Tuesday, August 10, 2004
QUESTIONS WE WANT REPORTERS TO ASK: PART I
The Editors
President Bush is a man of deep religious faith. Jesus Christ is his favorite political philosopher. He believes:
So, boys and girls, lets check out those pesky commandments. There are ten.
1. Is it enough just to "post" the Ten Commandments? Shouldn't there be someone to analyze and teach the Ten Commandments? Isn't 'just' posting the prohibitions merely exhorting form over substance?
2. Is the "God" mentioned, the Judeo-Christian God? If so, are not all other Gods excluded? Or, can I have another God, but I must not 'have him" before the Judeo-Christian God? Is your God on the top of a heap o' Gods?
3. Should our children be scolded if the make a graven image? Is a crucifix or a statue of Mary a graven image? Should such images be removed from churches?
4. Can I take another God's name in vain? Can I say, Vishnu Dammit!
5. Which Sabbath? Friday, Saturday or Sunday? Should we go to a four day work week?
6. Must a child honour a violent parent? What if your father is Mike Tyson?
7. Does not killing mean not killing? If not, where can I find the exclusions?
8. Can I think about Adultery? Is there an exemption if she's really hot? How do we explain adultery to our young children when it's posted on classroom walls?
9. Can I steal an election?
10. Can you bear false witness against John McCain when in South Carolina? Can I? Is South Carolina outside the jurisdiction of the commandments?
11. If I can't covet my neighbors goods, can I borrow his hedge clippers?
12. How do I explain to my children that same-sex marriage isn't prohibited by the Ten Commandments? Can we amend the commandments? If so, how?
Can I have another God before him? Please! Can I?
Can we agree that the first four commandments are inherently religious and not merely social prohibitions that are, for the lack of a better word, universal? We certainly do not want to tell people who to worship and in what order. Nor do we want to prohibit the worship of graven images. Even you would agree that such acts would be unconstitutional, yes?
Can we agree that commandments 6-9 are essentially governed by state criminal law? (Yes, most states still have adultery as a crime). Is murder, theft or perjury legal anywhere in the United States outside of Congress and the Executive Branch? Are there any social trends indicating that murder, theft, adultery and perjury are gaining widespread social acceptance?
Can we agree that #5 and #10 are attempts at social engineering, "legislating" people's hearts and minds, a concept abhorrent to the conservative mind?
Last question. We promise. So, what's the point?
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The Editors
President Bush is a man of deep religious faith. Jesus Christ is his favorite political philosopher. He believes:
Q: Does posting the Ten Commandments in schools invalidate the religious expression of children who are not in the Judeo-Christian heritage?
A: Thou shalt not kill is pretty universal. Districts ought to be allowed to post the Ten Commandments, no matter what a persons religion is. There's some inherent values in those great commandments that would make our society a better place for everybody. I also believe our schools ought to expand character education.
GOP Debate in Johnston, Iowa Jan 16, 2000
So, boys and girls, lets check out those pesky commandments. There are ten.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image"
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain"
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
"Honour thy father and thy mother."
"Thou shalt not kill."
"Thou shalt not commit adultery."
"Thou shalt not steal."
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods"
1. Is it enough just to "post" the Ten Commandments? Shouldn't there be someone to analyze and teach the Ten Commandments? Isn't 'just' posting the prohibitions merely exhorting form over substance?
2. Is the "God" mentioned, the Judeo-Christian God? If so, are not all other Gods excluded? Or, can I have another God, but I must not 'have him" before the Judeo-Christian God? Is your God on the top of a heap o' Gods?
3. Should our children be scolded if the make a graven image? Is a crucifix or a statue of Mary a graven image? Should such images be removed from churches?
4. Can I take another God's name in vain? Can I say, Vishnu Dammit!
5. Which Sabbath? Friday, Saturday or Sunday? Should we go to a four day work week?
6. Must a child honour a violent parent? What if your father is Mike Tyson?
7. Does not killing mean not killing? If not, where can I find the exclusions?
8. Can I think about Adultery? Is there an exemption if she's really hot? How do we explain adultery to our young children when it's posted on classroom walls?
9. Can I steal an election?
10. Can you bear false witness against John McCain when in South Carolina? Can I? Is South Carolina outside the jurisdiction of the commandments?
11. If I can't covet my neighbors goods, can I borrow his hedge clippers?
12. How do I explain to my children that same-sex marriage isn't prohibited by the Ten Commandments? Can we amend the commandments? If so, how?
Can we agree that the first four commandments are inherently religious and not merely social prohibitions that are, for the lack of a better word, universal? We certainly do not want to tell people who to worship and in what order. Nor do we want to prohibit the worship of graven images. Even you would agree that such acts would be unconstitutional, yes?
Can we agree that commandments 6-9 are essentially governed by state criminal law? (Yes, most states still have adultery as a crime). Is murder, theft or perjury legal anywhere in the United States outside of Congress and the Executive Branch? Are there any social trends indicating that murder, theft, adultery and perjury are gaining widespread social acceptance?
Can we agree that #5 and #10 are attempts at social engineering, "legislating" people's hearts and minds, a concept abhorrent to the conservative mind?
Last question. We promise. So, what's the point?
