Election Fallout - The Ten Commandments Amendment

There were actually four parts to the so-called Ten Commandments Amendment on yesterday's ballot, but the Ten Commandments section stood out. The amendment, sponsored by Gerald Dial, passed with almost 72% of the vote. How many courthouses and schools will now rush to install a copy of the Ten Commandments?

We're going to guess that those who listen to their attorneys won't. You can bet that almost any installation of the commandments will be opposed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. That organization has already made itself known in recent years to the Lauderdale County and Russellville Boards of Education.

Let's say the FFRF demands that the commandments be removed and the entity which placed them refuses. The next step would be for the FFRF to bring a lawsuit. The amendment specifically forbids the State of Alabama from using public funds to defend any installation of the commandments on state or school property. An attorney friend told us he believed the amendment could logically include city and county governments, but that might have to be decided legally at some later point.

So if your city, county, or school system is challenged, it won't be out any money if it doesn't defend the installation? Not quite. It means with no defense there would be an automatic judgment in favor of the FFRF or whatever organization brought the suit. That leaves court costs...and perhaps attorney fees if one is sent to merely show up but not actually defend the state's position.

But don't start saving your pennies to donate to any court cost expenses. We're eager to see just how quickly some Satanic group accuses that section of the amendment of establishing the Jewish or Seventh Day Adventist religion in our state. 

Won't that Horned Goat look nice next to the Ten Commandments at your child's elementary school?

Picking & Choosing the Laws/Codes We Follow

Soon Alabama voters will have a chance to add still another amendment to our state constitution. The amendment, if approved by voters, will allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public buildings. Is this a good thing?

Two things can happen, and probably both will. First, there will be lawsuits against the state. The amendment specifies that the state cannot use taxpayer money to defend these suits, meaning they won't be defended at all, but automatically lost up front. So what is the purpose of the law? We call it grandstanding, but we see that more and more people are using the term dog whistle blowing. Whichever you prefer, this will not end well for the state or its taxpayers.

Second, how do you feel about a few verses from the Satanic bible being placed next to the Ten Commandments (only nine of which most Christians follow)? Not too keen on that, huh? You may say that can't happen, but more and more Satanists are demanding their fair share of public time:

If you didn't watch the video, this took place less than two years ago in Pensacola, a city just across the state line from Alabama.

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We've had several ask us this afternoon our opinion on following the U.S. Flag Code. Our opinion is what it's always been, you shouldn't be able to pick and choose which laws or codes you follow. If we did that...well, our income tax remittance would be about $10.00 a year - seems more than fair to us. 

We've also heard of (that was not from, but of) some who want to harm the driver in a fatal crash killing three Wilson students. Wouldn't many think that tit for tat? No, we can't pick and choose. Sorry. Half-staff flags should be reserved for certain individuals, usually those who served our country or in the military, not children.

So get out the popcorn. We're sure we'll be hearing from those of a certain ilk who disagree. By that we mean the pickers and choosers, not those who want to do things decently and in order. (Apparently some have gone against the Wilson School's principal; that speaks volumes about them...)