Role in the vitality of this nation. And i shall read it for you. Congress shall make no laws 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 to peacefully assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The two come first, which is where religious freedom is often called americas first freedom. Establishment actually comes even before religious freedom. Often people dont understand what establishment is. In 1833, massachusetts disestablished. What that means is people no longer had to pay taxes to support my own religious ancestors, the congregationalists. If you want to know why establishment went away, imagine how popular it was to pay taxes for somebody elses preacher. That is one of the reasons it went away. Also, that is a period in American History of revivalism. People started going to camp meetings, singing songs, and they didnt like having to sup
A girl named tamara, lived on an indian reservation. She suffered great tragedy early in her life at age two. She was in a foster home. She was beaten very severely at a drunken party. Her arm, her nose, her leg were broken and she laid in a room with no medical attention. A horrific story. To tell you a little bit about how i came to write a book about it, she was featured in a news story about abuse of children at foster homes with a very large photograph in a newspaper about two years after this happened. And i went to the indian reservation when i read this story and raised a lot of hell with everybody. And i met with this girl and her grandfather. And we, you know, we visited. Then i sent her a couple of christmas gifts. Then her grandfather died and i lost track of her. I would always ask at the indian reservation, does anybody know what happened . The answer was no. No one knew. And 27 years later, i got an email from her. It turns out she has been homeless in minneapolis. Went
Good morning to you. I will show viewers the photograph of the girl. Tell us who she is. Senator dorgan the book is entitled the girl in the photograph. A, lived ond tamar an indian reservation. She suffered great tragedy early in her life at age two. She was in a foster home. Very severely party. Unknen her arm, leg were broken and she no medicaloom with attention. A horrific story. To tell you a little bit about how i came to write a book about it, she was feature and a news story about abuse of children at foster homes with a very large photograph in a newspaper about two years after this happened. And i went to the indian reservation when i read this story and raise a lot of hell with everybody. And i met with this girl and her grandfather. And we, you know, we visited. Then i center a couple of christmas gifts. Then her grandfather died and i lost track of her. Ask at the indian reservation, does anybody know what happened . The answer was no. No one knew. And 27 years later i got
Now, i have taught religion in america for more than 35 years. And i believe that the First Amendment has played a vital role in the vitality of this nation. And i shall read it for you. 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 to peacefully assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The establishment of religion and freedom of exercise comes first, which is why religious freedom is often called americas first freedom. Establishment actually comes even before religious freedom. Often, people dont understand what establishment is. Now, in 1833, massachusetts disestablished. And what that means is people no longer had to pay taxes to support my own religious ancestors, the congregationalists. Now, if you want to know why establishment went away, imagine how popular it was to pay taxes for somebody elses preacher. Right
Press or the right of the people to peacefully assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The establishment of religion and freedom of exercise comes first, which is why religious freedom is often called americas first freedom. Establishment actually comes even before religious freedom. Often, people dont understand what establishment is. Now, in 1833, massachusetts disestablished. And what that means is people no longer had to pay taxes to support my own religious ancestors, the congregationalists. Now, if you want to know why establishment went away, imagine how popular it was to pay taxes for somebody elses preacher. Right . That is one of the reasons it went away. But also, that is a period in American History of revivalism. People started going to camp meetings, they started whooping it up, singing songs, and they didnt like having to support these basically european style formal religion, everybody sitting like this. Theres a liturgy. Wouldnt you rather