Posted on 02/19/2007 4:53:27 AM PST by Patriot28
CROSS CITY · In the piney flatlands of Dixie County, a place where churches easily outnumber traffic lights, Florida's latest battle between God and government is being fought on the steps of a 40-year-old courthouse.
At the top of the steps stands a six-ton piece of granite inscribed with the Ten Commandments and the admonition, "Love God and Keep His Commandments."
The massive gray monument, approved by county commissioners and installed last November, is the target of a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU says the display is unconstitutional because it violates a provision in the First Amendment prohibiting the government from establishing a preferred religion.
But what ACLU lawyers see as a violation of law, many locals see as a fitting tribute to the county's Christian heritage. And those locals aren't happy.
"I don't think they have the right to come in here and tell us what to do," said Wanda Wester, 68, a Dixie County native. "We all believe in God. If they don't like it, they can stay away."
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
No, I'm quite certain I have yet to mail anyone on this site from a yahoo address.
Thats cool. the email was NOT nice. It was comicly insulting and mildly threatening. He took exception to my referring to Christians as "the good guys". Had a similar tone to all of your posts here.
Pretty amazing response. Very much in sync with the ACLU.
I'll let your words stand as further evidence supporting the small town guys attitude of 'get you stinkin big city nose out of our town'.
It's obviously been left to the 'too damned dumb' folks to save the institutions that our country was founded on. First South Dakota (abortion) and now this. They're up to it.
You're nothing but a disrupter, your posts damn you. Us 'too damned dumb' folks can see through you like glass. Go back to DU.
Depends. Courts have found that placing only one version of the commandments on monuments is akin to the governmental entity placing one religious sect over another and that's where they've been running into trouble.
Not necessarily. The Anglican religion and Judaism are the state religions of the UK and Israel respectively. Both permit other religions to be practiced.
I still don't see that as the establishment of a national religion.
"We were shaking the trees for a plaintiff."
***
Seems like way back in law school they talked about something called "champerty and maintenance" as unethical methods of practicing the law. The ACLU has no standing on its own to bring an action, and therefore seeks out someone who would not otherwise sue to be named as plaintiff in the action. I feel confident that this nominal plaintiff is not required to pay any costs associated with the action. This is akin to a dentist walking the streets for someone who has a cavity he might fill. Of course the difference is that that the dental patient may end up better off, unlike the "volunteer" plaintiff.
I wonder if a state bar ethics complaint would work?
Anti-Christian Lawyers Union
Worse comes to worst, maybe the county commissioners will have a nice view of it while their butts are in jail indefinitely for contempt of court.
***
I am not aware of any court order which the county commissioners are disobeying. Are you?
They get the last word.
It's the government giving preference to one sect over another. The courts have been seeing that as the same thing.
"ooh-kay an-kay ee-way aft-shay oday-tshay"
There have been some victories in the Supreme Court of late. The ACLU hasn't won them all.
If it wasn't a suit over the stone, it'd be some dimwit offended because the county name is DIXIE.
The ACLU gets the big bucks by sticking it to Christians and traditionalists. Follow the money...
Well I'm sorry if you don't like my "tone", but only a very little bit.
Between the Moore case in 2003 and the Kentucky case in 2005, it's very, very, painfully clear which way the courts are going to come down. Since both of those were done deals when Dixie county made their decision to put up the monument, and since it is a fair bet that at least not everyone on the board and in the attorney's office is illiterate, they must know that, too.
> It's obviously been left to the 'too damned dumb' folks
> to save the institutions that our country was founded on.
> First South Dakota (abortion) ....
What has happened lately in South Dakota with respect to abortion? The law I think you're referring to is moot, since the voters rejected it in November.
> You're nothing but a disrupter, your posts damn you. ...
> Go back to DU.
I post constructively when there is cause to do so.
In this case, the supervisors of Dixie county no more deserve a pat on the back for their actions than the supervisors of Santa Cruz county did when they passed out "medical marijuana" at the county center. They're doing nothing but flouting the law, and to no conceivable constructive purpose.
PS As common as it is among some, claiming that anyone who disagrees with you on an issue is a "lib" is a debating "strategery" unworthy of a kindergarten sandbox.
> I am not aware of any court order which the county
> commissioners are disobeying. Are you?
They're not, yet. I was responding to the previous poster's implication that the display would only be removed by forcible conflict.
Making the Ten Commandments and marijuana equivalent? Seesh talk about 'too damned dumb', only a leftie would something so stupid. There’s no need for you to add further evidence to my earlier assertions.
One admirable thing about the political left is that they understand these issues are the issues of a war, a war of words, deeds, and laws. It isn't simply a discussion about different viewpoints.
The 'too damned dumb' folks in small town America are seeing this as a war also. One that they have to become involved in, or loose their town.
As in any war, and certainly we have numerous stories from WWII, there are hills to hold, reclaim, or take.
South Dakota has decided to retake the 'abortion is wrong' hill. Several attempts have been made, and have failed thus far. But, they're 'too damned dumb' to know they can't reclaim that hill. And, as a result, in a year or two they will firmly plant their flag at the top. As we can all see the tide on this issue, other states will follow, .
The small town in the article is 'too damned dumb' to know they can't fight the ACLU. As a result they are looking at where the victories have been won, and there have been victories won on this issue, and will find a way to fight this.
Who knows if they will win, but one thing is sure, they have the attitude to take the hill, or die trying. You here would have them give up before they start. That's not the stuff of heros, but you knew that.
Millions of brave Americans have died in defense of the Constitution, and that small town has decided to fight for it also. Win or lose, like the soldiers before them, they can fight this fight with pride. Even if they 'die' trying to advance this moral cause, they will rightly be seen as heros, just as those soldiers have died as heros in our eyes. In time, and after a lot of sacrifices, the tide will turn on this issue also.
Finally, like any zit, you'll be gone in a week. My guess is that you'd be gone already, but sometimes it's fun to have RAT to play with a bit, and to let the newbies see the dirt they drag in.
Now go away and don't bother me again.
> Millions of brave Americans have died in defense of the
> Constitution, and that small town has decided to fight
> for it also.
The difference is, I don't believe that having government entities promoting particular religious beliefs is compatible with that Constitution.
The law, however much you may dislike it, doesn't either.
To the extent that they purposely picked this fight in order to promote government sponsored public religious displays, I don't even think Scalia is going to come down on their side.
If Scalia isn't conservative enough for you, well... the problem might just be with you.
that reminds me of the sign I made and put on my desk when I worked for a finance company many years ago in the collections dept..the sign said "diplomacy department..we do and say the nastiest things in the nicest way"...
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