[RANT] I don’t know what the hell is going on in Alabama, other than the usual back-woods ignorance that seems to be abundant (here comes the hate mail), but some people down there really need to get a grip. I wish Alabama would get in the headlines more often than only when the citizenry (or small portions of it) are acting nuts, but that does not seem to be the case. At any rate, let’s talk briefly about this absurd Ten Commandments monument issue, and before I get another round of hate mail, I was calling the issue absurd, not the monument or the Ten Commandments.
Initially, I was sympathetic to the cause. I am essentially areligious, and have no dog in this fight to speak of (although I might be wrong- yikes!), but most of the devout Christians and ultra religious others are decent people whom I respect. I did not understand how a statue violated the Establishment clause (and still don’t). My response to people who said “What if some Muslims wanted to put up a monument?” was, quite simply “O.K. Why not?”
However, the federal courts have seen this differently. They ruled against it, and the monument was removed. Fine- case closed until the appeals. Imagine my surprise when I see a bunch of protestors on national television saying things like “I feel like God has been delegated (I think she meant relegated- ed.) to a broom closet,” and other similar statements. My first thought was “What a weak and vain God this must be,” while my second thought was to immediately come to the computer to write about this dolt and to do my best to publicly humiliate her.
That was absurd enough, but then I saw Herb Titus, the attorney for Judge Moore, claim that this is tantamount to ‘judicial tyranny from the Federal judiciary,’ at that point, I lost control. That rhetoric sounds so familiar? Where have I heard it before? Hrmm…. Maybe it was over the TWO CENTURIES when loudmouth assholes like Mr. Titus were using every judicial and extra-judicial method available to make sure that a significant portion of the population STAYED in the REAL TYRANNY that had been created for them? Anyone else remember that? Someone needs to review the treatment a certain minority received at the hands of the Alabama state judiciary, and then, and only then, can they get back to me about ‘judicial tyranny.’ For now, though, you can kindly shut up and stay out of the headlines until you can grow up and act like adults. [END RANT]
*** Update ***
Oliver has some poll results that shocked me.
Calvin
I was hoping that Moses would show up, part the sea of Rednecks surrounding the courthouse, smash the monument to bits with a sledgehammer, then explain to the idiots that venerating the little hunk of granite actually violates Commandment #2.
Then God would strike them all dead . . .
David Perron
Parting the redneck sea…I like that. Yeah, this is getting more stupid by the day. But really, is this a federal issue? This should have been purely a matter of state. It’s the state courthouse; let them decide. Who exactly is this judge, that he can bring his own statuary into the courthouse? I can see him having it in his own offices, but not anywhere else.
So, I agree with John. If these people can’t even remember TEN Commandments without a couple of tons of marble to remind them, then they’re piss-poor intellects to start with.
DANEgerus
The First Amendment says:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…”
The Tenth Amendment says:
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
I’ve frequently said that the plain language of the Constitution is frequently violated by the agenda-mongers screaming ‘separation doctrine’ when they are clearly “prohibiting the free exercise” of religion rather then preventing the “establishment”.
Consider this monument for a moment. Does the State of Alabama’s placement of this ‘shrine’ establish a state religion? Hardly. You can walk right by this pedestal into a courtroom and be sworn to testify with your hand on a Christian bible.
The hole is much bigger… it’s only Congress… only the Federal government that is barred from lawmaking… eg “make no law respecting an establishment of religion” and this is therefore reserved to the “States respectively, or to the people”…
So does not the State of Alabama have a perfect right to build their little shrine to the 10 commandments? It is not Congress making a law.
Courtney
Hallelujah, Brother John. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Kimmitt
I am aware that the South generally thinks that the Civil War isn’t over, but the audacity required to pretend that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States does not exist is breathtaking.
tom scott
I am not from the south having been born and raised in Madison, Wi and lived the last 26 years in Alaska. I do believe however that the term redneck is just a denigrating as Bustamonte’s “N” word. Use of either is bigotry.
Kimmitt, do you feel that the XIV amendment applies to the University of Michigan also? Or do we just pick a choose when to apply it.
What shocked me about the Poll that Oliver cites was his response to it. “There is much work to be done in America.” Like maybe some Mao styled indoctrination camps?
David Perron
I’m still having a hard time seeing how the Fourteenth applies at all in this case. Maybe I’m just unusually dense this morning, though. Care to explain, Kimmitt? Can you enumerate some additional freedoms that the good citizens of Alabama will have once that hunk of stone is removed?
Who knew? I’ve got some rocks in my backyard I need to have hauled away; maybe this’ll be reason enough to get rid of them.
Kimmitt
DANEgerous’s thesis was that Constitutional prohibitions against the establishment of religion (no matter how interpreted) were for the Federal government and not for the states. I sought to refute that point. I do not care to discuss the matters you raise with you, as it would be a complete waste of my time and Mr. Cole’s bandwidth.
David Perron
“I concede” would have done just as well, Kimmitt. If you don’t want to back up your point, don’t bother trying to make it.
DANEgerous’ point is not mine. Have a nice swim back, Milo.
Glen
Careful John, neither West Virginia nor my native Ohio are immune to the phenomenon… ;>
On my own site, I called Moore a vandal. This was not done by Alabama, but by Moore himself.
Kimmitt
Mr. Perron, due respect, but I did not raise the points you bring up in the first place and therefore have no obligation to discuss or support them.
David Perron
Granted. Just don’t attempt a denial of said points without bringing any ammo whatsoever.
David Perron
Granted. Just don’t attempt a denial of said points without bringing any ammo whatsoever.
John Anderson
Er, the way the display was done was ruled gainst the ALABAMA Constitution by eight of nine ALABAMA Supreme Court justices (Noore being the ninth), it was Moore who brought in the Feds (asking for an injunction against his own court), and the eight justices are trying to find a floor that can support it in order that it might be displayed – which is not ruled un-constitutional under either Constitution.
David Perron
Thanks for that, John. SCOAL (hehe) was where this ought to have ended.