[at-l] (WAS) Monday Humor (OT)

[ellen at clinic.net (Bob C)]

I think those words mean that government and religion should be kept separate. Belief in God is an integral part of most religions, but not all. So when government amends a document to require a reference to God it is beginning that slippery slope of establishing a religion. The same is true when public employees post in public buildings text from religious books, books subscribed to by some, but not all regions, (but not adhered to by any.)

Since the constitution also sets up a Supreme Court to be the final arbiter of what the constitution means and since the supreme court has ruled again and again that the words mean that religion and government should be kept separate and couch their decisions in terms of separation of church and state, that is what the words mean -- though admittedly that could change if George II appoints the same kind of unqualified judges as did George I.

Weary

> ------------Original Message------------
> From: camojack@comcast.net
> To: "Bob C" <ellen@clinic.net>, "Jim Bullard" <jbullar1@twcny.rr.com>, at-l@backcountry.net
> Date: Wed, Nov-17-2004 10:44 AM
> Subject: Re: [at-l] (WAS) Monday Humor (OT)
> 
> Would that be teen FULL TERM pregnancy rates?
> 
> Never mind that; it could be researched easily enough. 
> 
> But tell me, PLEASE. Just precisely where in the Constitution does it 
> say there should be a separation of church and state? 
> 
> The First Amendment to the Constitution says (and I quote):
> 
> "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or 
> prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of 
> speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, 
> and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
> 
> What that means is it prohibits government from establishing a religion 
> and protects each person's right to practice (or not practice) any 
> faith without government interference. It does NOT say that religion has NO 
> place in government, only that the government can't tell you what to 
> believe, or not believe. This country was founded on religious freedom, 
> in fact. Since you brought up Massachusetts, consider the Pilgrims, and 
> why they came. The freedom of speech part means you can say whatever 
> you want; hopefully within reason...but there are many caveats there, 
> too, like truth in advertising and what have you. The other side of that 
> coin, of course, is that nobody can be compelled to listen to you 
> either.
> 
> But I guess you can choose to INTERPRET it "liberally", too.
> 
> Anyway, it's no longer Monday OR humorous, let alone A.T. related...
> 
> Take a hike!
> (That was)
> 
> -"Camo" (Who's getting WAY too serious; time for bed)
> 
> 
> > >"...I'm neither a Redneck nor a Republican and the list applies to 
> me. So what 
> > does that say about this list as a measure of membership in either 
> group?" asks 
> > the sauntering one.
> > 
> > Aside from the two ifs that violate the separation of church and 
> state and the 
> > importance of respecting the U.S. constitution, the red neck lists 
> apply to 99+% 
> > of us "liberals" as well. Remember that Massachusetts, allegedly the 
> most 
> > liberal state, also has the lowest divorce rate and among the lowest 
> teen 
> > pregnancy rates in the nation. Family values are important to all 
> groups, though 
> > apparently for liberals more than most. 
> > 
> > Weary
> > 
> > 
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