OMG... Chief Justice Moore was just removed

MommyToAshley wrote: from the Alabama Supreme Court! He's the one that refused to remove the Ten Commandments from his courtroom. I just watched them read the verdict and not only was he reprimanded, but he was removed from his position! I think this is a sad day.

A&A'smommy replied: omg crap i should know about this since i live in alabama...im so tired of this crap why are they taking this away from us???? Dont we have a right to OUR freedom of speech if it was anyone else or anything else they would let them but noo not for whats real!

~CrazieMama~ replied: That is awful. Why would it make a difference wheather the "10 Commandments" were in a courtroom or not? It is rediculous. to those who did that!!!!!

natjasem replied: It is a sad day! Where are the rights of the people who believe in God?

Kaitlin'smom replied: I am soory but that is stupid! who does it hurt to have it hanging there? I guess maybe I dont get something they do.....to sad

jcc64 replied: He was removed because he was violating the constitution, and no one, not even a judge, is above the law, however well intentioned he may have been. Our forefathers, in their infinite wisdom, established a separation of church and state so that the rights of ALL shall be observed in governmental institutions, especially the courts. Had Justice Moore placed his monument in front of his house, or on private property, we wouldn't be having this conversation. But our courts exist to ajudicate the laws of our land as established by the constitution, not to promote religion, even if it is practiced by the vast majority of this country. Justice Moore, or anyone else for that matter, was not being denied the right to practice his religion, just asked REPEATEDLY to do it in the appropriate time and place.

MommyToAshley replied: I see your point, that no one is above the law. And, it is important to have a separation between church and state.

But, Chief Justice Moore also has a point. There are references to God throughout our justice system. Religion is the moral compass on which many of our laws are based. When a judge is sworn into office, there is the reference to God. When a person testifies, he raises his right hand and swears to tell the whole truth "so help me God".

I just think it is a sad day when the law protects the KKK and allows them to ralley and march down a public street because of freedom of speech, or protects a person who wants to burn the U.S.flag in the public street, but a Judge is removed from office for having the Ten Commandments in his courtroom. I don't think that is what our forefathers had in mind. Besides, I don't think it is a bad thing having things like "Thou shalt not kill", "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not bear false witness" in a courtroom.

jcc64 replied: DeeDee,
I really don't want to bog down in a debate in the separation of church and state. But the whole genesis of this country is closely related to a dominating religion imposing itself on a minority. That's why the pilgrims escaped England. I think it's very easy to sympathize with Justice Moore's position if the religion he is promoting is the one to which you belong. Yes, some of the by-products of free speech are ugly and repugnant, but it's the price we pay for our precious right to be free. And again, no one has told Justice Moore he can't practice his religion or spread the good word. Just not in a courtroom. Justice is blind....

DansMom replied: I agree with Jeanne's point of view on this issue, 100%. I don't really have anything to add to what she has said. I don't really like to focus on the things that separate us on this board (politics/religion, mostly), because we have so much in common as parents who love our kids and want to help them grow into healthy, happy adults. Occasionally, though, it's interesting to hear different points of view expressed on important issues. I don't tend to hear other points of view in my conversations at work or at home.

MommyToAshley replied: I don't take offense to anyone's opinion and I hope no one has taken offense to my posts. I welcome the discussion and enjoy reading the different opinions, even if I don't agree with them. I think we can express opposing opinions without animosity. That's what I love about everyone here. There are some other boards that I would not feel comfortable bringing up this topic.

DansMom replied: I think we have a great group too---I feel comfortable being who I am and I enjoy the variety of opinions and points of view. The circumcision discussion was especially interesting, if you recall that one!

Schnoogly replied: Yes I don't have anything to add either, though I agree with Jeanne. I know I am one of the more liberal people on this board and I disagree with most of you about most everything, but I don't really come here to argue. (I have other places for that!) So I usually don't even read posts like this that I know I will disagree with. But I actually read this one for the news value--sad isn't it that I get my news from a parenting board??

jcc64 replied: I also like to steer clear of the politics/religion quagmire whenever possible, but groups like this are a good opportunity to "meet" people whose paths I probably wouldn't have the chance to cross in "real life". Living in a very liberal and quirky little town here in NY, it's easy to lose touch with other points of view. I'm glad to have the opportunity to hear what others think, particularly when they're expressed in such a civilized manner. Thanks all!

kit_kats_mom replied: That's a standing ovation for the people on this board.

Very civilized & open minded discussion...I love it here.

I generally steer clear of these conversations too. I've seen them get out of control on other boards and I would hate to lose a treasured member because of something I said which may be misconstrued. However, I am interested in reading other peoples opinons. It helps me to understand where you are coming from. I am not from a religious background so I learn alot from posts like this. I don't really see what the big deal is either way but I understand that if you have strong religious beliefs, it may be hard to swallow.

MommyToAshley replied:
heeehee, yup, I remember that one. However, that topic didn't really effect us... at least not at the moment.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I also agree with Jeanne....but i also agree with DeeDee.

Because:

I agree that Justice is Justice, not Religion - religion has no place in a court room - although some of the 10 commandments just make plain old common sense- you don't have to be Catholic to respect values and morals such as "thou shalt not kill" etc.... it's just common sense. Duh.
I believe that the "so help me God" aprt, and "swearing on the Bible" doesn't really matter if yuo're not of that religion, right? An Atheist couldn't care less....and then wouldn't the oath be made less "meaningful"?
I believe that in a courtroom...personal belongings should not have a place. A courtroom is a place where decisions are made...not a judge's office. If he wants a "tribute" to the 10 commandments...he should have it in nhis office. Not in "his" courtroom, where the item is in plain view of all...and where it coul dbe offensive to someone. It's a common area - not HIS place. Obvoiusly there had been complaints about it prior....because it was repeated requests to remove it that led to his being removed in the first place....he could have save himself a lot of grief - you don't see the president of a company putting a "tribute" to his/her religion in a common boardroom of the company...but you might see one in his/her office....

I just don't think that something as silly as this should have been brought to the courts. I mean... there are more important matters at hand (murders and rapes and kidnappings etc....) that need a trial date NOW...to get the victims and victims families and criminals the justice they need. Not in 1 to 2 years from the crime...like most offences are taken care of. If Courts would take as much action as quicly for everything else as they do with a stupid matter like a judge refusing to remove the 10 commandments from his courtroom whic isn't even HIS.... then maybe, just maybe, there wouldn't be so much crap going on. I say this because it's a touchy subject for me...my mom was falsely accused of traficking drugs in 2000. It was proven such...and she was acquitted of all charges. However, with her being a lawyer, she is still under investigation from the Bar association...and this, almost 3 years later. Hello?! Can't they jsut...make a decision already?

Anyhoo...I hope this didn't offend anyone... it's not meant to... it's just my opiinion!

5littleladies replied: As a conservative Christian my first response it to be upset at this but at the same time I understand why it was removed. I know I want to be able to believe what I believe without other religions pushed at me and I can understand people being upset about it.

However I also understand Chief Justice Moore's belief that he should fight this. It just seems like one more sign of the moral decay of our country and I don't want to see everyone just give up without a fight. The more we remove God from our nation the more it seems to go downhill. Just my opinion though.