It was removed this morning, quickly and painlessly. It was taken inside the building.
While I might be open to the argument that the Ten Commandments is a historical document, up there with the Mayflower Compact, the interviews with the protesters provide substantial evidence to me that those who want the monument there want to establish Christianity as the state religion. On those grounds, I'd remove it.
Posted by Justene Adamec at August 27, 2003 07:33 AM | TrackBackI am not religious, but in light of how much of American jurisprudence is based on the Judeo-Christian religious tradition, I was not troubled by the moument and am disappointed that it was ordered removed by a federal judge. I do not believe that the monument "established" a religion any more than does the pledge of allegiance, the ceremonial words on our currency, or the opening of Congress with a prayer.
In matters of church and state, I believe that the federal courts have been too eager to thwart the will of democratic majorities and have shown an unnecessary hostility to organized religion and, in this case, to federalism.
Posted by: Spooky at August 27, 2003 08:56 AM (Permalink)the interviews with the protesters provide substantial evidence to me that those who want the monument there want to establish Christianity as the state religion
I would amend that, Justene: the evidence from those interviews with protestors is that the protestors want to establish whatever.
There are a lot of people who think that monument should stay, who wouldn't cross the street to join those protests.
Posted by: McGehee at August 27, 2003 10:06 AM (Permalink)I agree. The interviews with the protesters did a lot to move me into the strong remove it camp.
Posted by: Peter Sean Bradley at August 27, 2003 10:32 AM (Permalink)Not that public opinion matters much in legal disputes, and while I expected to be in the minority with my narrow reading of the establishment clause, but it seems that the majority of voters -- 4 out of 5 -- oppose the moving of the monument. Check this out:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/27/ten.commandments/index.html
Posted by: Spooky at August 27, 2003 04:28 PM (Permalink)The Ten Commandments displayed in a courthouse is not an establishment of religion, therefore there is no Constitutional basis for having it removed. What we have just witnesed is another case of judicial tyranny. Unelected judges making law based upon their own personal opinions rather than a fair and honest analysis of the law or the Constitution.
Posted by: Jim Brown at August 27, 2003 11:43 PM (Permalink)--- "William M. Cooper" wrote:
>
> Dear Reader,
> Quite frankly, it seems that anything that this nation
> was built upon coming from the bible and Christianity
> has become outlawed these past fifty years. I want to
> be sent somewhere away from America so I can live
> unharrassed by the unGodly in order to maintain the
> same beliefs our founders had, without having every
> immoral and so called (just realized [finally] by the
> supreme court) constitutional doctrine forced upon me
> and my family. Today's Supreme Court, rules nothing
> like the one in the 1800's, which only proves how they
> have their own agenda apart from legal precedent and
> the customs of the people. I'm against any form of
> homosexuality, child abuse and foul language and
> behavior, yet the networks are hard at stripping these
> and other profane taboos away from the minds our their
> viewers, which will ultimately result in a change in
> our laws, government and lifestyles. Our country is a
> huge disgrace to the entire world and it is easy to
> see why so many countries openly hate us and label us
> as the great satan. Our History is not so silent
> my friend, that you can tell me that this is what our
> founding fathers intended, because you would be a
> gross liar of the most beligerant kind. Truely it has
> now come to pass for all those thousands of soldiers
> who were laid to rest in the name of freedom, that
> through our departure from absolutes that originated
> from our once high moral and social standards, that we
> have truely caused their sacrifices to be in vain.
> Call them back from the dead and ask them if this is
> what they fought for and you will most assuredly get a
> unified sound of grief and tormentuous wailing from
> their broken hearts that are mourning for our pitiful
> outcome. Unrestrained freedom is always destructive
> and our continued pursuit of unrestrained moral
> behavior and the constant attack against the Christian
> faith by the Supreme Court will prove itself in the
> end as the key mechanism attributed to our countries
> undoing. God forgive Sodom and Gomorra for their
> sickening wickedness; for they were ignorant compared
> to our countries open rebellion to the ten
> commandments, the bible and the golden rule of loving
> one's neighbor as thyself: having replaced a noble
> heritage for one of a filthy and meaningless
> existance.
> William M. Cooper
> 1227 W. Kenedy #52
> Kingsville, Tx. 78363
> coopr2000@yahoo.com
> http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/8857
>