Just when you thought people couldn't get any more moronic....

[DRZinn]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,146801,00.html

9th Circuit Court Sued Over Ten Commandments
Tuesday, February 08, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO — The federal appeals court that ruled the Pledge of Allegiance (search) was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion is being sued for allegedly displaying the Ten Commandments on its seal and courthouses.

The case was brought by an attorney who was admitted to practice before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in June. In his lawsuit against the San Francisco-based court, Ryan Donlon (search) said the certificate admitting him contains the court's seal which unlawfully contains what he believes is a tablet object representing the Ten Commandments.

Cathy Catterson, the court's clerk, said the seal highlights a woman, known as "the Majesty of the Law" who is reading a large book. At her feet is a tablet with 10 unreadable lines on it — what Donlon believes is the Ten Commandments.

Catterson said the tablet has "the same shape" of the Ten Commandments but "you can't read the text of it."

She said the drawing became the court's seal decades ago, and is a depiction of a tile mosaic in one of the century-old courthouse's ornate courtrooms.

In 2002, the appeals court sided with an atheist father who challenged the words "under God" in the pledge, ruling that the pledge that public school children recite each day was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. The U.S. Supreme Court later dismissed the case.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Poetic justice.

(Unintentional pun)

 

[P95Carry]

I am so tired of all this PC crap - haven't folks got better things to do.! I am not even religious but this ''take this down'', ''take that down'' stuff gets tiring, real quick.

 

[joab]

What is wrong with a citizen exercising his right to be free of government enforced religion being shoved down his throat.

I'm sick and tired of these government entities trying to pass off their moral superiority on it's subjects.

I myself am considering bringing suit against the county for this same thing.

Last month while traveling the toll road I pulled up to a booth and by way of casual conversation asked the attendant " How's it going"?

I have known this man as a freedom loving American for years so when he responded with
"This God D@^^ traffic gets worse every day"
I was shocked and offended beyond belief by this endorsement of God and his damning power by a duly appointed representative of county government.

I should be able to travel this road, that I have to pay for each time I use it, with out this kind of blatant attempt at forced religion.

I was so upset and despondent over this incident that I spilled my hot coffee in my lap and could only eat 3 Whoppers at lunch.

 

[SMMAssociates]

Some ten years ago, give or take, I was dragooned into attending my daughter's "Winter Concert" at the local Elementary School.

Lion King stuff....

Very lightweight ("Jingle Bells" stuff v.s. "O Holy Night") Christmas music.

"Seasonal" music ("Sleigh Bells", for example).

Something that passed for Channukah music.

And a few others I've forgotten.

I walked up to the Principal afterwards (my daughter saw to it that I knew him pretty well ) and said: "George: I'm Jewish, but where the heck were the Three Wise Men and stuff like that." He told me that he'd sent the "suggested" program information to his daughter who was studying to be a teacher. Neither of them, nor any of her fellow students, believed it.

I suppose I'm more tolerant than some, but I just don't mind any of this stuff. If the municipal government wants a creche, so what.... As long as they're not inciting pogroms, or using my taxes to favor some other religion in a major way, a minority has to keep his mouth shut once in a while.

However, what we're looking at here really isn't as much "Freedom Of Religion" as "Freedom From Religion." What that means to me is that being Jewish (or Christian, or Zoroastrian, or Bahai) shouldn't be a disadvantage, nor should a minority be forced to embrace the majority's religious beliefs to receive government services, Police protection, etc.

If somebody wants to put the Ten Commandments on the front of the courthouse, why not.... Just don't spend more on that than on keeping the restrooms clean and the A/C working....

 

[PATH]

It looks like the Ten Commandments and thus must be removed? Enough. Enough already! This is PC gone to the Nth degree.

 

[DRZinn]

I can actually agree with taking down the Ten Commandments, though it shouldn't be such a big deal. But taking down something that looks like the Ten Commandments?

 

[Destructo6]

Did this joker stop to think that it might be a depiction of Hammurabi's law code? And, how would he know what the tablet(s) upon which the ten commandments were written look like?

 

[Preacherman]

Hmmm... he should take two (stone) tablets and call them in the morning!

 

[rock jock]

Didn't he know? Its really a grocery list. "Mmmm, let's see....butter, eggs, bacon, bread, fat-free jello bars...."

 

[DRZinn]

I would think it's most likely to represent the Bill of Rights.

 

[Art Eatman]

A cliche, but I still like the bit about having the Ten Commandments at a courthouse creating a hostile work environment...

, Art

 

[R.H. Lee]

OTOH, maybe he's exposing the Ninth Jerkit Court of Schlemiels for the hypocritical deviants they are.

 

[Master Blaster]

They should have a pen crossed with a sword instead.

Or a big jar of vasoline and a telephone pole.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Hmm, lets see here- brand new shyster just out of law school (as if we need more)- the shingle is not even dry and he's in the news already- carefully planned attempt to get noticed and drum up business or just a novice full of himself?- either way another idiot- you decide- :banghead:

 

[Car Knocker]

But taking down something that looks like the Ten Commandments?

You're surprised about this in a society that kicks a kid out of school for pointing a finger and saying "Bang"? Or drawing a picture of an armed soldier? Or wearing a t-shirt with a picture of a gun on it?

 

[The Rabbi]

If it showed two stone tablets that are rectangular but rounded at the top then it for sure was NOT the 10 Commandments. See Baba Basra.

I agree. Some people have WAAAY too much time on their hands.

 

[71Commander]

Did this joker stop to think that it might be a depiction of Hammurabi's law code? And, how would he know what the tablet(s) upon which the ten commandments were written look like?

Everybody, and I mean everybody has saw Charlton Heston come down the mountain holding them. We know what they look like.

 

[Obiwan]

Those of you that can "understand removing the 10 commandments" are just feeding the monster. It will always be something with these people

There is no "right" to freedom from religion

There is no "right" to freedom from being offended

Whats that Terri Clark song..."I think the world needs a drink"

 

[beerslurpy]

I think you guys who say that "this display or that display isnt so bad" are trying to reconcile the current invasive government with the government that the found fathers formed.

First, I have no problem with any non-governmental entities expression of any religious sentiment.

The problem with this is that the government employs an enormous number of people in an enormous variety of roles. Even if you dont buy that the Establishment Clause is binding below the federal level (which it is, thanks to abraham lincoln and the 14th amendment), it is still hard to escape the fact that school teachers, social workers etc are all employees of the federal government. Everything they do at work is taxpayer dollars at work.

If you want your children to have nativity displays and the like, send them to a catholic school. Personally I feel all schools should be private schools, religious or not, but that isnt something I am likely to accomplish with such a powerful educational lobby whose livelihood depends on lots of tax dollars.

 

[Zach S]

If there's just one tablet, wouldn't that be five commandments?

 

[The Rabbi]

I think you guys who say that "this display or that display isnt so bad" are trying to reconcile the current invasive government with the government that the found fathers formed.

Your post seems contradictory. The Founding Fathers put in an establishment clause to forbid the Federal government from establishing religion. The state governments were free to do so. Thus we had Quaker Pennsylvania and Puritan Massachuesets. You are right that this kind of arrangement came to end with Lincoln but the FF's original design did not envision the later arrangement.

I personally have no problem with all this. The country was founded by Christians of one sort or another and has been governed by Christians of one sort or another. And even those who weren't still had their moral and intellectual foundations ultimately rooted in Christian values. It is historically false and inaccurate to portray anything different.

 

[mbs357]

I personally have no problem with all this. The country was founded by Christians of one sort or another and has been governed by Christians of one sort or another. And even those who weren't still had their moral and intellectual foundations ultimately rooted in Christian values. It is historically false and inaccurate to portray anything different.

The country was build by (mostly) Christians...I think that gives the ok to put a few words on/in a court building. If the country were built by any other religion I'd feel the same way.
Heck, what about all the OTHER stuff in the capitol that's religious? When are they going to start fussing about the statues/etc...

 

[Nazirite]

Displaying The Ten Commandments does not endorse a particular religion. They make no reference to Christianity at all. They mention God but only in general. Personally I think these people need to grow up and get a life. :banghead: There are lots of things that offend me but I don’t whine about them.

 

[jefnvk]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Where in there does it say that religious items in public places is wrong? There is no law establishing a religion, and no law keeping them from worshiping their religion. Maybe if people took time to read text, we wouldn't have people believeing that seperation of church and state is mentioned in the first amendment, and that only militias are covered by the second.