Re: THE BEST THING ABOUT ATHEISTS


"DaVoice" <davoicergp@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:HrLbl.50121$pe.7965@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Beldin the Sorcerer" <beldinyyz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote

Except the constitution says no establishing a state religion, and
allowing public use for SOME does that.
Banning it all does not.

Actually the constitution says exactly:
<quoted text>
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the government for a redress of grievances.
<end quoted text>

The right of the people to peaceably assemble without the prohibition of
the FREE EXCERSIZE of Religion, and the freedom of speech.

To me that doesn't say to me that the Government CAN or SHOULD stop the
religous groups from gathering together and putting up a Christmas Tree,
Manger Scene, Menorrah, Star of David, Red Crescent, The ten commandments,
a wikkan pentagram, an anarchists circled A, or an Atheist Manifesto.
In private, no.
On public land, using public funds, yes,. as that's establishing a religion.



Besides, it says CONGRESS shall make no laws, not State or Local
Governments.

There's a further amendment, post bill of rights, that says state & local
governments can't do anything congress is explicitly barred from.

The 1st ammendment applies to EVERYONE. There is not a "Freedom FROM
Relion" but the right to freely excersize their Religion.

However, the government cannot favor any particular religion.
The moment it does, it violates the first amendment.

If your religion
is "Atheism" (by the way religions aren't defined in the constitution, for
a reason) then by all means have organized, law abiding parades, public
property displays and "have at it and have fun"
The government shouldn't allow atheists to rallyu at tgovernmental expense
either.



.. But don't try and take
away MY rights to peaceably assemble and have a Christian Celebration,
parade, or display on public property, as long as I get the REQUIRED
PERMITS from the local authorities.

You foot the bill, I don't care.
The minute >I < have to, it's simply wrong.
And the moment some religions can and some can't, it's unconstitutional.
And it ALWAYS gets that way.

,In fact, I will go as far as to say that
RESTRICTING ALL displays and Religions from acquiring said permits and
putting up their displays is UNCONSTITUTIONAL according to the 1st
ammendment, not the Opposite, that you and others have espoused in this
thread.
Use of public land requires use of public funds, which means allowing
EVERYONE opens a pandora's box.



There is no "Freedom from Religion" in the Constitution, although you have
the right to not particpate, and the Federal Government cannot pass laws
establishing Religion, does NOT mean that because you may be offended by a
Christmas display that it isn't legal. In fact, quite the contrary if you
read the 1st ammendmet, so "restricting all religions from public land use
for displays" flies in the face of the 1st ammendment that guarantees that
the Government will not prohibit the free excersize of Religion.

Wrong, and wrong in a MAJOR way.
There is a major difference between "You may not" and "You may not on PUBLIC
land.

As much as
I despise the KKK and Nazi Skinheads, I still say that under the 1st
ammendment as long as they get permits and follow the local laws, they
have EVERY right to march and hold assembly in a public park or on
Courthouse steps or whatever. What I'm saying is that "banning all
displays" would be unconstitutional on its face..

You can't ban all political speech.
Indeed you can't ban ANY political speech. Not the same thing at all.


.

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