Two hundred thirty two years ago, the United States fought a war for independence. Thousands of lives were lost, but our freedom was won. During this time, the founding fathers drafted our Constitution, and immediately began amending it to ensure that the freedoms for which Americans had fought and died would be protected. The very first amendment to the United States Constitution begins, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” That’s the very first clause of the very fist amendment. It is essential to the protection of civil liberties, and has been for over two hundred years.

North Carolina is ready to abandon this document. Two GOP lawmakers have brought forward a bill that allows the state to establish a state religion (presumably, their brand of Christianity). This bill is already backed by nine other Republicans, including the State House majority leader.

This is anathema to the American way of life, to every freedom that the United States has stood for since the Revolutionary War began.

North Carolina isn’t alone. Mississippi is trying to pass a law to allow them to nullify federal laws- presumably to the same effect. In order to enact their own theocratic ideals, rather than democratic ones.

Democracy means living in peace with people who might not agree with you. Not making their differing beliefs illegal, or legally inferior.

It this law passes, we may look back at it as the day America’s decline to dust began.