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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLegislation would protect display of 10 Commandments
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia House overwhelmingly approved legislation today that authorizes local governments to display the Ten Commandments in public buildings.
The bill, which passed 140 to 26, would require that any display also include copies of the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence. It also mandates that the Georgia attorney general represent any local government that is sued over the displays.
Two House members, who represent Barrow County, sponsored the bill after the Barrow County Commission was sued by the ACLU over a copy of the Ten Commandments that was posted at the local courthouse in Winder. A judge ordered the plaque taken down last July, and the county did not appeal. Habersham County lost a similar lawsuit.
The ACLU also is expected to challenge HB 941, if it is approved by the state Senate and signed into law by Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Even though the bill was supported by a majority, it sparked a passionate floor debate in which both supporters and opponents quoted scripture and some of the founding fathers.
Rep. Tommy Benton (R-Jefferson), one of the bill’s co-sponsor, said the displays are intended to give the public a better understanding of the “role of religion” in the founding of the state and nation.
Rep. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody) questioned whether this bill should be a priority for lawmakers.
“I’m a lot more concerned about academic achievement and the dropout rate … then where we hang the Ten Commandments,” Millar said.
He also questioned whether “the Word of God” should be lumped with the Mayflower Compact and Declaration of Independence.
“Are we demeaning the Bible,” Millar said.
Rep. Douglas Dean (D-Atlanta) accused House members of trying to use the Ten Commandments for political grandstanding.
“We’re denying the Almighty God’s Word by calling this a historical document.”
State Rep. Ed Rynders (R-Albany), one of the bill’s supporters, called it a defensive manuever against assaults on Christmas and Christianity.
“Are you ashamed to say Merry Christmas? Are you ashamed to say I support the Ten Commandments?” he asked colleagues. “God, I hope not.”
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Breaking news
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By SET
February 1, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this
These people (legislators) had better look at the demographics around the USA. They are hard at work creating legal precedents that will be used against their grandchildren. Today the 10 commandments, tomorrow the koran.
There is a reason the founding fathers wanted the state to stay out of religious affairs. Paople and religion change. And the current people of the United States are rapidly being replaced by the Federal Givernment with Muslims and other 3rd worlders who reproduce dramatically faster than the whites who have had the run of the place since Plymouth Rock.
I am in California. I have friends who fought the Bagwan and his Rahaneesh cult who took over a small municipality in Oregon - including the local police department. By the time everything hit the fan the cultists (who included RNs) were using biowarfare (spraying food poison on the local buffet restaurant food) against the locals. The left coast is more culturally unstable with more people from elsewhere - which is fun sometimes (look at Vegas). But you had better keep a foundation in place to keep the “government” from being used against you by whoever wins the next 10 elections.
By keeping the government secular there is protection for everyone. You don’t need the ten commandments on a wall to crush crime and protect your property values. Providing a shoehorn for a later generation of foreigners to use against your kids and grandkids is just stupid.