"Thou Shalt Not ..."

Copyright: October 10, 2003

Tom Hyland

A current controversy is beginning to rage, not only in our Southern states of Alabama and Georgia, but also, as the media picks up the story, more and more Americans are getting involved, from "Sea to Shining Sea."

The "Law" forced a JUDGE to remove the sculpture of The Ten Commandments from within an Alabama Courthouse. Initially, I heard about the issue on the radio, on a PBS station. Then, the day of removal rapidly approached. Then the foul deed was done!

Just today, the broadcast reported about a "march" and demonstration which had just occurred. Several prominent and distinguished citizens and politicians spoke out on this "so-called" Separation of Church and State. Then, I heard some very pat, glib "tongue-in-cheek" remarks from a woman attorney from the A.C.L.U. The more I listened, the more my blood began to BOIL! I definitely have an opinion, and it MUST be expressed. To wit, read on, faithful companion!

First of all, let us remind ourselves of some of the basics of Sociology, which were, in fact, the FORERUNNERS of "Man’s Law." At the very dawn of any given civilization, before anyone of the Homo sapiens species ever got the bright idea of chiseling, or penning, or writing ANY FORM of codification of anything, let alone LAWS, wherever groups of people congregated, certain verbal communications, or sayings, developed. These were known as Folklore. With the passage of time, these became known as "Mores." The words "morals" and "morales" both had their root in these beliefs.

Remember if you will, how, at the end of a tale, or story, or fable, you were asked, when a child: "What is the moral of this story?" There usually was a lesson to be learned, or a reason for the story. How about the Ant and the Grasshopper? "Don’t fiddle your life away frivolously, if you don’t work hard and save, you could someday STARVE to death!"

These methods or ways of getting along together in a society eventually were defined as "Norms." Ergo, if a person desired to be accepted, or considered "normal" ( suffix al means pertaining to ) one must act like everyone else. To do else-wise would be sheer folly, and bring about ostracization, if not even condemnation. You wanna’ stay here? Fit the MOLD - or HIT the road, Jack! Get the picture?

Well, back to the issue at hand - right or wrong - this is what I feel strongly in my heart:

America was FOUNDED on Religious Freedom - the Greater Majority of the Original Colonists were devotees of GOD - no matter whether they were: Protestants, Quakers, Mormons, Mennonites, Catholics (or whatever other Christian denomination or Sect), as well as Hebrews. Today, I believe that the Greater Majority of AMERICANS - no matter what Ethnic Group they were assimilated from, STILL BELIEVE in Honoring GOD - this means that if ANY STATUE, PICTURE, TABLET, or ANY FORM of Religious ARTWORK is displayed in or on ANY PUBLIC Building, Courthouse, Government Location - WHATEVER -