by tros
This article was written under the influence of LSD
Now I try not to complain about something that's obvious, or can't be helped, or has been beaten to death already. In this case, I think that most people aren't aware how much this affects the half of the country that doesn't vote.
This is a problem that goes back to the founding of this country, and it's something that Americans brag about.
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.
Freedom of religion is so fundamental to American ideology that it has been misused by the Christian Right to defend government favoritism toward Christians. But do we have freedom of religion? We definitely have the freedom to be Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. If Hindus had the Christian Right's "religious freedom" they could outlaw hamburgers. What about animal sacrifice? You can legally feed certain animals to other animals, but to ritualistically kill an animal you own is "animal cruelty". Rastafarians are not free to practice their religion. Natives can use peyote for religious purposes. Why not hippies?
I found the sticking point in an older ruling that was actually a victory at the time. US vs. Boyll decided that adherents to Native religions need not be of Native descent to get the exemption.
[Erowid]
Individual freedom, whether it be freedom of religion, expression or association, has been particularly important to maintaining the culturally diverse character of New Mexico. Here, we celebrate the right of the individual to revel in the passions of the spirit. The survival of this right owes much to the protection afforded by the First Amendment, which has allowed New Mexico's distinct cultures to learn mutual respect for each other's jealously-guarded customs and traditions. Diversity is new Mexico's enchantment.
For the reasons set out in this Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Court holds that, pursuant to 21 C.F.R. 1307.31 (1990), the classification of peyote as a Schedule I controlled substance, see 21 U.S.C. 812(c), Schedule I (c)(12), does not apply to the importation, possession or use of peyote for bona fide ceremonial use by members of the Native American Church, regardless of race.
My problem is with the term "bona fide". What's bona fide mean?
bona fide adj. - (legal)
-
- Characterized by good faith and lack of fraud or deceit (a bona fide offer)
- Valid under or in compliance with the law (retirement incentives made part of a bona fide employee benefit plan)
- Made with or characterized by sincerity (a bona fide belief)
- Being real or genuine (bona fide residents)
Basically it comes down to this. If Republicans don't want the government to exclude religion from "public life" (that's politicianspeak for laws, executive orders, and departments of the federal government) they have to define religion. What is a legitimate religion? Who get's to sign up for handouts under the Faith Based Initiatives program? Furthermore, what makes them legitimate? Until we either stop acknowledging religion in our laws or set some sort of standard, we are automatically playing favorites. Everything Christians want to do is already legal.
My personal problem is this: How come some asshole who says that peyote is his God gets to trip, but I don't? Why? Because there are a bunch of other people who say the same thing? Because we (Republican-equivalents) historically screwed their race? I mean, I can do all the same shit they do. I'll get a tent, build a fire, do some chanting. I can even play hand drums!
For me, LSD is not a pleasure drug. I can't say it's a religious thing either, because I've never been religious. The only thing I can say is that psychedelics are the closest thing I've ever had to religion, and it seems like they fill the same mental and emotional space. My demons are figurative, but if I believed that they were actually real demons the government should still respect my beliefs. Last time I tripped, when I quit smoking, I hallucinated my cigarette craving as an animal that chewed up my insides. How is this different from eating peyote and communing with the spirit world?
The federal government has made an ongoing effort (the War on Drugs) to systematically incarcerate a specific type of person. This type is most notably distinguished by race, and it's pretty obvious that race was and remains a major factor in marijuana prohibition. In the case of psychedelics it essentially makes it illegal to be a hippie. People will say that it doesn't count as much as race or religion, that it's just fashionable hedonism. I just don't understand why we need to sacrifice a few individuals' religious freedom in order to crack down on people who want to get fucked up. How are hippies supposed to establish a church and hold "bona fide" religious ceremonies when their special plant is illegal?
Drug prohibition has been maintained by fear since its inception. The problem is technically very easy to fix: just repeal the appropriate laws. When it comes to complicated problems like social justice, there is a question of whether or not people's best intentions will be twisted and used to justify something less noble. There is such a thing as an effective vs. an ineffective social program. In the case of drug prohibition there is actually a will to keep the pernicious laws. That such a fundamental injustice is an object of such enthusiasm from politicians is very depressing.
What makes it worse is that the War on Drugs is a complete waste, even by their standards. What excuse do they always use? THINK OF THE CHILDREN! Our poor depressed Christian youths are being tempted from a virtuous life of faith by these evil pleasure drugs. So what do they do? They make pot the easiest drug for kids to get. Instead of telling people how to use drugs safely, they scare the shit out of everyone with stories of some guy who thought he saw God an jumped out a window.
They should be afraid. Take a hint! How effective is your religion when your kids would rather rape their own minds than put up with it, and you need to force it on others to get off. I doesn't compare. Psychedelics alone do not constitute religion. You need a lot of bullshit and trappings and paperwork and slaves before you have one of those. Psychedelics do make individualistic spirituality possible, and it's a spirituality that is more real than the depressing filth peddled by America's churches. It's real because there is no faith involved. Faith is what makes you go through the motions when you know its not real. Faith is what makes you put up with it every time you get screwed. Faith is your excuse for not making your own decisions, your own judgments, or your own values. I'll believe in your god when I see it.
Faith can be great, but you can't just pick something random like giant expensive spy satelite missile defense, or Star Wars style combat robots, or new kinds of nu*c*le*a*r weapons. No, he's not stupid. He can point to Iraq and yell Armageddon , then crank out the tactical warheads here, just as long as he drawls like an illiterate hick. Shit, can you imagine what would happen if this country were ruled by some acid gobbling mafia? They would probably outlaw Christianity.
- submitted by
12:31:17 AM 
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