Occasionally I am completely baffled by those who call themselves conservative here in the Excited States of America.  I am generally baffled by those that yell, at the top of their lungs one thing, usually completely in contradiction to what is the law of the land, or already a granted right.

For example, those that feel that abortion is wrong yet support the Second Amendment to the extent of prying their guns from their cold dead hands.  How can you be opposed to one and in favour of the other when the end result is potentially the same (and here's a hint, I am not talking about security).  Or better, complain that security needs to be tighter, as long as it does not impact their ability to move or do the things they are used to doing.

But lately, it is the radical religious conservatives that have me really scratching my head.  Today, I read this:

Greenwell Springs Baptist Church pastor Dennis Terry introduces Rick Santorum: “I don’t care what the liberals say, I don’t care what the naysayers say, this nation was founded as a Christian nation…There is only one God and his name is Jesus. I’m tired of people telling me that I can’t say those words.. Listen to me, If you don’t love America, If you don’t like the way we do things I have one thing to say – GET OUT. We don’t worship Buddha, we don’t worship Mohammad, we don’t worship Allah, we worship God, we worship God’s son Jesus Christ.”

I point you to the Constitution of the United States, Amendment 1, The Bill of Rights:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

If the Founding Fathers really believed that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, then why did they explicitly ensure that there would be no restriction on the exercising of religion, any religion, practised by the people of the United States, citizen or otherwise (yes, the Constitution applies to all persons, citizen or not, residing, or visiting the United States.  If you do not believe me, feel free to look it up).  Christians in the United States are allowed to feel that this country was founded as a Christian nation, but, despite the history, or maybe because of it, the Founding Fathers took a stand, and opened their arms to all nations, religions and races.

So, as a right granted to you by the Constitution, feel free to worship Allah, or God, or your shiny toaster if you want.  That is your right, and as hard and as often as the conservative base of the Republican party want to, or try to, that is not something they can take away from you.  Annoy a Republican, tell them you have read the Constitution but question if they have.