The judge who has begun wearing a judicial robe with the Ten Commandments stitched into it is finding support in his own home town of Andalusia, where his district court is found. I doubt anyone could be surprised. But here's what I find amusing about it. Look at this quote:
Elizabeth Shine, also of Andalusia, has no problem with the Pleasant Home native's judicial robe, and the fact that it is emblazoned with Old Testament scriptural verses."It's his robe," Shine commented. "So, if it's the way he feels, he should have every right to put it on his robe."
Is there really any doubt that if, instead of the Ten Commandments, the judge had stitched verses from the Quran concerning the duties one owes to Allah and the punishments for not following them (which is what over half of the Ten Commandments are), Shine would not be saying that? If any judge dared to do that, all of these arguments in favor of McKathan would suddenly disappear because they don't really mean them. They mean them only when the message being spoken is one that they approve of. If the sentiment being advocated was Muslim or Hindu or Native American, not only would that judge be out of office, he'd be lucky to escape with his life.
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Actually, I don't think there would be much of an uproaor if a judge stitched muslim or jewish symbolism onto his robe. One relatively positive effect of the present religious hysteria in our country is that it has, I believe, resulted in increased tolerance of religious expression--with the possible exception of wiccan or pagan religion. In any case, we desperately need some judge to do just that, or post, at his own expense, a non-Christian monument on a state house lawn. Just to see what would happen.
Eric:
You've GOT to be kidding about the universal "tolerance" for *all* religious expression. The only kind of religion that is acceptible to the people of Alabamastan (and the rest of the Great Flyover) is Jerry Falwell's and James Dobson's religion. Heck, they think "tolerance" is a four-letter word! I'm with Ed on this... however you're idea that another religion's monuments be posted would be seriously fun to see!
Here's another vote for Eric's idea for a judge to put unpopular symbols on his robe to see what would happen. Are there any Muslim judges in this country? Given that there are more Muslims in the US than there are Presbyterians, it seems odd we never hear about muslim judges.
(sputter-sputter...) "but! but! It's not the same thing at all! This is a Christian Nation, founded on the gospel of Jesus Christ!!!"
Actually, I don't think there would be much of an uproaor if a judge stitched muslim or jewish symbolism onto his robe. One relatively positive effect of the present religious hysteria in our country is that it has, I believe, resulted in increased tolerance of religious expression--with the possible exception of wiccan or pagan religion. In any case, we desperately need some judge to do just that, or post, at his own expense, a non-Christian monument on a state house lawn. Just to see what would happen.
I strongly disagree. In fact, I'd wager a lot of money that there would immediately be a movement to remove the judge from office, and he would begin receiving death threats.
This is just an extension of Roy Moore's silliness down there in Alabama. The unfortunate thing is that it works with some people. Roy Moore might have been able to keep his Rock if he had allowed it to be part of a multi-denomination and secular display in which the Rock was not given such prominence. But he pointedly refused to, and that was why the appeals court ruled against him. From what I have read, the US Supreme Court building has a display that includes the 10 Commandments, along with other significant material from legal history, such as (I believe) the Code of Hammurabi.
Moore was and McKathan is trying to appeal to the tendency of Christian conservatives to believe they are being oppressed. Kevin Drum had a post on it yesterday at http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi?__mode=view&entry_id=5350 It seems that there is currently a meme going around that Christians are being oppressed by use of "Happy Holiday" instead of "Merry Christmas." I prefer "Happy Solstice Fest" myself.
I'm a native of Alabama, and I'm pretty sure that Ed's got this one right. If that judge showed up with a pink triangle stitched onto his robe, you wouldn't be able to hear yourself think over the roaring about "activist judges" who don't set their "private lives" aside while they're sitting on the bench.
As a side note, this may not seem so unusual to some folks down there because Alabama has a long history of people embroidering messages on robes. It just wasn't often seen in open court, however. ;-)
From what I have read, the US Supreme Court building has a display that includes the 10 Commandments, along with other significant material from legal history, such as (I believe) the Code of Hammurabi.
Yes, this is true. In fact, one of the arguments often used to defend Roy Moore's monument was "well the Supreme Court has the Ten Commandments in a mural on their wall". Yes, but it's in a larger context, which makes it not such an explicit endorsement.
Moore was and McKathan is trying to appeal to the tendency of Christian conservatives to believe they are being oppressed. Kevin Drum had a post on it yesterday at http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi?__mode=view&entry_id=5350 It seems that there is currently a meme going around that Christians are being oppressed by use of "Happy Holiday" instead of "Merry Christmas."
This meme is cracking me up. I wrote about Pat Buchanan's inane blustering about it the other day. I actually had a fundie tell me the other day that it's illegal to say Merry Christmas now. I said, "Really? Well Merry Christmas. Gee, do you think I'll be arrested?" I mean, seriously, how do you respond to such obvious bullshit without sarcasm?
As a side note, this may not seem so unusual to some folks down there because Alabama has a long history of people embroidering messages on robes. It just wasn't often seen in open court, however. ;-)
Oh that's hilarious! Let's hope the judge doesn't have a matching hood.
Mark Noel:
I'm a native of Alabama, and I'm pretty sure that Ed's got this one right. If that judge showed up with a pink triangle stitched onto his robe, you wouldn't be able to hear yourself think over the roaring about "activist judges" who don't set their "private lives" aside while they're sitting on the bench.
It's amazing how the word "activist" can be used by your more beknighted neighbors to mean one kind of judicial activism and not another, isn't it?
Moore and McKathan are engaging in a form of "activism" as identifiable as, say, the Earl Warrens and Thurgood Marshalls of the past. But since this form of "judicial activism" rates approval from a clique of would-be theocrats and their supporters, it's not activism at all - just an attempt to appear "God-fearing" in the face of what those judges are supposed to do, namely uphold the Constitution.
I'm getting progressively nauseated in the wake of all this crap.