Constituion
April 22nd 2008 02:20
Over the weekend I sat down and read the US Constituion. I was amazed by what I read. What was so amazing was how wrong some people are on what those amendments mean.
1. Freedom of Religon. I read this one and no where does it say that there is to be no religon in government. It only says that there is no government in religon. So this means that we can have Christmas Trees, Menorrahs and other religous articles in government. We just can't have the Constitution in church in less we choose too.
2. Where is the amendment everyone keeps talking about freedom of privacy because i didn't see it. I did see the one where we couldn't drink than we could again but nothing about privacy. They talked about not taking over personal houses unless we were at war.
It really makes you think maybe all these scholars aren't so smart after all.
I encourage other people to read it and see for themselves.
1. Freedom of Religon. I read this one and no where does it say that there is to be no religon in government. It only says that there is no government in religon. So this means that we can have Christmas Trees, Menorrahs and other religous articles in government. We just can't have the Constitution in church in less we choose too.
2. Where is the amendment everyone keeps talking about freedom of privacy because i didn't see it. I did see the one where we couldn't drink than we could again but nothing about privacy. They talked about not taking over personal houses unless we were at war.
It really makes you think maybe all these scholars aren't so smart after all.
I encourage other people to read it and see for themselves.
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Comment by Jim Stillman
Political Certainty
First, the Constitution grants no individual and rights at all. It does not relate to private citizens or to corporation’s rights to act in any way that is not illegal under some specific statute. What the Constitution does is limit the actions of the Federal (and by extension through the 14th Amendment, the states) government. Thus a private company may forbid Christmas trees or anything else on its premises; the Constitution isn’t involved. By the same token, if a private business restricts speech, it is [probably nor restricted by the Constitution.
Second, as to the state-religion issue, there are two clauses regarding the issue. The first, the “free exercise” clause directs that the government should not interfere with your right to practice your religion. But, this has some limits in that if your faith requires acts otherwise illegal, some restriction is inevitable. Suppose, for example, one’s religion required small children to have sex with adults or to fondle poisonous snakes, the state might interfere. The second clause regarding religion is the “establishment” clause which prohibits the government to establish an official religion. This includes adopting ritual from a particular faith and promoting that ritual. Thus, when a school district directs that a particular prayer be recited in classes or at a high school football game or at graduation, it is wrong -- even if the government is sincere and without a smidgen of prejudice. Sometimes it gets tricky.
Finally, you mention the right of privacy. As I have noted, the Constitution grants no rights; it sets limits on governmental intrusion. The 9th and 10th Amendment could be the basis of the right to be left alone, but the entire document and Bill of Rights imply that government has no place in peoples’ bedrooms or interfering with adults private and consensual behavior. There are many things that the Constitution’s authors did not and could not have anticipated: airplanes, rights in space, the Internet and a multitude of others.
So, read and study this remarkable document, but understand that it is a serious and complex instrument.
Comment by Tammy Conrado
tammy's words
Comment by Jim Stillman
Political Certainty
Before you encourage religious symbols in governmental buildings and paid for with everyone’s’ taxes, acknowledge that you are speaking of the symbols of your faith. How would you feel about the symbols of Wicca in the Courthouse or in the public schools? How about Theistic Satanism?
I would prefer to allow each individual and family to worship as desired, in their respective homes and churches, leaving government out of the picture entirely.
Comment by Tammy Conrado
tammy's words
Comment by Anonymous
So, in essence...it isn't about blocking "your" religion. It is about not having to acknowledge them all. It would certainly be a full time position for local governments across the board...a full time position that I'm not willing to pay for...are you?