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Religious Tapestry Ordered Removed From Courthouse (23 Psalm)
Online Athens ^ | 9/13/05 | By Lee Shearer

Posted on 09/13/2005 5:30:26 AM PDT by CFW

By Lee Shearer
lee.shearer@onlineathens.com

LEXINGTON - Oglethorpe County Commission Chairman Robert Johnson begrudgingly directed an employee to take down a display of the 23rd Psalm from the Oglethorpe County Courthouse Monday. Johnson said he feared an expensive legal challenge.

The Psalm, embroidered on a tapestry about 4 feet by 5 feet, hung for about a month on a wall in a hall outside of the office of Oglethorpe County Clerk of Courts Geneva Stamey.

According to lawyers with the Georgia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, displaying the 23rd Psalm is essentially the same thing as displaying the Ten Commandments, which the Supreme Court ruled this summer couldn't be displayed in a Kentucky courthouse.

[snip]


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: aclu; antitheist; churchandstate; freedom; leeshearer; msm; persecution; psalms; religion
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What the reporter doesn't say, although the clerk mentions it, is that he is the one that complained.

So, if you happen to have an extra copy of the 23rd Psalm on your computer, feel free to mail it to Lee Shearer ....that's lee.shearer@onlineathens.com

1 posted on 09/13/2005 5:30:27 AM PDT by CFW
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To: CFW

Do we really want a county commission chairman who has 'fear' about something like this to be in this position?
Does he leave the lights on at night when he tucks himself in?
When will we put people in charge who are not afraid?

What a crock...


2 posted on 09/13/2005 5:36:31 AM PDT by InsureAmerica (Evil? I have many words for it. We are as dust, to them. - v v putin)
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To: CFW

Sounds like ol'Lee can't read either.


3 posted on 09/13/2005 5:36:49 AM PDT by muawiyah (/ hey coach do I gotta' put in that "/sarcasm " thing again?)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: InsureAmerica

That's what so scarey about the ACLU. They have an endless supply of money. Small counties such as Oglethorpe Co. have none so therefore cannot fight them. I'm not sure what the solution could be since I think it has been ruled that we can't "kill all the lawyers".


5 posted on 09/13/2005 6:17:02 AM PDT by CFW
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: muawiyah

LMFAO


7 posted on 09/13/2005 6:24:26 AM PDT by expatguy (http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
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To: CFW

Well, that's no doubt an old ruling. On the other hand, you'all could restart the county farm, catch some ACLU types, and turn 'em loose for a few weeks out there.


8 posted on 09/13/2005 6:27:24 AM PDT by muawiyah (/ hey coach do I gotta' put in that "/sarcasm " thing again?)
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To: CFW
Many people here would condemn the commissioners for caving into the ACLU. But the ACLU's tactic here is to cause their opponents to fear litigation. The commissioners probably don't feel it's justified to spend a lot of money on a court battle when they have other needs.

This is how the ACLU wins so often without even going to court.
9 posted on 09/13/2005 6:55:18 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: CFW
Of course we can't have a tribute to the most beloved Psalm in Western civilization. That would constitution a violation of "separation of religion and state." >sarcasm Me wonders who would be "offended" by a mere poem.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
10 posted on 09/13/2005 7:04:23 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: George W. Bush
From the article: Stamey said county officials asked her to take down the tapestry herself Monday, but she refused. "It's not to harm anyone. It's to help," she said. Nobody had complained before a reporter began asking about it Monday, she said.

Ms. Stamey stood her ground. I'm proud of her. She is really a sweet, wonderful lady. She retires after her current term as clerk, and we really are going to miss her.

11 posted on 09/13/2005 7:06:40 AM PDT by CFW
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To: CFW

Both these are from the Old Testament which Judiasm and Christianity accept and, if I remember hearing right, the Koran. I seem to remember hearing at one time that the Koran either contained or Muslims accepted as holy writings from both the NT and OT. (Maybe someone can help me with this. It would be really good to know for sure.) In any case, the argument that it's endorsing a specific religion at that point doesn't hold much water.


12 posted on 09/13/2005 7:31:39 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: CFW

This is so silly and anti-religious. If one were to put up a sign which said something like, " Justice is the Firmest Pillar of Society ", that would be fine unless someone found those words somewhere in the Bible. At that point it would be objectionable and unconstitutional.


13 posted on 09/13/2005 7:38:33 AM PDT by Inwoodian
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To: Yehuda; seamole

Great "modern English versions," gentlemen.


14 posted on 09/13/2005 7:43:42 AM PDT by livius
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To: CFW
Reporters creating news?!?!?! I'm shocked! /sarcasm off

But seriously though don't they have a code of ethics?(HA! I'm sorry I couldn't resist another dig)

15 posted on 09/13/2005 7:59:07 AM PDT by NYCynic
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To: Inwoodian
This is so silly and anti-religious. If one were to put up a sign which said something like, " Justice is the Firmest Pillar of Society ", that would be fine unless someone found those words somewhere in the Bible. At that point it would be objectionable and unconstitutional.

Hmmm. Someone should try that as sort of a blind taste test thing. In other words get a focus group of libs and show them two phrases. One made up on the spot but a little weak. The other a strong statement supporting justice but a relatively little known quote from the bible. Then have them pick which one should be written over the entrance way of a hypothetical courthouse. I'd love to see the jaws drop when they pick the biblical verse.

16 posted on 09/13/2005 8:02:03 AM PDT by NYCynic
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To: NYCynic

Amen.


17 posted on 09/13/2005 9:16:13 AM PDT by Inwoodian
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To: NYCynic
Reporters creating news?!?!?! I'm shocked! /sarcasm off

The Clerk was not happy with him. I learned a long time ago, stay on the good side of the Clerk of Court. They can either help you find that elusive document, or leave you to hunt for it on your own. I bet the happy, smiley, helpful clerks will not be so helpful when he is around in the future.

18 posted on 09/13/2005 10:34:03 AM PDT by CFW
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To: CFW; All

Do they not receive money from the Fed? I mean OUR TAX MONEY to instigate and litigate these cases? There was another thread here recently supporting this thought. If this is indeed the case, well, do I need to tell you that this is the single most devastating thing to our lives that exists at the moment? I ask for input from all on this, and if so, I WILL start a movement. Does the aclu receive our tax money to fight court cases against us? and thus, therein lies (one of) the motivations for the reason they do what they do. (think jackson, sharpton)


19 posted on 09/13/2005 12:27:29 PM PDT by InsureAmerica (Evil? I have many words for it. We are as dust, to them. - v v putin)
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To: thompsonsjkc; odoso; animoveritas; DaveTesla; mercygrace; Laissez-faire capitalist; ...

Moral Absolutes Ping.

I am REALLY getting seriously fed up with this hateful "remove every single last teeny tiny vestige of anything slightly religious that might potentially make even one avowed atheist feel uncomfortable in his miserable non-belief" crap.

The ACLU needs to be de-funded and de-fanged.

Since most of the people in the US believe in God, and even those who don't are rarely offended by religious symbols, emblems, and the like, and if even if they are, religious expression is protected by the Constitution, why the (deleted) is this continuing?

At this rate, every house of worship will have to be located in the industrial section of town in a back alley with a hidden sign.

Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.


20 posted on 09/13/2005 2:50:12 PM PDT by little jeremiah (A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, are incompatible with freedom. P. Henry)
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