2009-4-26 06:48:00
[Compiler's Note: The "Local Posts" series of articles found here in "The Archives" are a collection of exchanges between JJ Dewey and others participating on a local online newspaper blog, and were subsequently re-posted by JJ Dewey on The Keys Of Knowledge discussion group. Because of the length of the original post, the archived version of this post was broken up into multiple parts. This is Part 2 of 3. Links to the remaining parts can be found at the end of this article.]
JJ:
Since we are talking about a display on "public" property then the decision to display or not display the Ten Commandments should be left up to the public through a democratic vote on it.
This would be in harmony with the many admonitions of Thomas Jefferson who said:
"Where the law of the majority ceases to be acknowledged, there government ends; the law of the strongest takes its place, and life and property are his who can take them." --Thomas Jefferson to Annapolis Citizens, 1809.
I would guess that the majority would support displaying the Ten Commandments, the basic tenants of which are supported by every religion on the earth -- most of them even by atheists.
The trouble is that the Left only accepts majority rule when it agrees with them. Otherwise, they fight the will of the people tooth and nail and think nothing of overthrowing it.
One of the latest examples is their attempts to overthrow the will of the people concerning Proposition 8 in California.
"Kliphy" wrote:
"Well Joe, you can't recall every election because there was not 100% voter turnout. The process is done and the majority voted to leave the stone idol in front of the church."
JJ:
Either way is fine with me as long as the majority vote is honored.
The majority has always been considered to be the majority who vote. Those who do not vote just do not care much one way or another so they are neutral.
To force people to vote would be an act of tyranny and only tyrannies have demanded 100% voter turnout.
"Busterbuilt" wrote:
"Joseph, we may agree on many issues but I choose to disagree on this one. I respect individual spiritual beliefs, but only the doctrines of law are the governing authority of acceptable behavior. Spiritual belief is not the responsibility of a social majority, but a precious individual choice that must fall within guidelines of law as directed by the constitution."
JJ:
I'm not sure we disagree. I do not believe spiritual belief is the responsibility of a majority. Many things are not clearly defined in the USA Constitution and none of us will get all of our beliefs satisfied by law. The fairest way to deal with disputed items is to have the majority will represented. No one will be happy with majority will all the time, but it's a lot better than a minority will as happens in all tyrannies.
And most of the oddball stuff the Left wants is only supported by a minority, but bulldozed through by other means not representative of the people.
JJ:
To "Mgun,"
I do not understand why you see the Bush administration as being as pushing religion in your face. I've had my problems with organized religion and do not attend any church, but haven't noticed anything of a religious nature in my face over the last eight years.
Nothing Bush has done has been in my face or infringed on me spiritually in any way.
It is interesting Bush publicly mentioned the name of Jesus Christ eight times during the last three years of his first term while Clinton mentioned it 43 times during the last three years of his administration. I don't think that one can claim that Bush was fanatic about pushing Jesus on us.
In addition you always saw Clinton carry around his giant Bible as a signal that he was close to God.
The most moralistic in your face president has been Obama who is always doing something I do not want done and telling me "it's the right thing to do."
Bush was never in your face moralistic like this.
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