Jackson Free Press

Look at this letter to the editor of The Clarion-Ledger today from a woman in Hattiesburg. She is calling for people to put 10 Commandment signs in their yards because, she argues, people who opposed the 10 Commandments monument in the Alabama courthouse "want to eradicate all mention of God from our society."

She writes today: The outcry about removal of the stone from the courthouse in Alabama must not be in vain ("High court to hear arguments in Ten Commandments case," Oct. 13). There is a way to defeat those who want to eradicate all mention of God from our society.

This reminds me of Fielding's "anti-religious" comment yesterday. This church-state has been re-framed, it seems, as between the pro-God and anti-God "divide." Any comments on this so-called "divide"? Let's talk.

Previous Comments

ID

169856

Comment

I saw this... I think we should have yard signs made that say "TOLDERANCE -- of ALL."

Author

kaust

Date

2004-11-04T10:35:31-06:00

ID

169857

Comment

That's a great idea. But her idea is good, too. Anyone should be able to send whatever messages they want to send on their own property (including property that they rent). Like many people, she seems confused at the mammoth difference between using government property to promote your own beliefs and using private property for it. That's the question. Not what the belief is. This is a fundamental American principle that is so misunderstood by so many, it seems. Re the tolerance signs: I was in Colorado when they originally went through all the homosexual-bashing hyteria after Amendment 2. There people had these wonderful little anti-hate signs that they put on their doors. I can't remember the phrase, though. Amy, are you out there? Or one of my other Colorado readers? And they had blue bumper stickers that said, "Celebrate Diversity." They were nice, too.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-11-04T10:45:19-06:00

ID

169858

Comment

BTW, I wish people would spend more time following more of the 10 Commandments rather than forcing them onto government property.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-11-04T10:48:27-06:00

ID

169859

Comment

I wonder how she'd feel if we put Buddhism 4 Noble Truths and the 8-fold path in a courthouse? These people have no real faith. Faith that god exists, that god is present in the world, that god is present in all people. If you're fearful and anxious, then you don't have faith.

Author

kate

Date

2004-11-04T10:49:29-06:00

ID

169860

Comment

I tell y'all, and then I'm really leaving, I don't feel "fearful and anxious" today. I'm very hopefulónot because Bush is going to try to claim a mandate for right-wing radicalism (OK, maybe he'll try to go moderate), but because we're all talking now, and people (even the media) are going to have to start facing issues that really matter. Democracy begins in conversation, as John Dewey said. I'm whistling through the day. Cheers to you all. ;-) Let's get the work done.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-11-04T10:52:52-06:00

ID

169861

Comment

OK, one more thing. I'd like more people to consider the possibility that the fundamentalist terrorists want more than anything for Americans to react to their fear and anxiety by rolling back freedoms, especially religious freedoms. They win, if we do that. Don't forget that.

Author

ladd

Date

2004-11-04T10:55:20-06:00