Commandments: Yea and Nay

The Supreme Court ruled today that the Ten Commandments can be displayed on government land, but not in courthouses. Say what?

This is a confusing ruling to me. How is it that monuments on Government land are considered religiously neutral, while displays on in courthouses is an endorsement of religion? This is duplicitous and cowardly, like the split rulings on the U of Michigan race based admission policies a couple years back. Trying to have it both ways so nobody is offended? Seems that way to me.

The part I think is being missed is that the mere existance of a religious symbol is NOT an endorsement of religion, or, by extension, some measure of religious activism. It is a real and relevant reflection of the culture we live in.

If I see Judges wearing black robes am I to be offended by the state sponsoring a fashion statement I find ridiculous? This is absurd, but consistant with the double standard religion is measured by.

The state is not REQUIRED by law to display a religious symbol, but, contrarily, if it is desired by the majority as a legitimate reflection of the culture and practices of the community as a whole, why should it be banned from view, either?

The problem is not religion but religiophobia. We can display many things that are offensive to many people as long as it isn't a Christian or Jewish religious symbol which may offend a tiny minority. This is hypocritical.

I, as a Jew, am not offended by Christian references or symbols because I recognize the majority of people in most areas ARE CHRISTIAN. I, as a minority, DO NOT expect the majority to eliminate all displays that reflect their way of life because I am so sensitive and selfish that I can't even look at it without being offended.

Even atheists ought to be mature enough not to be mortified by the site of a ten commandments display. Nobody says they have to bow to it, or for that matter even pretend to agree with it, since it is really just a repectful reflection of the community and country in which he freely lives his life.

In other words, it is selective censorship to say all Judeo-Christian symbols must be banned at the risk of offending a tiny minority, yet we will allow government moneys to be openly given to defacing or denouncing religion in our public schools and universities, national endowment "art" galleries, and public broadcasting.

This is just flat out wrong.