with most of you. Hence, I have to be embarrassed and, sometimes, afraid for my life to admit it. And, aside from your existence, that's the biggest shame of all.