Post by AuntieSocial on Nov 30, 2003 14:05:31 GMT -5
Three Commandments get job done
Click here to read the article on the original site
By: Ted A. Tatchio
Published: November 23, 2003
Publication: San Antonio Express-News, as posted on mysanantonio.com
So former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore believes he should be able to post the Ten Commandments in his courthouse. Well, let's look at these commandments as they apply to our laws.
The First Commandment states, "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me." Although I am Christian, this clearly establishes the Judeo-Christian God as the only deity that can be worshiped. This runs counter to the idea of no state-sponsored religion ensconced in our Constitution.
The Second Commandment states, "Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image." The notion of a graven image seems to match the two-ton rock on which the Ten Commandments were engraved.
The Third Commandment states, "Thou shalt not take the name of thy God in vain." This runs in direct opposition to the freedom of speech promised in the Bill of Rights.
The Fourth Commandment states: "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." I wonder if Moore really honored this commandment? Did he spend the entire day in worship? Or perhaps he spent some time working or watching football or even playing golf? This is a Christian prohibition, although it is also a labor issue.
The Fifth Commandment is "Honor thy father and thy mother." This is certainly good advice — unless your mother or father abuses you. A decent society would protect children from parents who abuse them. I pray our society does believe in this concept.
The Sixth Commandment is "Thou shalt not kill." Finally, a commandment that relates to our laws. We do prohibit others from killing other people. How sad that most people in our society think the death penalty doesn't break this commandment.
The Seventh Commandment is "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Truly, this is good advice to any married person. However, the best I can determine, it is not "illegal" but rather a matter of civil law in which the parties involved are allowed to come to a resolution of their own — to include divorce. So it doesn't seem applicable to our legal system.
The Eighth Commandment is "Thou shalt not steal." Note that this commandment was also present in the Code of Hammurabi. Again, good advice.
The Ninth Commandment is "Thou shalt not bear false witness." We do, indeed, require truthfulness of people testifying in court and have established punishments for them if they are guilty of this offense.
Finally, the Tenth Commandment is "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's." This clearly is not applicable to our laws. Simply desiring what your neighbor has is a thought crime. It cannot be legislated.
So, based on this analysis, I suggest the following. Courts should be allowed to post the following "rules":
1. Don't kill.
2. Don't steal.
3. Don't commit perjury.
I doubt any judge in United States would object to these three rules being posted in a U.S court — as long as "source" wasn't identified.
Ted A. Tatchio lives in Wilson County. He is retired from the Air Force.
Click here to read the article on the original site
By: Ted A. Tatchio
Published: November 23, 2003
Publication: San Antonio Express-News, as posted on mysanantonio.com
So former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore believes he should be able to post the Ten Commandments in his courthouse. Well, let's look at these commandments as they apply to our laws.
The First Commandment states, "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me." Although I am Christian, this clearly establishes the Judeo-Christian God as the only deity that can be worshiped. This runs counter to the idea of no state-sponsored religion ensconced in our Constitution.
The Second Commandment states, "Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image." The notion of a graven image seems to match the two-ton rock on which the Ten Commandments were engraved.
The Third Commandment states, "Thou shalt not take the name of thy God in vain." This runs in direct opposition to the freedom of speech promised in the Bill of Rights.
The Fourth Commandment states: "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." I wonder if Moore really honored this commandment? Did he spend the entire day in worship? Or perhaps he spent some time working or watching football or even playing golf? This is a Christian prohibition, although it is also a labor issue.
The Fifth Commandment is "Honor thy father and thy mother." This is certainly good advice — unless your mother or father abuses you. A decent society would protect children from parents who abuse them. I pray our society does believe in this concept.
The Sixth Commandment is "Thou shalt not kill." Finally, a commandment that relates to our laws. We do prohibit others from killing other people. How sad that most people in our society think the death penalty doesn't break this commandment.
The Seventh Commandment is "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Truly, this is good advice to any married person. However, the best I can determine, it is not "illegal" but rather a matter of civil law in which the parties involved are allowed to come to a resolution of their own — to include divorce. So it doesn't seem applicable to our legal system.
The Eighth Commandment is "Thou shalt not steal." Note that this commandment was also present in the Code of Hammurabi. Again, good advice.
The Ninth Commandment is "Thou shalt not bear false witness." We do, indeed, require truthfulness of people testifying in court and have established punishments for them if they are guilty of this offense.
Finally, the Tenth Commandment is "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's." This clearly is not applicable to our laws. Simply desiring what your neighbor has is a thought crime. It cannot be legislated.
So, based on this analysis, I suggest the following. Courts should be allowed to post the following "rules":
1. Don't kill.
2. Don't steal.
3. Don't commit perjury.
I doubt any judge in United States would object to these three rules being posted in a U.S court — as long as "source" wasn't identified.
Ted A. Tatchio lives in Wilson County. He is retired from the Air Force.
