Lets start a conversation... Church and State and...
(or maybe it'll be a small bonfire)
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
In the (link in bold) "Inside the Beltway" column in today's (11-24-2004) The Washington Times, is the following news item:
God forbid
This note just adds to many in issues where supposed Church and State separation have eroded away traditions that harmed no one while providing benefit to many.
A few years back, Firefighters in Montgomery County Maryland were barred by the local politicians from having Santa participate in "Christmas" celebrations that had been a tradition for years. A link: Santa March saves the day for Kensington Town, Montgomery County, Maryland!
There's been the recent history of decisions against display of the Ten Commandments in court rooms or any other public land/buildings. For example, google on "judge roy moore ten commandments". (Actually, the Supreme Court of the U.S. is finally taking a case or two -- actually two -- related to this issue, it should be interesting to see the results of the cases).
Before that, we've had decisions that have banned pre-meal prayers at State funded Military schools.
All of the above has been going on while a fairly sizable amount of the country sat back and got more frustrated and more angry at the decline in moral values (see the discussions posted about recent polls) and the efforts to eradicate morality out of our society as a whole (starting especially in schools, where instead, we have an effort to quickly implement sensitivity training).
With all of this said, we really do need to look at the changes that have been made in our society, at the efforts by groups like the ACLU (which is anything but Civil) to purge our system of moral values and eliminate any group that might possibly seen as not tolerating others through any practices that might be "exclusive" of any one or any thing.
Is it time to have our legislators and our government create laws that clear up the separation clause and bring it back to a point where freedom of religion isn't implemented as "freedom from religon" and where anything that may relate to a diety must be excised out of society? Do we need or want Congress to take up the issues? Or perhaps is it something that should come through the court system (specifically the Supreme Court) and which reaffirms that groups like the Boy Scouts have as much right to exist and use public facilities as do (for example) the Black Student Unions, the gay and lesbian activist groups, and others that must be tolerated and accepted because they are not exclusive and don't mention God or any diety in their charters?
Bring on the discussion, and really state your case as to what is right, and where should we go from here. Please remember though to be respectful of others, and not make personal attacks. (Attack the positions yes, the persons no). Thanks in advance.
God forbid
This note just adds to many in issues where supposed Church and State separation have eroded away traditions that harmed no one while providing benefit to many.
A few years back, Firefighters in Montgomery County Maryland were barred by the local politicians from having Santa participate in "Christmas" celebrations that had been a tradition for years. A link: Santa March saves the day for Kensington Town, Montgomery County, Maryland!
There's been the recent history of decisions against display of the Ten Commandments in court rooms or any other public land/buildings. For example, google on "judge roy moore ten commandments". (Actually, the Supreme Court of the U.S. is finally taking a case or two -- actually two -- related to this issue, it should be interesting to see the results of the cases).
Before that, we've had decisions that have banned pre-meal prayers at State funded Military schools.
All of the above has been going on while a fairly sizable amount of the country sat back and got more frustrated and more angry at the decline in moral values (see the discussions posted about recent polls) and the efforts to eradicate morality out of our society as a whole (starting especially in schools, where instead, we have an effort to quickly implement sensitivity training).
With all of this said, we really do need to look at the changes that have been made in our society, at the efforts by groups like the ACLU (which is anything but Civil) to purge our system of moral values and eliminate any group that might possibly seen as not tolerating others through any practices that might be "exclusive" of any one or any thing.
Is it time to have our legislators and our government create laws that clear up the separation clause and bring it back to a point where freedom of religion isn't implemented as "freedom from religon" and where anything that may relate to a diety must be excised out of society? Do we need or want Congress to take up the issues? Or perhaps is it something that should come through the court system (specifically the Supreme Court) and which reaffirms that groups like the Boy Scouts have as much right to exist and use public facilities as do (for example) the Black Student Unions, the gay and lesbian activist groups, and others that must be tolerated and accepted because they are not exclusive and don't mention God or any diety in their charters?
Bring on the discussion, and really state your case as to what is right, and where should we go from here. Please remember though to be respectful of others, and not make personal attacks. (Attack the positions yes, the persons no). Thanks in advance.
PolMach Forums
!