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Date Posted: 10:04:44 12/21/07 Fri
Author: Carrie
Subject: Well, I understand why there can't be Christmas decorations, etc.
In reply to: DennyG 's message, "I did..." on 17:04:28 12/20/07 Thu

I know you know it's separation of church and state; that the Government cannot, under the Constitution, be seen to promote *any* religion. This is not to say that any and all mentions of "God" should be removed from anything having to do with the government. It means that there can't be the 10 Commandments in a courthouse or a nativity in front of City Hall. Those things are definitely related to one religion and it would appear that, by placing these things in such close proximity to government buildings, the government believes that Christianity is the only way to go. So, really, it's not political correctness; it's Constitutional correctness.

I think that the reason it bothers people, mostly, is because those people are among the majority. It makes sense to them to celebrate a very special and sacred event, and to let other people know their personal feelings about it.

However, being in the majority does not mean that other people's beliefs or feelings are important or that they aren't just as deeply held as yours are. To some people, seeing a nativity in front of a government building or in a store is very offensive. You might not agree or understand, but that's just the way it is.

If 83% of people in this country were Jewish and there were dreidels and menorhas and Happy Chanukah everywhere, I think people would probably get pretty sick of the majority completely overlooking their beliefs. And I think they'd have a point.

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Replies:

[> [> [> [> Can you tell me? -- DennyG, 14:09:07 12/21/07 Fri [1]

Where in the constitution do you find any mention of seperation of church and state?


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[> [> [> [> [> First Amendment -- Carrie, 15:06:00 12/21/07 Fri [1]

It's called the "establishment clause." Here's the text of the first amendment:

"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."

That first part says that Congress cannot make any laws that would establish a "state religion." That's why we don't have a national religion. If we were to do something like that, it would negate everything that people came here to escape.


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