The debate
in our country over the First Amendment, the rights it protects, and the battle
in our society over faith in America have all, at one time or another, sought to
interpret what the Founders really meant when they included it in our Constitution.
Liberals would have you believe it was government protection against religion, and
that any mention of God constituted coercion, and that we should just avoid even
mentioning God or anything that referenced Providence.
There's a problem, though.
The Founders left a trail. It's found in the documents they utilized in establishing
their own state governments. Today's politicians try to pretend no such intention
was there, but they should try reading their own state Constitutions!
My friend
Dave sent the following to me, and I just had to forward it to everyone on my list.
It'll be posted on my website tomorrow, but for now, I have a question (and please
read it all):
Alabama 1901, Preamble:
We the
people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God,
do ordain and establish the following Constitution...
Alaska 1956, Preamble
We,
the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered
this great land...
Arizona 1911, Preamble
We, the people of the State of Arizona,
grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas
1874, Preamble
We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God
for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879, Preamble
We,
the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...
Colorado
1876, Preamble
We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme
Ruler of the Universe...
Connecticut 1818, Preamble
The People of Connecticut, acknowledging
with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy...
Delaware
1897, Preamble
Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshiping
and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences...
Florida
1885, Preamble
We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God
for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...
Georgia 1777, Preamble
We,
the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do
ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959, Preamble
We, the people of
Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance¦ Establish this Constitution...
Idaho 1889,
Preamble
We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our
freedom, to secure its blessings...
Illinois 1870, Preamble
We, the people of the
State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious
liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing
on our endeavors...
Indiana 1851, Preamble
We, the People of the State of Indiana
, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form
of government...
Iowa 1857, Preamble
We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful
to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence
on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution...
Kansas
1859, Preamble
We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil
and religious privileges establish this Constitution...
Kentucky 1891, Preamble
We,
the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political
and religious liberties...
Louisiana 1921, Preamble
We, the people of the State
of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties
we enjoy...
Maine 1820, Preamble
We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful
hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity...
And imploring His aid and direction...
Maryland 1776, Preamble
We, the people of
the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts
1780, Preamble
We the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts,
the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence,
an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction...
Michigan 1908, Preamble
We,
the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings
of freedom, establish this Constitution...
Minnesota 1857, Preamble
We, the people
of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty,
and desiring to perpetuate its blessings...
Mississippi 1890, Preamble
We, the people
of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His
blessing on our work...
Missouri 1845, Preamble
We, the people of Missouri, with
profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness.
Establish this Constitution...
Montana 1889, Preamble
We, the people of Montana,
grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution...
Nebraska
1875, Preamble
We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom. Establish
this Constitution...
Nevada 1864, Preamble
We the people of the State of Nevada,
grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...
New Hampshire
1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V
Every individual has a natural and unalienable right
to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience...
New Jersey 1844,
Preamble
We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for
civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking
to Him for a blessing on our endeavors...
New Mexico 1911, Preamble
We, the People
of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty...
New York
1846, Preamble
We, the people of the State of New York , grateful to Almighty God
for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings...
North Carolina 1868, Preamble
We
the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign
Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging
our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...
North Dakota 1889, Preamble
We,
the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil
and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852, Preamble
We the people of the state
of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to
promote our common...
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble
Invoking the guidance of Almighty
God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this...
Oregon
1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2.
All men shall be secure in the Natural
right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences...
Pennsylvania
1776, Preamble
We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the
blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance...
Rhode
Island 1842, Preamble
We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty
God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy,
and looking to Him for a blessing...
South Carolina, 1778 Preamble
We, the people
of the State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and
establish this Constitution...
South Dakota 1889, Preamble
We, the people of South
Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties...
Tennessee
1796, Art. XI. III.
That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship
Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas 1845, Preamble
We
the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and
beneficence of God...
Utah 1896, Preamble
Grateful to Almighty God for life and
liberty, we establish this Constitution...
Vermont 1777, Preamble
Whereas all government
ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and
other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man...
Virginia 1776,
Bill of Rights, XVI
Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed
only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance,
Love and Charity towards each other...
Washington 1889, Preamble
We the People of
the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties,
do ordain this Constitution...
West Virginia 1872, Preamble
Since through Divine
Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we,
the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God...
Wisconsin
1848, Preamble
We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom,
domestic tranquility...
Wyoming 1890, Preamble
We, the people of the State of Wyoming,
grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this
Constitution...
Now - anyone want to make the argument that God was not an integral
part, and was always intended to be a part, of our nation? It is time to restore
God to our nation again. He is now the only hope we have!!!