[at-l] Monday Humor

[Bror8588 at aol.com (Bror8588@aol.com)]

In a message dated 11/18/04 13:10:51 Eastern Standard Time, 
randerson58@comcast.net writes:


> Let me ask you this question. Let us suppose that you #1honestly became the 
> owner of the two ton granite monument of the ten commandments which Judge 
> Moore had #2attempted to place in his courtroom. Let us further suppose that 
> you were able to #3transport this to your favorite spot on the AT. Would the 
> reasonable thru hikers think that the government had sanctioned this 
> installation? #4Would this installation be a violation of the establishment clause? #5
> Would thru hikers be pissed that you had intruded into their sacred space?


1) Would this be a gift to me or a purchase made by me?  Is that the criteria 
for it being an honest acquisition?  Well, I would refuse the gift and I 
wouldn't buy the monument in that case.

2) This was not attempted to be placed in the courtroom, it was placed there 
and then subsequent to a higher court was ordered to be removed.

3) Are you kidding?  In light of the packing lite craze (to which I am 
inclined to agree in spirit but not in practice at this point in time) it would be 
foolish to think of transporting the monument.

4) No!  Since I am not the government I cannot enact the establishment clause 
or abrogate same.  It is what the government does that enacts the clause.  

5) If, if, if, then some might be po'd and some might be laudatory, and some 
might ignore it, and some.... and so on.

I like the idea of old documents being on display whether an Old Testament 
Law Code or the Code of Hammurabi or some Asian Code or whatever.  It (they) 
give a concrete (no pun intended) awareness that the laws we operate under today 
are from the ancients -- from the foundations of the world, from civilizations 
long past their prime -- and still have relevance for today's society. 

There are monuments on the AT that tell of its purpose and origin.  They are 
appreciated.  If someone wanted them removed because they happened to offend 
their sense of imposition of modern elements on a wilderness trail I would vote 
to retain their presence as reminders of those who walked this way in the 
past.  I know some would like to remove the Shelters, Lean-tos, Privies, etc., 
but I appreciate their usefulness.  They do intrude but are welcome.

Is this still humor?  Or has the thread changed?

Skylander