Kentucky Commandments Display Upheld
Thursday September 20, 2007
Image © Win McNamee/Getty Images
What this means is that the suit in Rowan County will be dismissed, but the one in Garrard County may proceed. The Rowan County display is part of an exhibit on American law and government, and in 2005 the US Supreme Court ruled that among factors making Ten Commandments displays constitutional, was if their main goal was to honor the nation's legal, traditions, rather than religious ones. The same ruling said that Ten Commandments displays on government property had to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
religious freedom is religious freedom no matter what religion you practice. Seperation of church and state was to prevent a state mandated religion, not to prevent the display of religious symbols in state buildings. If I see any religious symbols, I don’t feel like that place is trying to tell me what religion to practice, I feel they are telling me what relegion they practice. The majority of people today are too “sensitive”, they need to get a grip.
“The majority of people today are too “sensitive”, they need to get a grip.”
Cyndi,I could not agree with your more.
Being from Kentucky(and next door to Garrad County)myself, I might be able to help people understand this seemingly discriminatory ruling.
As most people are aware, our system of criminal law was based on the christian commandments, ie: killing, stealing, adultery all no-no in the eyes of the law. We were asked to place our hand on the bible and swear to tell the truth in court proceedings, because most people are christian and would be unable to lie after swearing on such a powerful religious artifact.
These two examples show the display of the Ten Commandments would be honoring the nation’s legal tradition, right?
These two example also show something else…they are both used in “court” proceedings, meaning(according to dictionary.com) COURT –noun
1. Law. a. a place where justice is administered.
b. a judicial tribunal duly constituted for the hearing and determination of cases.
c. a session of a judicial assembly.
Most cities have “courthouses”, and they are mostly used like their name suggest, but not all are that way anymore because the population of the counties has increased dramatically from when the buildings were first constructed; some as early as the mid-19th century.
For example, in the county where I am from we have a courthouse, but it isn’t used to administer justice anymore, it houses the county clerks office, drivers liscense, marriage liscense, tax evaluator, voter registration and vast and sundry other “government” offices serving the citizens of the county. The “courts” have been moved to other buildings. So, the “courthouse” here is a representation of our government and thus can’t have the commandments posted because it would endorse religion, but our “hall of justice” could because it would be “honoring our nation’s legal tradition.” I would wager that similar is true in both Russell and Garrad counties, respectfully.
You know for the government trying to seperate church and state so much, the courthouse is sure getting cluttered with religious symbols. How many courthouses have you seen that has “Lady Justice” with her scales on the outside or inside of the building? All just about. Hello? She is a Pagan Goddess. Why don’t they just turn a few small rooms into little prayer places for those of different religions to go pray before they are sent off to the gallows…figuratively speaking, of course… people always pray in court.Of course you’ll have to put christians in thier own room… with that ego, they won’t share… then have another room where different corners of the room have different symbols on the wall, for everyone to pray before court.
just an idea…
I am so tired of christians trying to force their religion upon others. By simply displaying the commandments they are endorsing the christian belief system and everyone knows it. You can squirm and twist any wording you like, but in this country christians get preferential treatment in all areas. I was a christian for 49 years and during that time I felt that all of christianity was being picked on and singled out more than any other religion. However, in the last 1 1/2 years as a pagan, I have stepped back and seen the world with a new set of eyes and everywhere you look there are christian slogans, symbols, rules, books, etc. the list goes on and on.
Keep the commandments inside the church where they belong not on public display. My religion is just as important me and I don’t expect special treatment.
I hope that a display of the Code of Hammurabi would also be included alongside the ten commandments. If so, then the ten commandments would have some validity in being displayed.
On the other hand, I doubt any of these displays would be a sore point if non-christians didn’t feel as though the displays weren’t an attempt by fundamentalist christians to ‘christianize’ the founding of this country.
cyndi i 100% agree with your comment.