Friday, November 28, 2008 | Reason : Political | print version

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Anti-terror law requires God be acknowledged

by John Cheves, Lexington Herald-Leader

Under state law, God is Kentucky's first line of defense against terrorism.

The 2006 law organizing the state Office of Homeland Security lists its initial duty as "stressing the dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth."

Specifically, Homeland Security is ordered to publicize God's benevolent protection in its reports, and it must post a plaque at the entrance to the state Emergency Operations Center with an 88-word statement that begins, "The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God."

State Rep. Tom Riner, a Southern Baptist minister, tucked the God provision into Homeland Security legislation as a floor amendment that lawmakers overwhelmingly approved two years ago.

As amended, Homeland Security's religious duties now come before all else, including its distribution of millions of dollars in federal grants and its analysis of possible threats.

The time and energy spent crediting God are appropriate, said Riner, D-Louisville, in an interview this week.

"This is recognition that government alone cannot guarantee the perfect safety of the people of Kentucky," Riner said. "Government itself, apart from God, cannot close the security gap. The job is too big for government."

Nonetheless, it is government that operates the Office of Homeland Security in Frankfort, with a budget this year of about $28 million, mostly federal funds. And some administrations are more religious than others.

Under previous Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a lay Baptist preacher, Homeland Security interpreted the law at face value, prominently crediting God in its annual reports to state leaders and posting the required plaque.

Under Gov. Steve Beshear, officials this week said they didn't know about the plaque until the Herald-Leader called to ask whether it's still there. (They checked; it is.) The 2008 Homeland Security report, issued a month ago, did not credit God, but it did complain about a decline in federal funding from Washington.

Thomas Preston, Beshear's Homeland Security chief, said he isn't interested in stepping into a religious debate, and he hasn't given this part of his duties much thought.

"I will not try to supplant almighty God," Preston said. "All I do is try to obey the dictates of the Kentucky General Assembly. I really don't know what their motivation was for this. They obviously felt strongly about it."

There is no reference to God in Homeland Security's current mission statement or on its Web site, which displeases Riner.

"We certainly expect it to be there, of course," Riner said.

But state Sen. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, said Homeland Security should worry about public safety threats instead of preaching religious homilies.

"It's very sad to me that we do this sort of thing," said Stein, a frequent critic of efforts to mix religion and government. "It takes away from the seriousness of the public discussion over security, and it clearly hurts the credibility of this office if it's supposed to be depending on God, first and foremost."

Posted: Friday, November 28, 2008 | Permalink

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1. Comment #293356 by Layla Nasreddin on November 28, 2008 at 8:33 pm

Please God, make the stupid stop! *cries* (Yes, that was tongue-in-cheek...)

Seriously, how the hell can that even be constitutional?!? *baffled*

Other Comments by Layla Nasreddin

2. Comment #293359 by Laurie Fraser on November 28, 2008 at 8:37 pm

Now THAT is really, really, really, really stupid.

Other Comments by Laurie Fraser

3. Comment #293361 by Raynor on November 28, 2008 at 8:39 pm

@1:

Short answer: It probably isn't... just no one has taken the charge to sue the state over it.

Other Comments by Raynor

4. Comment #293370 by cam9976 on November 28, 2008 at 8:50 pm

Judging by the rise in terrorism-related deaths in recent years it's clear god is lousy at preventing terrorism.

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5. Comment #293372 by Styrer- on November 28, 2008 at 8:52 pm

Health and Safety legislation worldwide must surely be permitted to bring in this wondrously responsibility-shedding clause with immediate effect. It should surely be the province of all privately-owned enterprises to similarly shirk their Health and Safety obligations by way of the best 'get out of jail free' card I've ever heard of.

Simply wonderful, as long as it is fairly and ubiquitously made available.

I feel a spree of corporate wrecklessness just dying to be let rip...

Best,
Styrer

Other Comments by Styrer-

6. Comment #293374 by j.mills on November 28, 2008 at 8:53 pm

WTF?!?

If they're really relying on god, what do they need the money for?

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7. Comment #293377 by maxamillion on November 28, 2008 at 8:55 pm

Well, what can I say ~~democracy~~ theocracy is alive and well in the USA.

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8. Comment #293382 by mordacious1 on November 28, 2008 at 9:02 pm

Hey, there's been no terrorist deaths in Kentucky since this came about.

I have a rock outside my house that keeps away elephants, and I have not seen a single one.

You guys are so skeptical.

Other Comments by mordacious1

9. Comment #293401 by AdamMil on November 28, 2008 at 9:23 pm

I wonder if they would have a bigger effect on terrorism by placing references to Allah into the laws instead.

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10. Comment #293404 by heafnerj on November 28, 2008 at 9:26 pm

Some things make me ashamed to be American. This is one of them.

After reading some of the comments on the article's home site, it's obvious that America is a truly uneducated country. I'm really afraid it's too broken to fix.

Other Comments by heafnerj

11. Comment #293406 by Diacanu on November 28, 2008 at 9:27 pm

"stressing the dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth."

We need to believe really hard in an imaginary friend for safety?

We're fucked.

Other Comments by Diacanu

12. Comment #293411 by Cyboman on November 28, 2008 at 9:42 pm

Yeah, this is a job to big for government alone. We're going to need a deity... or at least a task force of highly competent angles.

Other Comments by Cyboman

13. Comment #293415 by Gmork on November 28, 2008 at 10:01 pm

We need..
The A-Team.

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14. Comment #293417 by lbq on November 28, 2008 at 10:16 pm

Constitutional? Of course it is just as constitutional as the 'In God we trust to keep the dollar up'.

The U.S. Constitution stipulates separation of state and church(es). But Kentucky does not name any specific church god - not a Baptist god or Methodist god or Catholic god or whatever, not even a Moslem god. So it's O.K.

It's just the Atheist god that is proscribed.

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15. Comment #293418 by robotaholic on November 28, 2008 at 10:16 pm

I swear these religious pushers in government know it's wrong and they will keep on pushing until stopped. I wish I had taken up law when I was going through college because I could really use a degree like that...

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16. Comment #293422 by aquilacane on November 28, 2008 at 10:48 pm

Don't the terrorists point to god as their number one go to guy for the shit they pull? What's really idiotic is that we (atheists) will probably end up the scapegoats on this.

Godless heathens, see what you've done! If only you believed, we would have won. (this works for both sides)

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17. Comment #293424 by WilliamP on November 28, 2008 at 10:56 pm

If we're going to have a plaque asking for god's protection, let's at least make it honest:

God, please protect us from the terrorists whom you created and whom you told to kill us.

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18. Comment #293425 by Evilcor on November 28, 2008 at 10:59 pm

What's really fucked up is how many people in this retarded country (and they don't get much more retardeder than KY) think this is swell.

Never a thought about America being worthy of loyalty and affection for what it is; always a need to shoe-horn the nation into whatever queer shape suits your sub-primate ideology. That fucking idiot isn't even ashamed of being either 1) a pandering fool or 2) indescribably unfit for his office.

I'll just say it:
Christians of "Real America TM" actually hate America. They hate New England, where the Framers lived and they hate California, where the dream found its home.
These savages hate America for EXACTLY the same reason the Saudis hate us. . . because some of us are grown-ups who drink without getting drunk, screw without consequences, and laugh at the hateful fear they grew up with.
This might explain the HUGE blind spot we have toward the Wahabbi and other full-time anti-Americans. . . they're secretly simpatico.
To them America must be wicked so they can save it and love it at last.

A bit astray there, but it needs saying. I'm so goddamn tired of being ashamed I could puke.

Other Comments by Evilcor

19. Comment #293426 by DrawingYou on November 28, 2008 at 11:11 pm

The God heads don't give a shit about the constitution, regardless of their patriotic rhetoric, their belief trumps human law in their make believe world. They are mad and there are too many of the fuckers running the world. They are going to kill us all and their isn't a damn thing we can do about it. I'm sorry but you and every one you know is going to die.

Isn't faith just fucking great'

P.S. Merry Christmas

Other Comments by DrawingYou

20. Comment #293429 by EvidenceOnly on November 28, 2008 at 11:17 pm

If Kentucky was in Scandinavia thousands of years ago, Wotan would be their first defense.

If Kentucky was in the Middle East, Allah would be their first defense.

If Kentucky was in India, all the Hindu gods would be their first defense.

If Kentucky was in Italy, Jesus as interpreted by the Vatican would be their first defense.

...

In fact, at any location on Earth and at any time in human history, the Kentucky "god" could have been any of the man-made gods.

Just like 99.99% of species have gone extinct, so have 99.99% of all gods - that man has created in its image - gone extinct.

Education makes this clear. There is no need to hang on to our man-made gods. They do not exist and cannot protect us.

It's time for America to grow up but growing us seems very painful for most.

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21. Comment #293431 by Mark_Ken on November 28, 2008 at 11:38 pm

blah, you guy's are so jump-to-conclusionist...

I'm sure that they meant that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is going to reach down and noodle those nasty terrorists.

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22. Comment #293432 by Evilcor on November 28, 2008 at 11:44 pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this ideology EXACTLY what got us in this mess to begin with?

Other Comments by Evilcor

23. Comment #293433 by Styrer- on November 28, 2008 at 11:49 pm

Comment #293425 by Evilcor on November 28, 2008 at 10:59 pm

'I'm so goddamn tired of being ashamed I could puke'.

Your 'astray' post is superb.

You may want - if you haven't already - to take a peek at the book by Andrew Anthony, 'The Fall-Out'. Subtitle is 'How a guilty liberal lost his innocence.'

A marvellous book. You should read it - and stop feeling ashamed.

Best,
Styrer

Other Comments by Styrer-

24. Comment #293436 by Evilcor on November 29, 2008 at 12:09 am

Thank you, Stryer.
The title sounds interesting.
I'll give it a shot in a couple of years when I can save up enough for books again.
Is it likely to be at just any book store?

Other Comments by Evilcor

25. Comment #293437 by beanson on November 29, 2008 at 12:13 am

The lunatics are in charge of the asylum

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26. Comment #293440 by Evilcor on November 29, 2008 at 12:20 am

We shut down our asylums 25 years ago. . . It's how we manage to fill the streets with homeless people.

And our churches with parishoners.

Other Comments by Evilcor

27. Comment #293445 by CaptainMandate on November 29, 2008 at 12:56 am

this is scary

the one thing we could always rely upon with our friends in the US is that no matter how stupid they become, the gods of capitalism have kept the god of hate in check. christianity flourished but people had a good enough life to see the loons for what they are.

we are now entering a global recession and US is in severe debt with financial power shifting to China, it's only a matter of time before the crisis sends all the uneducated into biblical hysteria. this is another example of how the raligaholics are gaining more footholds.

I hate conspiracy theories but I'm gonna say it; 9/11 was just what the doctor ordered, some home grown panic. a war on terror, a chance to pick and choose who your enemies are for funding terrorists (many of us remember who funded the IRA)

God is the terrorist, how fucking stupid do you have to be to not see that?

"Government itself, apart from God, cannot close the security gap. The job is too big for government."

People of America, run for your lives! the government can't run it so they're getting a a goatherders imaginary friend in to help

Other Comments by CaptainMandate

28. Comment #293448 by AForce1 on November 29, 2008 at 1:07 am

Why is the Federal government spending $28 million on homeland security in Kentucky? After all, not only is it not an important state with nothing worth attacking but it has God to protect it anyway. The money, I think, could be better spent elsewhere.
And, if, however unlikely, Kentucky was to suffer an horrendous terrorist attack, the Kentuckians would have to blame God & not the Federal govt for letting them down. Doesn't God know everything & approve every action in advance? It would be God's will, wouldn't it?
The Wikipedia page for Kentucky makes interesting reading. Less than 8% of the population is black and over 45% are "not affiliated" to any church/religion but a few (ie 2% or less) religious loudmouths have been able to impose their views on the majority. How democratic, religiously benevolent is that?

For further info on Kentucky see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky

After reading the page ask youself this: how is it possible that less than 30% of the population can impose their view on the majority?
I always thought of the USA as the epitome of democracy. It's just like Prop8 in Calif. A vocal minority determine the civil liberties of a another. That's not democracy, is it?

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29. Comment #293450 by Evilcor on November 29, 2008 at 1:12 am

You thought the U.S. was a democracy? What flavor crack have you been smoking?

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30. Comment #293451 by Alternative Carpark on November 29, 2008 at 1:17 am

God?

I thought it was the late Colonel Sanders who was responsible for the security of Kentucky.....

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31. Comment #293458 by SilentMike on November 29, 2008 at 2:05 am

I am literally gobsmacked (well pretty much).

note this:

State Rep. Tom Riner, a Southern Baptist minister, tucked the God provision into Homeland Security legislation as a floor amendment that lawmakers overwhelmingly approved two years ago.

...

The time and energy spent crediting God are appropriate, said Riner, D-Louisville, in an interview this week.

1) It always seems to be a baptist minister doesn't it?

2) He's a democrat. Just to remind those of you that are Obama crazy that the leader of the "free world" has, in it's political system, two major parties, both of them religious to excess. Granted his opposer is also a Democrat, but the Brights seem to be losing this one, as they too often do.

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32. Comment #293461 by petermun on November 29, 2008 at 2:14 am

Using the god card is a crap excuse for crap government. There are better excuses - like touching wood.

Other Comments by petermun

33. Comment #293462 by Fuller on November 29, 2008 at 2:20 am

If things get really bad, Superman will step in.

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34. Comment #293465 by CaptainMandate on November 29, 2008 at 2:22 am

peternun

the fact that they're so happy to make an excuse amazes me. it's just saying "we can't do it without superdad"

in a democracy one need's to say please step down and let someone who knows what they're doing run things

Other Comments by CaptainMandate

35. Comment #293466 by AForce1 on November 29, 2008 at 2:25 am

I have to admit that the KFC mantra "finger likin' good" always puzzled me. I wondered where the finger had been. Now I know, into everybody else's busness

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36. Comment #293478 by IndyHoosier on November 29, 2008 at 3:54 am

"We're going to need a deity... or at least a task force of highly competent angles." [#12 Cyboman]

Would you recommend obtuse or acute angles?

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37. Comment #293482 by Kraes85 on November 29, 2008 at 4:24 am

Sometimes I'm actually surprised and really impressed by just how stupid religious people can be...
This is one of those times.

Other Comments by Kraes85

38. Comment #293483 by godisnotgreat on November 29, 2008 at 4:28 am

This is from the Onion?

Other Comments by godisnotgreat

39. Comment #293484 by decius on November 29, 2008 at 4:32 am

Kenfuckistan once again.

Our American friends should mobilise en masse over this nonsense. Mock them, bombard them with emails, sue them.

Other Comments by decius

40. Comment #293489 by Roger Stanyard on November 29, 2008 at 5:16 am

It's obvious why Kentucky needs God on its side against terrorists/atheists/liberals/commies....

It's the world famous home of Answers in Genesis's spendid "museum".

Everyone is thus out to get at at. It's obviously pretty damn dangerous these days being a sanctimonious religious hayseed from the arse-hole of flyover country.

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41. Comment #293490 by black wolf on November 29, 2008 at 5:19 am

Roger,
thanks for answering my unspoken question 'what the fuck would anyone want to go terrorist in KY for?'

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42. Comment #293495 by Enlightenme.. on November 29, 2008 at 5:58 am

"We're going to need a deity... or at least a task force of highly competent angles." [#12 Cyboman]

"Would you recommend obtuse or acute angles?"[#36 Indyhoosier]

No, he means some deliberately obtuse non-celtic Englishmen with strong roots from Schleswig-Holstein to bring a message to get get busy living rather than get busy dying.

The Angles are the subject of a legend about Pope Gregory I which apparently has roots in history. Gregory happened to see a group of Angle children from Deira for sale as slaves in the Roman market.Gregory inquired about their background. When told they were called "Angli" (Angles), he replied with a Latin pun that translates well into English: “Bene, nam et angelicam habent faciem, et tales angelorum in caelis decet esse coheredes” ("It is well, for they have an angelic face, and such people ought to be co-heirs of the Angels in heaven"). Supposedly, he thereafter resolved to convert their pagan homeland to Christianity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgdKgV9Y62w

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43. Comment #293496 by liberalartist on November 29, 2008 at 6:00 am

I drove through Kentucky on my way to Indiana for Thanksgiving and saw a lovely sign that said "Believe in God or the Devil will git ya!" I laughed for 5 miles.

Kentucky: home of god-approved homeland security and the creationist museum! I think there may be a correlation here to the low levels of educated citizens in that state, perhaps...

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44. Comment #293497 by Roger Stanyard on November 29, 2008 at 6:07 am

Liberalartist says " drove through Kentucky on my way to Indiana for Thanksgiving and saw a lovely sign that said "Believe in God or the Devil will git ya!" I laughed for 5 miles."

I wonder if the hayseeds realise what "git" means in English English?

Shakes head.

Poe's Law in operation.

Other Comments by Roger Stanyard

45. Comment #293498 by thrutraffic on November 29, 2008 at 6:07 am

Now THAT just pisses me off!

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46. Comment #293503 by Sean on November 29, 2008 at 6:26 am

"This is recognition that government alone cannot guarantee the perfect safety of the people of Kentucky," Riner said. "Government itself, apart from God, cannot close the security gap. The job is too big for government."

He's right. There's a city in the US in which Commissioner Gordon would shine a large search light in to the sky. The searchlight projected the image of a bat, which in turn would bring a caped crusader to help them.

I'm hoping that Riner will contact Gordon in Gotham City to seek his advice. Failing that, I think the city of Metropolis has a similar approach that's proven quite successful. One day Kentuckystan will find its own hero!

Other Comments by Sean

47. Comment #293509 by PK51 on November 29, 2008 at 6:40 am

i can't believe this is the first i've heard of this. i was born and raised in kentucky, this makes me sad and ashamed of that fact. anybody in a state with a higher I.Q. and cleaner gene pool need a roommate?

Other Comments by PK51

48. Comment #293520 by Diacanu on November 29, 2008 at 7:06 am

DrawingYou-

Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine?
:P

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49. Comment #293526 by polestar on November 29, 2008 at 7:15 am

Comment #293448 by AForce1 "...how is it possible that less than 30% of the population can impose their view on the majority?...That's not democracy, is it?"

I am afraid that is precisely what democracy is: the most vocal and best-organised (think of any pressure group) gets the most results and there is no external force to guarantee "fairness": we have to do it, we are the demos.

Many have expressed the fact that:
...eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing." (Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address, March 4, 1837)

Burke or Lincoln may not have actually said "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" but Burke did say: "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle."

Freedom is not a right but a privilege that we have to work to maintain.

Other Comments by polestar

50. Comment #293528 by Frankus1122 on November 29, 2008 at 7:24 am

Yikes!

"Government itself, apart from God, cannot close the security gap. The job is too big for government."

I am sort of at a loss as to how to respond to this.

I have been sitting here with my mouth open, slack jawed, alternately laughing and shaking my head in disbelief.
It makes me sad and angry and a bit scared. I feel sorry for Kentuckians.

I had a dream last night that I laughed out loud at a presentation of a Christian group to young people at a camp. They were trying to recruit the youngsters to join the Christian fellowship group and I disrupted their presentation by mockingly laughing at them.

Jesus! They want to protect themselves with magic powers! What are they? Six years old?

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