Something to bash on

[kandrathe]

Hi,
Say rather 'these Christian minorities". Throughout our history, right up to the present attitudes expressed about 'rag-heads', the protection received by any group that isn't based on the Christian view has been minimal to non-existent. Ask the Jews and Mormons for their opinion of equal protection for religions in the USA.

Probably better here than in some places in the world, but your point is taken. There is a repugnant class of so called Christian who acts more like the repressive 1st century Roman, rather than like Christ would have instructed them. Some religious groups, like the suicide cults, need government intervention since they are a danger to thier own members. Unfortunatly, even the fringes of Christian sects are treated badly.

As to ". . . excoriate all religiousity from the public's view.", that's a red herring and smells of three day old fish. Nowhere did I say or imply that. ... To extend that as you have is to ascribe to me opinions that I find repugnant and offensive.

Sorry, I painted you a broad brush that included all the PC people who are attempting to excoriate. I was not thinking you were one of them.

If they were indeed in a historic context, I would agree with you. But consider money. The bills have been redesigned within the past few years, well within the time that this issue has been known. And the new bills still have "In God We Trust" on them. As to sculpture and monuments, you'll have to be more specific.

I have to agree with you on the money, but again it would probably have caused alot of political turmoil for whomever proposed it be different.

The plaques with the ten commandments that adorn many of the public building, especially judicial buildings, are no more difficult to remove than a painting would be, and thus your concern is moot (doubly so, I'd say since often the building itself is of no historical significance either because it is too modern or because it has no outstanding features).

Yes, if they are the only coda of "law" displayed ornamentally, and easy to remove I would agee.

What offends my senses is not what was done in the 1800s but what has been done this past half of a century:

• The pledge of allegiance changed from a civic statement to include religion in 1954. <>
  
• While in use for a century beforehand, "In God We Trust" didn't become the official motto of the USA until 1956. <>
  
• The 'display of the ten commandments' in courthouses seems to be a recent phenomenon (BTW, I used that link strictly because it has a fair summary of the time-line and not for any opinions expressed there).<>
  [st]So, while your point of historical context is valid in a few cases, most of the observed cases are not old enough to have any historical context.
  --Pete

I guess much like slavery, and emancipation, prohibition, and it's repeal, during the 1950's some kind of political back lash happened, that when the time is right that pendulum will swing back more toward reasonableness. However, with a Supreme Court and Circuit Court judges having been selected by the more bible thumping party, the chances of that happening anytime soon are small.