Federal judge orders Alabama chief justice to remove Ten Commandments from judicial building

AP ^ | 11/18/2002

[BearCub]

Kryptonite,

Tell me the truth. If I were an islamist supreme court judge & decided to put that statue of Muhammad in the courthouse... That would be okay with you, right? Because the constitution says "Congress shall make no law". Gimme a break - you'd be screaming your head off. At least be honest about this.

[ikka]

What if he just adds the legal citations for each law after it?

For example "THOU SHALT NOT STEAL" - see subsection 10(1) of this state's penal code, subsection (ii) ... "THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY - see subsection 11 part 2 et seq. and so forth.

[Kryptonite]

A local school board could decide to read the Koran. In fact, if Kalifornia wanted Islam to be the official religion of that state, the legislature could make it so, but no state would be forced to either adopt an official religion, or be prevented from doing so. There is nothing in the US Constitution that prevents each state from dealing with religious issues in any manner it sees fit.

The Constitution was intended to prevent the Federal Government from organizing an official church, like the Church of England, while not preventing any of the states from doing so. The Constitution envisions a wholly hands off attitude toward the issue of religion within the individual states. By making this distinction, the Founding Fathers recognized the right to freedom [b]of[/b] religion, not freedom [b]from[/b] religion.

[Kryptonite]

I've always been honest about the Constitution's plain language. It's the radical jurists who legislate from the bench who have not.

[ppaul]

“Each sighting of the monument (the 10 Commandments) — however brief — is an affront,” according to the suit.

Yeah.
Every time perverts see them, they are reminded of divine retribution for their acts of deviancy.

[an amused spectator]

Thanks for the research followup!

[ppaul]

Like it or not, the state putting up the ten commandments is an official endorsement of the Judeo-Christian religions.

Yeah.
They should take down all calendars!

[BearCub]

A local school board could decide to read the Koran. In fact, if Kalifornia wanted Islam to be the official religion of that state, the legislature could make it so, but no state would be forced to either adopt an official religion, or be prevented from doing so. There is nothing in the US Constitution that prevents each state from dealing with religious issues in any manner it sees fit.

Okay, I give. I agree that the Federal government shouldn't be involved in this at all. If the state legislature wanted to order the commandments down, then they should be able to. But the federal courts should butt out.

[RnMomof7]

Why is that NO surprise..

[Carry_Okie]

"This is a question of whether the politically powerful can impose their views on others," Southern Poverty Law Center attorney Danielle Lipow argued during the trial before Thompson.

The Southern Poverty Law Center Just completed a magnificent five story building just down the street from the Alabama Sate Capitol building. It was to augment their equally opulent facility across the street. Both are the most conspicuous such facilities in the area.

I guess with all that extra floor space for new attorneys they needed something to do. Getting into the State religion business by quelling the competition telling all who would hear who wears the brass balls is, apparently, one of them.

[Made In The USA]

Once again, reverse-diversity in action... If the Judge or any other person is authorized to use tax payer dollars for sculpture, it is up to the tax payers to have issue with it. Call it tyranny of the majority, but anyone who has issue with this had better recognize that this country is predominately Judeo-Christian. Therefore, I doubt the taxpaying MAJORITY truly has an issue with this. I certainly don't.

[evad]

I'm not sure how I feel about this. What if the judge were an islamist and wanted to put a statue of muhammad in the town square - would that be okay?

My problem too..
Although I am in sympathy with the principles of the Ten Commandments it would really piss me off if some judge who was a moose limb "convert" decided to put some of the koran preachings on the walls.

Slippery slope here.

[gatex]

"...I have noticed a lot of ignorance on these kinds of topics..."

Tell us what you know about the ingredients in cement.

[drjimmy]

What if he just adds the legal citations for each law after it?
You've covered two of the Commandments. Now show us the legal cites for the other eight.

[andy_card]

Mohammed never provided the moral foundation to American law, did he?

What are you talking about? How are the Ten Commandments the "moral foundation" for American law? In fact, I've noticed quite the contrary. Only three of the King James Commandments (after all, there are multiple versions of the Ten Commandments) are actually codified into US law - not killing, not stealing, and not bearing false witness (and then only under special circumstances). But Shari'a law, as well as just about every other legal and ethical system in the world, prohibits the same things. So where's the connection? The Common Law in use in the US has much greater ties to the pagan tribal traditions of Germanic tribes than it does to the Bible.

[BearCub]

My problem too.. Although I am in sympathy with the principles of the Ten Commandments it would really piss me off if some judge who was a moose limb "convert" decided to put some of the koran preachings on the walls. Slippery slope here.

Well I've been ripped a new one for arguing the slippery slope, so I'm gonna let it be. But I hope those who support this remember it when an islamist wants to do something similar. No doubt their approches will change.

As it is, being in Texas I need to worry more about our state's language turning to Spanish - or worse, becoming Republica del Norte.

[RonF]

OTOH, the State's posting of the 10 Commandments certainly seems to be an example of the state promoting one specific religion over others.

[BearCub]

Therefore, I doubt the taxpaying MAJORITY truly has an issue with this. I certainly don't.

So when the (soon to be) majority hispanic population of Texas changes our state language to Spanish, I should shrug my shoulders and write it off to the democractic process. Okay.

[Dimensio]

What if the judge were an islamist and wanted to put a statue of muhammad in the town square - would that be okay?

According to some FReepers, religion endorsed by government employees in an official capacity is only acceptable if it is Christianity. I'm not sure what the rationale is for that, but that is their contention.

[RonF]

Mohammed never provided the moral foundation to American law, did he?

The U.S. Supreme Court building has a sculpted freize showing famous lawgivers thoughout history, from Hammurabi on down. Moses is on there. Guess who else is? That's right. Mohammed. Ironically enough, there was a big tussle some time ago when some Moslem groups protested. The Qur'an forbids the depiction of any representation of Mohammed, and they wanted it erased. However, chiseling out his face would have messed up the frieze, so the Moslems were told, "Sorry, but...".