On July 16, The US house of representatives
voted on and passed (HR 1691) - The Religious Liberties Act. Every
member of the NJ congressional delegation except Congressman Donald
Payne voted in favor of. This Bill requires government workers to meet a
higher standard than currently applied to justify interfering with the
free expression of religion.
For example, in some communities the zoning laws have been used to
exclude some house's of worship, or employers have been forcing muslim
employee's to shave. Jews are refused their holy day's off. Everyone is
subject to christian beliefs and practice's as laws, will we all be free
now to exercise our faiths. What is yet to be seen is will it
protect Rastafarians and others who use the herb marijuana instead of
the grape as christians and catholic's religions use.
I as a believer in RASTAFARI need extra protections, one of the
practice's of our
religion, the consuming of marijuana, has
been prohibited for 61 years. (Marijuana Prohibition and Taxation
Act of 1937) - Because of my beliefs, and practice's I'm now
facing 30 years in prison.
During the last great prohibition ( alcohol), there were exemptions
to the prohibition for christian, and catholic worship service's. This
new Bill does the same. Legally alcohol is illegal for minors and any
adult providing alcohol to a minor is subject to arrest. Catholic
priests regularly serve alcohol (wine ) to minors. HR 1691 now protects
this practice. Rastafarians, who espouse using marijuana a natural
herbs for spiritual as well as it's well documented healing
powers are targeted for arrest, as I was. While Rastafarians are
generally black any individual (black or white) who follow Rastafarian
teachings about, not cutting one's hair, or allowing it to dread, are
PROFILED as a marijuana user, and accosted by police agencies.
This can be attested to by many longhaired caucasians.
- Christian and catholic's are freely allowed to keep wine cellars,
full of wine. Yet when Rasta's accumulate more than 50 grams of our herb
we are called DRUG DEALERS and charged with possession with intent to
distribute, and conspiracy, a first degree felony in New Jersey
punishable by up to 30 years.
(HR-1691) - Is expected to receive widespread support in
the Senate and President Clinton has indicated a willingness to sign
into law. Will this law create a much needed exemption for religions
such as Rastafari who use the herb marijuana instead of the christian
acceptable grape.
Hypocritically this Bill was created and supported by members
of the christian coalition, and the more conservative members of
Congress who now claim they as " christians" are being persecuted.
Everyone else knows who the persecutors are! Have they inadvertently
protected Religions who use marijuana.
To read more about HR 1691 go to US Congressional site:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c106:2:./temp/~c106VkbXF1::
Read what the Washington Post reported on (HR 1691)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-07/16/030r-071699-idx.html
