"Very Interesting", said Artie Johnson. And it is. The Constitution proscribes the support of any Religion by the "State" but guarantees the freedom of religion in public and private spaces. Your home, church, mosque or even the street corner. You can wave signs touting your religion, hand out literature, get a soap box and harangue until the end of times. You just can't do it on any "State" property. Now we both know this is an oft overlooked situation. Prayers start almost everything that is a "State" function. The congressional sessions, the swearing in of most officials etc. Even icons affixed to "State" buildings.
Now enter the age-old manger with the Baby Jesus, Mary, Joesph and a bunch of animals, children and men. Clearly a Christian symbol. Now enter Florida. In order to legally display such an icon on "State" property, the property must be declared a "Public Space". The legislators, a majority of whom are conservative and Christian, designated the Capitol Rotunda of the State of Florida a "Public Space", clearing the way for the crèche. One was immediately installed and when the ACLU was asked, they said it was fine. No problem in a public space. But they also said that the State better be prepared to extend the same, the EXACT SAME access to anyone asking for it. And now the gates have opened, and how they opened indeed: Jews, Atheists, and a Festivus worshiper have asked for and gotten access.
Now a legitimate Satanic Church has asked and the conservatives are going batty. Next the Flying Spaghetti Monster will petition for a slot. And there will be more. And, they must be granted access by the same rules that allow the others.
I can't wait to see how the conservative members react to their constituents when the Anointed Ones visit the Rotunda and see Satan next to Jesus next to a pole of PBR.
Image: http://www.robertbenchley.org/2012_competition/arte-as-german.jpg
Just a random thought:
ReplyDeleteHow can any conservative republican/democrat true christian be for democracy and against socialism?
According to the best-seller fictional book (the bible) and a quote highly used stating that "all humans are created equal" which exactly is the core meaning of socialism.
One thought that took me to this thought: Who created Pope? It was never mentioned in the bible. I guess god message which we all should hear independently needed some organization, filtering and translating.
I think the probability of coming across a Flying Spaghetti Monster is much greater than meeting Jesus, other than if it is my next door neighbor Jesus.
I also wonder how come that lawmakers will go after violent movies or games with the worry that kids will try to reenact them, but be fine with billions of literary reenacting the bible, koran etc. There is just no consistency as religious books by content should be rated R and not allowed to be read as they are loaded with violence.