Alabama SC justices cave, order Ten Commandments removed

AP on Fox News ^ | 8-21-03 | AP on Fox News website

[rwfromkansas]

MONTGOMERY, Ala.

[ppaul]

It's all but official: we have a Constitutional Republic no longer. It has been slowly replaced with a democracy executed according to the whims of the judicial branch and their gauge of public opinion.

Such democracies [i.e. non-republic in nature] have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. --James Madison

A respect for law rooted in Christian morality is the only reason that our constitution hasn't been wholly trampled upon by now, but with this taking off of the gloves, there is no hope that any remaining portion of government restraint will be respected.

Worth repeating.
BTTT

[HurkinMcGurkin]

My comments on this thread is regarding the Ten Commandments and how we need to live by them which will give us a safer happier place to live in.

Safer and happier for who, exactly? Those who agree with you?

[inquest]

You have friends and neighbors. What do they think about this? Have you tried to convince them otherwise? That's how it starts.

[lugsoul]

I have a dear friend, who is an American citizen. She was born here. Her father was an immigrant from India. She is Hindu. According to your posts, you have more Constitutional rights than she does. I think you need to study your Constitution a little more.

[Happy2BMe]

"Oh, good grief. Talk about circular."

Who wants the Ten Commandments gone the most?

[missyme]

She does but not her religion

[ppaul]

See #493

LOL

[inquest]

Actually, if you want to get nitpicky about it, it's the word "establishment" that's at issue, not the word "religion".

[concerned about politics]

Untrue. What you mean is that we have no idea when you were last banned or how many other screen names you have.

By their fruits we know them. An ass doesn't change it's eating habits overnight.

[HurkinMcGurkin]

I saw the post, thankyou, and didn't reply because it was ridiculous and nonsensical.

[missyme]

Well can you think of any other code to live by that would be better than the Ten Commandments?

[libravoter]

onsider myself to be a tolerant person

LOL! Tolerant of everyone except neighbors who don't practice a Judeo-Christian religion or any immigrant who came here after 1970 (you must HATE Arnold Schwarzenegger!)

[lugsoul]

"He has acknowledged that Hindus and Buddhists have a God-given right to practice their faith. That's the free-exercise clause."

Not exactly. He has said they have a right to practice their faith given to them by the Judeo-Christian God. He has NOT acknowledged that they have a CONSTITUTIONAL right to practice their faith under the 1st Amendment. THAT'S the free-exercise clause.

Does "religion" mean the same thing in the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause, or not?

[usadave]

No preference shall be given by law to any religious sect, society, denomination, or mode of worship;

The key words here are "by law". Has the state of Alabama ever passed a law that gave preference to any religious sect, society, denomination, or mode of worship?

[libravoter]

onsider = consider

[general_re]

We weren't talking about the establishment clause; we were talking about the equal-protection clause.

The court ruled on the basis of the settled law regarding the Establishment Clause. If you want to muse to yourself about something they didn't discuss, and how you think the law ought to be, that's fine, but Moore has clearly run afoul of how the law is.

They constantly ask out loud what the implications would be of a particular ruling - If we allow X does it mean we have to allow Y? If we prohibit A does it mean B must go, too? They simply can't do their jobs otherwise.

I've read more than a few, and what I mean ought to be tolerably clear. Whether or not you think X implies Y is neither here nor there - the courts rule on the facts before them, and the fact that inquest believes that this ruling will have some impact in some unrelated sphere simply does not enter into the process. Sorry. There's always the amendment process, though.

[lugsoul]

Nope. In his own words, he said that those things were not within the proper definition of "religion." Do you agree or disagree?

[Happy2BMe]

Okie Dokie.

[lugsoul]

"She does" what? "Not her religion" what?

[missyme]

He came before 1970 Sorry.

I believe in what this country was founded on JUDEO-CHRISTIAN Principles.

If it was founded on Hindusim we would proably be part of India Islam who knows thast's a scarry thought

Buddhism Maybe Hong Kong