"SC Police Hastily Scratch “Lord” and “Matthew 5:9” Off Monument...."

[BilliardsBall]

.

And well they should have.

"Earlier this month, the Tega Cay Women’s Club in South Carolina gifted the local police department with a large stone that had the department’s logo painted on it.

Seems fine… until you realize the bottom of that design has the words “Matthew 5:9,” the Bible verse that includes the phrase “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

On the back of that stone is what’s known the “Police Officer’s Prayer,” which calls on the “Lord” to give officers courage, strength, and continued dedication to the job.

Bottom line: The police department installed a Christian monument outside the building. It’s absolutely illegal, and we know that because a similar monument referencing Islam or atheism or Satanism would never be permitted there.

Complaints flowed into the station as soon as that stone went up, and city officials agreed that this promotion of Christianity would lead to a lawsuit that they would inevitably lose.

“We talked to our attorney about it and he said they’re probably going to sue you,” said Mayor David O’Neal, also a campaign leader for U.S. Congressman Ralph Norman in past runs. “He said we’d have to hire a lawyer and it might cost $30,000 to $50,000 to fight it, or you can just move the offensive language.”​

But instead of just removing the monument, they handled this the worst possible way: by literally crossing out the words “Lord” and “Matthew 5:9.”

That move just angered conservatives even more.

S.C. State Rep. Bruce Bryant, R-York, was outraged the Biblical verse was removed. Bryant retired as York County Sheriff in 2017 after 20 years in office and 44 years in law enforcement.
“To say I am disappointed is an understatement,” Bryant said. “Law enforcement is a calling, a calling for men and women by God to protect the communities they serve. These principles of courage and faith are what this great state and nation were founded upon.”​

Notice how Bryant lied there. Courage is no doubt an important characteristic for law enforcement officials. But faith is not. Christianity is definitely not. Believing in the Jesus myth is not a prerequisite to being a cop. To pretend otherwise is an insult to all the men and women who aren’t Christians but risk their lives for the community anyway."
source

​

One has to marvel at just how clueless some people can be. Will they never learn? OR, is it they know, but "To hell with the law. Let's slip Christianity into secular society wherever we can on the off chance we'll get away with it."

.


.

I believe a look at South Carolina's initial statutes and articles of confederation will show "faith", but maybe a better question is "Why would an atheist cop risk their life for others?"

 

[Father Heathen]

Ah but it's up to each individual local community to decide that for itself. Not up to you unless you live in that specific community.

Local yokel whims superceding the Constitution? I think not, but by all means cite some laws that substantiate your claim.

 

[Enoch07]

But only the Christian families, apparently.

All families.

If you wish to see it like that, go ahead. In reality, it's protecting the rights of everyone to express their religion

Except for anywhere in public view.

No, seriously, the fact that you think pointing this out even remotely contradicts the fact that the USA was explicitly founded on secular principles is actually quite weird.

And what secular values is that?

No, it's represents the Bible.

The statue represents the bible. Is it no wonder you don't understand law. You don't even understand it's to commemorate fallen heroes. Just more proof you're more worries about being offended than the facts.

Nope. That's not how it works.

Yes it is.

And they're still paying for the maintenance of it.

What maintenance? How much money a year do you think a rock needs to be maintenanced?

 

[Enoch07]

Local yokel whims superceding the Constitution? I think not, but by all means cite some laws that substantiate your claim.

Good to know. Time to lock up most of the west coast for violating federal drug laws. Thanks for the putting that to rest.

 

[Father Heathen]

maybe a better question is "Why would an atheist cop risk their life for others?"

What a bizarre question. Why would kooky spooky hocus pocus be a prerequisite?

 

[Father Heathen]

Good to know. Time to lock up most of the west coast for violating federal drug laws. Thanks for the putting that to rest.

If anything, it's the feds that are unconstitutional in those cases. That was a rather magnificent diving grasp for that straw though.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

All families.

Then remove the specifically Christian messages from it. Would you object to that?

Except for anywhere in public view.

Wrong. People can express it wherever they want. But the government cannot use government fund, lands or property to promote religion.

And what secular values is that?

Separation of Church and State, freedom of and from religion, freedom of speech and expression.

The statue represents the bible. Is it no wonder you don't understand law. You don't even understand it's to commemorate fallen heroes. Just more proof you're more worries about being offended than the facts.

You can commemorate dead cops without referencing the Bible. You even said earlier that the scripture on the monument "doesn't affect them one way or another", so why do you care if the scripture is removed, and why have the scripture on their in the first place if not to promote a specific, religious agenda?

Yes it is.

It really isn't, as this case proves.

What maintenance? How much money a year do you think a rock needs to be maintenanced?

Doesn't matter how much it is. Any amount of taxpayer money being spent on promoting or endorsing a religion is illegal.

How do you not get that yet?

Also, when are you going to answer my question about whether or not you care about dead cops who aren't Christian? It's a simple question.

 

[Enoch07]

If anything, it's the feds that are unconstitutional in those cases.

Nope gotta follow federal law you said so yourself. States and local govt must bend the knee. I expect you to lead the charge in locking up all those dope heads.

 

[Enoch07]

But the government cannot use government fund, lands or property to promote religion.

They are not.

You can commemorate dead cops without referencing the Bible. You even said earlier that the scripture on the monument "doesn't affect them one way or another", so why do you care if the scripture is removed, and why have the scripture on their in the first place if not to promote a specific, religious agenda?

Only because people are abusing the law to suit their own personal desires.

Doesn't matter how much it is.

It it does matter. Because its cost no money. In 20 or 30 years it might have some weather and tear. It would be up to the people who donated it to come up with he funds to repair it, or it would have to be removed.

 

[Father Heathen]

Nope gotta follow federal law you said so yourself.

Quote me, kid.

I guess it's a good indication that I've rustled your jimmies when you're weaving silly non sequiturs.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

They are not.

Yes they are. They have erected a monument that specifically promotes a Christian view. That's a contravention of separation of Church and State and the Establishment clause. Hence why they had to change it.

Only because people are abusing the law to suit their own personal desires.

Not abusing it at all. It's operating perfectly as intended in this case. The only people interested in abusing it to suit their own ends are the religious groups who profit from distorting or outright ignoring the law.

It it does matter. Because its cost no money. In 20 or 30 years it might have some weather and tear. It would be up to the people who donated it to come up with he funds to repair it, or it would have to be removed.

Or, just don't put it up anyway because it's illegal.

And you still won't even say that you care about dead cops who aren't Christian? I must say, that is superhumanly stubborn.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

"Why would an atheist cop risk their life for others?"

So, if you were initially willing to risk your life for others, and then found out God didn't exist, would you no longer be willing to risk your life for others? This is implicit in your statement, by the way. Learning that God doesn't exist would make you disbelieve in him, and would make you an atheist. At which point you're saying you would no longer see the point in risking your life for anyone else.

And there's one major difference between you and I then - I would be willing to risk my life for someone who was in desperate need of the help, and certainly for anyone close to me in my life facing even less dire circumstances. And I don't even need belief that "God is watching" to motivate me. Doesn't that make me even more fundamentally principled in that respect than you are? I would say yes - yes it does.

 

[Enoch07]

Quote me, kid.

I guess it's a good indication that I've rustled your jimmies when you're weaving silly non sequiturs.

Nope you said it yourself.

Local yokel whims superceding the Constitution?

Can't have local state or city laws superseding federal law.

 

[Enoch07]

They have erected a monument that specifically promotes a Christian view.

Nope they are accepting a monument that represent fallen heros.

Not abusing it at all.

Yes it is being abused.

And you still won't even say that you care about dead cops who aren't Christian?

I wouldn't be arguing if I didn't. A dead atheist cop could care less if someone says a prayer for them. According to atheist the dead cops aren't even conscious beings anymore so how could they care?

 

[ImmortalFlame]

Nope they are accepting a monument that represent fallen heros.

... That quotes the Bible, and is therefore endorsing a Christian doctrine and disparages police officers who weren't Christian.

Yes it is being abused.

Read the Establishment clause.

I wouldn't be arguing if I didn't. A dead atheist cop could care less if someone says a prayer for them. According to atheist the dead cops aren't even conscious beings anymore so how could they care?

Wow. I didn't have to work hard to expose your prejudice, did I?

If you care about all dead cops, regardless of religion, then you should be in favour of removing the doctrine from this monument. Until you state that, you clearly are just prejudiced against anybody who isn't Christian.

 

[Enoch07]

disparages police officers who weren't Christian.

How so?

If you care about all dead cops, regardless of religion, then you should be in favour of removing the doctrine from this monument.

Depends on the local community

If it's a Buddhist community, sure. Wouldn't want Christian scripture on it.

If the local community is majority Christian, then the scripture is fine if they want it there. Again its up to the local community. Not from people outside of their community that do not reflect their values.

 

[Father Heathen]

Nope you said it yourself.



Can't have local state or city laws superseding federal law.

How did you make the wacky jump from bumpkins attempting to defy the constitution to discrepancies between state and federal laws?

 

[Enoch07]

How did you make the wacky jump from bumpkins attempting to defy the constitution to discrepancies between state and federal laws?

Because it is up to local communities to decide how to govern themselves. If a local community is Christian and they want to have Christian symbology or scripture then that's ok.

Just like CO have decided to decriminalize marijuana and shrooms, because it's what that local community feels is right for them.


So which is it? Do local communities, whether it be cities or states have the right to rule themselves? Or is federal law all that matters?

 

[columbus]

If I lived in a community of Satanist I would expect it. So long as my tax money was not spent on it. Of course I would move out of that community and find a more suitable community for myself, rather than throw a tantrum and make the whole community suit my 1 individual need.

If you just didn't want to live there, for whatever reason, fine. You're free to move.

But if the reason(or even part of the reason) is because of overtly religious displays on public property the burden to leave isn't, and shouldn't, be on you. The Constitution protects you from that sort of thing.
And a lot of people, from the ACLU to me, will have your back. That's why we have the Constitution. So minority citizens don't have to take crap off of other people, even if it's the majority.
You seem like a political conservative. Why is The Constitutional protection so difficult for you to understand?

If the local community decided to ban all firearms, would you still be willing to just leave? Or would you pull out The Constitution and a couple hundred years of Constitutional law?

Tom

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

Permanent display at the Boston Public Library:

Displayed at the Brooklyn Museum:

All of these are displayed in public property that is funded by the public.
Should they be removed?

Which of them suggests that the Metropolitan Museum of Art has taken an official stand in favour of Christianity over all other religions?

Which of them suggests that a non-Christian citizen might not be able to expect just treatment from his government?