Interesting

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Gillespie
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Interesting

Post by Gillespie »

A friend from New York sent this and it does make you think about the principles this country was founded on:

> Laus Deo
>
> I thought that you and others may like to see this. One detail that
> is not mentioned, in DC, there can never be a building of greater
> height than the Washington Monument.
>
>
> With all the uproar about removing the ten commandments, etc... This
> is worth a moment or two of your time. I was not aware of all this
> historical information.
>
> On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington DC,
> are displayed two words: Laus Deo No one can see these words. In
> fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even
> there and for that matter, probably couldn't care less.
>
> Once you know Laus Deo's history, you will want to share this with
> everyone you know. But, these words have been there for many years;
> they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument,
> facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square
> miles which comprise the District of Columbia, capital of the United
> States of America.
>
> Laus Deo! These two seemingly insignificant, un-noticed words, out of sight
> and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the
> highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most
> successful nation in the world.
>
> So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables
> and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say "Praise
> be to God!"
>
> Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James
> Polk was President of the United States, it was not until 1888 that
> the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty
> five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of
> our nation, Laus Deo . "Praise be to God!"
>
> From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may
> take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with it's division
> into four major segments. >From that vantage point, one can also easily
> see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles L'Enfant...a
> perfect cross-imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the
> north. The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east
> and the Lincoln Memorial to the west.
>
> A cross you ask ? Why a cross? What about separation of church and
> state? Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not,
> in the Constitution. So, read on. How interesting and, no doubt,
> intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice.
>
>
>
>
> Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one
> climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share
> a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of
> Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese
> Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children
> from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and
> Proverbs 22:6.
>
> When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th,
> 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible
> presented by the Bible Society. Such was the discipline, the moral
> direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first
> President of our unique democracy "One Nation, Under God."
>
> I am awed by Washington's prayer for America. Have you never read it?
> Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on!
>
> "Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the
> United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the
> hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and
> obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love
> for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United states at
> large." And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to
> dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves
> with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the
> characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and
> without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can
> never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech
> Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
>
> Laus Deo!
> When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all
> over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of
> God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look.
>
> You may forget the width and height of "Laus Deo", it's location, or
> the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget it's
> meaning, or these words: "Unless the Lord builds the house its
> builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the
> watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127: 1)
>
> It is hoped you will send this to every child you know; to every
> sister, brother, father, mother or friend. They will not find offense,
> because you have given them a lesson in history that they probably
> never learned in school. With that, be not ashamed, or afraid, but
> have pity on those who will never see.
>

Anon.
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:35 pm

Post by Anon. »

Belief is a denial of truth,belief hinders truth;to believe in God is not to find God.Neither the believer nor the the non believer will find God;because reality is the unknown,and your belief or non-belief in the unknown is merely a self-projection and therefore not real.First of all,why do you believe?You believe because it gives you satisfaction,consolation,hope,and you say it gives significance to life.Actually your belief has very little significence,because you believe and exploit,you believe and kill,you believe in a universal God and murder each other.The rich man also believes;he exploits ruthlessly,accumulates money,and then builds a temple or becomes a philanthropist.
The men who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima said that God was with them;those who flew from England to destroy Germany said that God was their co-pilot.The dictators,the prime ministers,the generals,the presidents,all talk of God,they have immense faith in God.Are they doing service,making a better life for man?The people who say they believe have destroyed half the world and the world is still in misery.Through religous intolerance there are divisions of people as believers and non-believers,leading to religous wars,death and destruction.
Furthermore,belief invariably divides people:there is the Hindu,the Buddhist,the Christian,the communist,the socialist,the capitalist nad so on.Belief,idea,divides;it never brings people together.You may bring a few people together in a group but that group is opposed to another group.
Living in a little village or a big town or what ever it may be ,I am nobody;but if i identify myself with the larger,with the country,if i call myself a Christian,Hindu,or what ever,it flatters my vanity,it gives me gratification,prestige,a sence of well being;and that identification with the larger,which is a psycological necessity for those who feel that self-expansion is essintial,also creates conflict,strife between people.

.
Gillespie
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Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 1:43 pm
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Post by Gillespie »

Some people are fortunate to have 200+ years of freedom to form an opinion such as yours, which I don't think, has anything to do with the founding principles of this country. Some people resent the fact that whatever caused all of this, us, is referred to as God, none of which was the point, I feel, of the post. It was merely to point out part of the founding principles of this country and certainly not how religion can be manipulated to ones advantage but keep in mind that manipulation plays a part in every aspect of our lives whether it is work or games or children, it is part of the human experience.
Anon.
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:35 pm

Post by Anon. »

Thank you for your comment, I guess what I was trying to relate was my growing concern, that it seems more and more these days, religious tolerance is on the wane, meaning if you are not a bible thumping Jesus freak/born-again Christan you are in the wrong country. To me the greatness of the United States is in large part due to its diversity and mix of many different races, ethnicity, and religions. It bugs me when people try to push their own religious agenda. I think we should try to get along as human beings, and not be so concerned as to what we believe,because those beliefs only tend to separate us.
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