By Matt Underwood As I read the headline about the bill to ban displays of Satan in public property moving forward in the Senate, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. It seems like yet another example of right-wing politicians disregarding the principles of the U.S. Constitution. In just 25 words, this bill manages to violate three separate clauses of the First Amendment. It’s truly impressive how they can be against the constitution while claiming to be its biggest defenders.
What strikes me as particularly amusing is the fact that the bill explicitly targets displays of Satan, rather than the broader Satanic Temple. It’s as if they have no idea that the Satanic Temple actually uses a statue of Baphomet as their symbol, not Satan himself. These religious fanatics clearly don’t bother to inform themselves before launching into their irrational crusades.
But if they want to ban displays of Satan, then they should also get rid of nativity scenes and crucifixes. After all, by their logic, any religious effigy should be banned from public property. I’m sure that will go over well with Catholics and other religious groups that hold their symbols dear. If we’re going to ban one, we should ban them all. It’s only fair, right?
Of course, it goes without saying that this bill is completely unconstitutional. It’s disheartening to know that there are still right-wing idiots in our legislature who would propose such blatantly illegal measures. The process of change is slow, but I’m hopeful that we’re moving in the right direction. It’s clear to see that our politicians are more interested in performative, do-nothing acts rather than truly serving their constituents. The rest of the world is surpassing us in almost every metric, and yet our leaders remain fixated on issues that are completely inconsequential.
One aspect of this bill that particularly baffles me is the question of how these politicians even know what Satan looks like. Are they experts on demonic aesthetics now? It’s absurd to think that they can legislate based on their own subjective interpretations of religious iconography.
Moreover, it’s ironic that while they’re wasting time on bills like this, they can’t figure out how to address more pressing issues like border security or the budget. It’s clear that their priorities are completely out of whack. We are tired of this political grandstanding and the constant pandering to religious extremists. It’s time for our representatives to actually govern and address the real problems facing our society.
One point of contention that arises in this debate is the definition of religion. Senator Jake Hoffman argues that Satan, as an explicit enemy of God, cannot be considered a religion. But that’s an absolutely ludicrous statement to make. Religion is a personal or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices. It’s not up to the government to decide what constitutes a legitimate religion. When they do so, they are directly violating the First Amendment.
It’s clear that this bill will inevitably face lawsuits on grounds of freedom of speech and religious freedom. And it’s a shame that taxpayer money will be wasted on defending an unconstitutional law. It’s reminiscent of the monumental waste of money that we’ve seen from our politicians time and time again.
Ultimately, this bill is just another example of religious fanatics trying to impose their beliefs on the rest of us. They seem to forget that the United States is founded on the principles of freedom of religion and separation of church and state. By singling out Satanic displays, they are opening the door for further discrimination against other religions. It’s a slippery slope that will only lead to more unconstitutional measures.
In conclusion, it’s disheartening to see our elected officials wasting time and taxpayer money on bills that are clearly unconstitutional. The will of the people is not being heard, only the will of the wealthy and the religious extremists. It’s time for a complete overhaul of our system to ensure that true representation and the principles of the Constitution are upheld. Until then, we will continue to fight for our rights and challenge the absurdity of bills like this one.