Ten Commandments can stay in Frederick park

The Washington Times ^ | 6-22-05 | David Dishneau

[JZelle]

BALTIMORE -- A privately owned Ten Commandments monument may remain on display in a Frederick city park, a federal judge ruled yesterday. U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles Jr. concluded that no reasonable observer would think the 5-foot-tall granite marker is meant as an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. Judge Quarles also found that the city's sale of the monument and an accompanying strip of parkland to the local Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) chapter in 2002 was proper. Plaintiffs Roy J. Chambers and the District-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State had claimed the transaction was a sham designed to keep the monument on what appeared to be city land. Frederick Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty said the ruling affirmed the the city's decision to sell the monument to avoid a legal battle with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The sale caused the ACLU to drop a lawsuit challenging the display. "We sold the land, and the Eagles could do with it what they will, and they have, and that's that. And I hope this puts an end to it," Miss Dougherty said.

[sr4402]

Aw. What a gyp! ;o)

Sorry, friend, if you thought that I was.

[FormerLib]

Is this one of those monuments enscribed with Christian and Judaic symbols? Hmmm, which religion do they claim it is trying to promote?

Because if it promoting both, then it cannot be in violation of the establishment clause since you cannot be establishing a single religion if you are treating several equally.

[FormerLib]

So just "appearing" to be on public land is an affront to their sensibilities.

I think it's more of a case that simply having it appear anywhere they "might" see it is an affront to their perversions. And they do so dearly love their perversions.

[incredulous joe]

Good to hear. I do not consider the folks who are so violently opposed to this to be "atheists". They are secular humanists. They are offended by other people, especially Judeo-Christians, having religious belief and a defined sensibility of right and wrong. And don't get me wrong, I'm not implying that atheists are not "moral" people. I simply suggest that we may attempt to live morally for different reasons.

Have NO doubt this is not the end of the line. The ACLU and like-minded people will continue to make us spend money to defend this monument.

For the life of me, I have never understood why people expend so much energy opposing something which they claim does NOT exist. Essentially, I believe they are simply bigots.

[little jeremiah]

That's what I meant, but I was being polite.

[FormerLib]

Courtesy is a fine trait, but don't cast pearls before swine.

[little jeremiah]

I'll be honest - I was being sarcastic!

I'll be pinging my list to this article later.