Ten Commandments already in The Supreme Court buidling

[Congressman Billybob]

I listened with care to Snow today, because I'd e-mailed him both yesterday and today on this subject. My memory is that he did NOT mention the 10 Commandments in the Supreme Court.

Billybob

[Kevin Curry]

The difference is that when multiple representations of conflicting religious belief systems are present, . . .

Moses holding Ten Commandments is dead center on the frieze. Solon and Confucious flank him. The symbolism is very clear.

To be consistent, SCOTUS would have to order the images removed--or make them moveable so they could swap out center spot on regular rotation.

But that would be silly, wouldn't it?

The answer is one of common sense. Having the Ten Commandments on display in a courthouse simply does not constitutute an "establishment of religion."

[WhatNot]

If you don't believe in such a God, then the Ten Commandments are nothing more than a bunch of meaningless words, and if that's the case how can a bunch of meaningless words possible infringe on yours or anybody else's rights?

[Political Junkie Too]

He did, in his Parting Thoughts segment, and he even called it "rank hypocrisy."

-PJ

[takenoprisoner]

Well let's just see which ones are offensive.

We should begin with "thou shalt not murder."

Is this an offensive commandment to anyone?

[takenoprisoner]

how bout "shall not covet thy neighbors wife?"

Who would this one offend besides Larry Flynt?

[takenoprisoner]

how bout "thy shall not steal?"

Who would this offend beside carjackers?

[WhatNot]

Baseball Players might be offended. 8^D

[unibrowshift9b20]

Congressman Billybob:

Are you really a congressman? for what state? Also, what is your stance on the issue; are you saying that as the heritage of our nation the decalogue should stay in the courts, or that its outruled in the 1st amendment?

My mind is fairly open to either side of the argument, so long as its reasonable.

[ClancyJ]

if that's the case how can a bunch of meaningless words possible infringe on yours or anybody else's rights?

Exactly. The fact that it does bother them means that their purpose is more than just their comfort level. There is a purpose to these complaints. Those "words" have been here for many, many years and have not yet dictated any religion. So, this argument is a bunch of bunk.

And, as you say, they don't believe in the words and the words could not possibly cause them any discomfort. If it did, that would prove that they might need to heed the words.

[bimbo]

Having the Ten Commandments on display in a courthouse simply does not constitutute an "establishment of religion."

You're right. The display of the Ten Commandments merely tells all viewers where the basis of our Constitution and our laws came from - much like a footnote in a research paper. It doesn't force anyone to believe anything.

[takenoprisoner]

euphemisms aside naturally

[SedVictaCatoni]

According to the federal court we have to look to the artist or the person who commissioned the work to determine what their intentions were.

Probably the most stupid ruling I have ever heard of.

Don't conservatives usually demand that the Supreme Court look at the framers of the Constitution in order to determine what their intentions were? That was Scalia's argument against declaring sodomy one of the Ninth Amendment rights.

[WhatNot]

If it did, that would prove that they might need to heed the words.

I think that says it all.

[SedVictaCatoni]

You're right. The display of the Ten Commandments merely tells all viewers where the basis of our Constitution and our laws came from - much like a footnote in a research paper. It doesn't force anyone to believe anything.

It is absolutely correct that a display of the Ten Commandments is constitutional as a historical document. That's why the Supreme Court has it on display, along with Solon and other law-givers.

Judge Moore crossed the line when he claimed that he was displaying the Ten Commandments to demonstrate that the Judeo-Christian religion was the supreme law of Alabama.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP

[Roscoe]

Having the Ten Commandments on display in a courthouse simply does not constitutute an "establishment of religion."

Apparently simply "offending" the the ACLU is unconstitutional.

[Gdzine]

Also the the ten commandments cant really be tied to one religion.

Christians respect it, Jews respect them, and I am pretty sure you will find in the Koran that Moses was a respected figure, by implicaiton Muslims would respec the ten commandments.

[takenoprisoner]

"Thou shalt not murder" is the supreme law of any civilized society. "Thou shall not take any other G-d before me" refers only to the G-d of choice, since what G-d of any religion would command otherwise?

[unibrowshift9b20]

But obviously the decalogue brought down from mt. Sinai is refering to the God of the Bible. Everyone knows which God is implied by that.