After a recent court ruling in Alabama, the 4-foot-tall, 2-tongranite Ten Commandments statue was jarred from its foundation in acourthouse and placed in a small, dark corner closet adjacent to itsprevious location.The American Civil Liberties Union has once again succeeded inreplacing Judeo-Christian heritage with the elements of a “feel good”philosophy, the modern-day alternative to morals and religion.Trickle-down immorality never felt so bad.
The issue of separation between religious institutions andgovernment has been a clear ideological divide between U.S. citizens.On one side, we have vicious anti-religionists and Jimmy Carter, whosecretly despise our country’s religious heritage. On the other, wehave the Ten Commandments and Dick Army, who is proud of preservingreligious heritage. And, somewhere in the middle, we have those whorespect our country’s religious heritage, but are not necessarilybelievers or followers.
In a recent Daily Aztec column (“Christian symbols preservehistory,” Oct. 20), Barrett Reiner made a brave attempt to settle thefeud between the two parties, claiming this topic has evolved into a”… catalyst for anti-American sentiment,” and then onto thecontrary: “Public funds or land, of course, should not be used fornew monuments that advocate a certain religion … we are no longerofficially a Christian government.” Reiner has ventured deep, but notdeeply enough – he is, in a sense, unknowingly sleeping with theenemy.
First, allegations put forth by the ACLU and others who claimJudeo-Christianity in our country are a violation of the FirstAmendment are false. According to that amendment, “Congress shallmake no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibitingthe free exercise thereof.” There is a difference between enforcingtradition and endorsing a specific religion.
Second, we are, and have always been, a nation predicated upon theprinciples of Judeo-Christianity, which is heavily embedded withinour judicial branch of government. Our laws were derived from ourtraditions, and losing those traditions would ultimately lead to aloss of judicial structure.
Third, the notions of a Supreme Being and absolute truths havemolded the creation of our country and the liberties we all enjoy.They can be found in the Declaration of Independence: “Laws of natureand of nature’s God,” our national motto (1956): “In God we Trust,”and in our Pledge of Allegiance (1954): “One nation under God,indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Although the Ten Commandments are stowed in the closet and theanti-religion crowd is jubilant, the Judeo-Christian by-productsintegrated in our legal system are standing firmly.
The Ten Commandments provide us with a legal code based onabsolute morality, not indoctrination, on which our legal systemoperates. Note only five of the Ten Commandments make reference toGod. Furthermore, only three of the Ten Commandments are enforced inour legal system.
Let’s begin by taking a closer look. “Honor thy father and thymother” – surely no one would have a problem with that. “Thou shallnot murder” – seems the anti-capital punishment crowd should lovethis one. “Thou shall not commit adultery;” this does not in any wayoutlaw swingers and giant orgies. “Thou shall not bear false witnessagainst thy neighbor;” fair enough, lying is not good. “Thou shallnot covet thy neighbor’s house, wife, ox … ” Simple: Jealously onlyleads to anger, but it’s not illegal.
What many people do not realize is the Ten Commandments are only aportion of the actual 613 commandments of the Old Testament. If all613 commandments were observed and put into law, then I would acceptthe argument that our country is favoring a single religion. Butsince that’s not the case, I believe it’s absolutely fair to have ahint of religious heritage in our nation.
Further, if we had no Ten Commandments prohibiting us fromstealing, lying, murdering and committing adultery, who is to saythese practices are wrong? It then becomes a matter of opinion, amatter now being construed by a group of anti-religious zealotsintent on destroying our long-standing traditions and replacing themwith a “if it feels good, do it” mentality.
Even though I am not religious, I am proud to live in a nationthat has a history of abiding by a fair and disciplined set ofcommandments. It seems we all could learn a bit from thesecommandments. Kobe Bryant should review the one on adultery, BillClinton would hit himself over the head with bearing false witnessand Winona Ryder will learn not to steal – but heck, that’s thebeauty of the it. God bless America.
– Gregory Rabinovich is an information and decision systemssenior.
– This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of TheDaily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com.Anonymous letters will not be printed – include your full name, majorand year in school.
