Separation of Church and State

The Eleventh Commandment

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I don’t know if there ever was an eleventh commandment although I have seen the video of Moses walking down the mountain from his talk with the burning bush carrying three stone tablets,

He announces “Behold, I bring you the Fifteen…” dropping one of the tablets which shatters, then, without missing beat, announces, “Behold, I bring you the Ten Commandments.”

A little humor for a serious subject

But if there was an Eleventh it would say…

“Thous shall not get caught with your inanity showing.”

Louisiana, a great proponent of the surviving commandments, did just that.

Proclaiming the solution to their dismal performance in one of government’s most sacred duties, Public Education, lies in tacking the (remaining) Ten Commandments onto the wall of every public classroom in the state, they passed a law mandating this.

Apparently they overlook the real possibility that a significant number of students can’t even read them, let alone absorb some magical antidote to ignorance.

Read for yourself the myriad reports putting Louisiana last or near last in the nation for level of education. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/louisiana#state-rankings

I will dispense with the whole separation of Church and State argument, I have found it a waste of time. Blind faith in just that, blind. But let’s consider this.

Louisiana, and I am certain other states, believe that because the founders were predominately Christian, they fully intended everything in government to be guided by Christian doctrine.

What they conveniently forget is the founding fathers were also slave holders, opposed allowing women to vote, and held that the indigenous people who lived here long before Christians came to save them deserved to be driven from their land by force or by death.

Hardly sounds Christian.

But if having a list on the wall would be helpful, might I suggest the following. It almost sound Christian to me.

For those of you who need a refresher, here is one version of the original commandments language.  Not quite as Christian sounding as one might expect.

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. KJV

Implied in the “shall not covet thy neighbor’s manservant or maidservant” is the acceptability of slavery. Perhaps there is the true agenda, absolving the stain of slavery.

Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore: Seeking a Return to the Dark Ages

/ Joe Broadmeadow / Leave a comment

I wrote this last year about “Judge” Roy ‘get ’em while they’re young” Moore.  If a Supreme Court Justice can’t follow federal law, how can he represent Alabama in the Senate?

This is just one aspect of a troubled, character-flawed, hypocrite. Mix in unlawful sexual proclivities, and it is frightening. Come on, Alabama, this is not the America you are part of.

 

In case you have never heard of Justice Roy Moore, he is the current Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. He’s held the job twice and lost it once.

So far.

In 2003, he was removed from office when he refused to comply with a federal court order to remove a Ten Commandments monument he installed in the rotunda of the court.

So, of course, the progressive segment of Alabama voters re-elected him in 2012.

Now his battle is same-sex marriage. He is suspended from office for sending an administrative order to Alabama probate judges telling them Alabama Law banning Same Sex Marriages was in full force and effect.

He lied. It was not.

In 2015 the US Supreme Court, in Obergefell V. Hodges, legalized gay marriage thus trumping (I love that word) any State prohibitions. Keep in mind, the US Supreme Court still had the full complement of Judges. Scalia, a staunch opponent of same-sex marriage, still sat on the court.

Even he couldn’t persuade the court to uphold the ban; law and rationality prevailed.

Moore sent the letter six months after the Supreme Court decision. He either knew the letter was not based on established law or didn’t care.

But, to Justice Moore, it makes no difference. He has God on his side. Just ask him, he’ll tell you he does. He’ll tell you that his faith is the one true interpretation. The one true path. The basis for the entire government of the United States.

He’ll tell you that the diversity of this country, the willingness to accept people as they are not as we think they should be, will be its demise.

The law be damned.

Justice Moore is the poster child of our sordid and bigoted history. Those in a position of power imposing their faith, their beliefs, their views on those with no power. The fact that someone holding such archaic and prejudicial beliefs can rise to such a position speaks volumes about the lack of progress toward true universal tolerance in this country.

It is because of people like him that we need a strong and intellectually honest judiciary. One that looks at the law and ensures its fair application. One that also abides by their decisions.

There is no better evidence for the gravity of the upcoming Presidential election than someone like Justice Moore.

Bigots embrace this man’s philosophy and seek to impose it on all by seizing power in government.

A true nightmare would be a US Supreme Court comprised of people like Justice Moore. A man who seeks to justify his own ignorance, intolerance, and lack of empathy for his fellow man by cloaking himself in a judicial robe.

I don’t know where Justice Moore went to Law School, but he should seek a refund. To the people who elected him and re-elected him, do the country a favor and skip the election in November.

Our Father, who art in heaven, what the hell are you thinking?

/ Joe Broadmeadow / 4 Comments

The establishment clause of the church-and-stateConstitution is clear,

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

The interpretations provide the government, and the governed, a clear path to follow. The Government has no place in supporting or subverting religious practices. Nor acting against those who chose to hold no religious faith.

I, as many of you know, am of the latter category. My progression from Catholicism to Doubt (or cynic in the tradition of Diogenes and Epicurus) makes me particularly sensitive to governmental line crossing.

When I watched the Trump rally in Florida, I was taken aback by the First Lady’s recitation of a Christian prayer. One may argue that being a political rally, President Trump can conduct this in any manner he chooses.

I disagree.

There is no such thing as a “time-out” from being President. Wherever, whenever Mr. Trump is, he is the President. He need conduct himself as such.

What’s the big deal, you may ask?

Imagine the reaction if Melania read a Sura from the Koran? The Christian conservatives would lose their minds. It would illustrate the double standard in evidence here.

A “Christian” prayer is a harmless invocation recognizing the importance of religion to most Americans. A recitation of a Sura, I dare say, would be taken as an insult.

Make no mistake about it. The recent ban on entry to the United States is a direct attack on a specific religion. Something clearly prohibited by the constitution.

Many are quick to wrap their guns in the Second Amendment as being inviolate and clear in its intent. Yet find it convenient to parse the language of the Establishment clause.

This is not a debate on the validity of any religion. I’ll save that for another time. My point is to illustrate the disingenuous nature of this administration. Trump plays to the lowest common denominator of emotion. He sees most Americans are Christians as a justification for ignoring the constitution. He plays to their fears and lack of understanding of those of different faiths.

That many Americans applaud and support such tactics is frightening. We cannot let this stand.

The President must be the calm and sober one, containing the raw emotions of nationalism and fear not feeding them. They must play the part of the adult in the room. I fear this one never will.

A Kim Davisian America

/ Joe Broadmeadow / Leave a comment

Let us take the position of Kim Davis, the Rowan County Clerk of Courts, to its logical conclusion. (I wonder if this is a revival of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in?)

What would this mean for America, should she be permitted to refuse to perform her civil job function based on personal beliefs?

Imagine the future…

The Police

Dispatch: Unit 21 respond to a reported robbery at 1 Gay Lane.

Unit 21: No can do, gay couple living there in sinful violation of the Holy Book. I cannot in good conscience assist in this abomination

Dispatch: Any available unit of a non-judgmental nature available to assist?

RADIO SILENCE

Unit 21: I think the one gay officer we were forced to hire, against the Chief’s long held beliefs and the Bible, is working tomorrow. I will not assist him in any way and refuse to work alongside him. Have them call back then.

Fire

Dispatch: Engine 1 Ladder 2 respond to a reported fire 1 Rabinowitz lane.

Engine 1: No can do, all Christian crew and that location is a synagogue. They killed Jesus. I think Engine 5 has some Jews aboard, call them

Engine 5: Yes, but we are Orthodox and it is the Sabbath, cannot work today. Tell them to call back.

Restaurant

Hello, my name is Joe and I’ll be your server today. Before I can release our menu to you, please answer the following questions;

  1. Do you support abortion?
  2. Do you believe in same-sex marriage?
  3. Do you support the separation of Church and State?

 If you answer yes to any of these questions, please leave. My beliefs do not allow me to serve you. We don’t cater to heathens.

 I cannot understand why this is such a difficult concept. If a person feels so strongly about their personal beliefs, do not accept a position which requires adherence to civil law.

One cannot refuse to perform a job function because they disagree with the law; to do otherwise would be chaos.

How Davis chooses to hold her beliefs and profess them is of no concern to anyone. We can disagree, mock, or support them. However, no one can demand or impose his or her personal religious beliefs on anyone else through a position held under civil authority. (No matter how much she credits Jesus for blessing her election.)

If she wants to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples, go work for a religious organization. Plenty support her nonsensical beliefs and hypocrisy.

She is just another nut-case cherry-picking Bible quotes to suit her current beliefs and expecting the Government to support them.

We have already devoted too much time to her. She is in jail; the law has prevailed. Time to move on.

Unless we are smoted (if that is a word) and the world does end at the hands of the offended divine (but loving) god of the book she fervently holds dear.

Meanwhile, let us hope she is enjoying her martyrdom. Perhaps she will be out in time to celebrate the anniversary of some of the Same-sex marriages happening over the next few days in Kentucky.

I suggest she be released for the Golden Jubilee Celebration.