I have occasion to go to Andrews AFB periodically. The last time I was there, Wednesday, there were several Christmas theme displays on the base, like a statuary of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. The Congress starts every session with a prayer, and I think the Supreme Court has the Ten Commandments posted somewhere. Does this mean that the government is supporting some religion at the expense of others in violation of the Constitution's requirement to "...make no law respecting an establishment of religion", or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."? The people that get all heated about some Christmas decorations or display of ancient, universally accepted rules of civilized behavior, have some other issue to deal with, like maybe being a frustrated control freak.
If Congress didn't make a law requiring the displays or prohibiting them, that says to me that there is no Constitutional violation. The only possible chink in the idea is that when Congress passed the law making Christmas a national holiday, did they specifically mention anything pro or con to do with "Christianity" in the law? If they did, does that make Christmas an illegal holiday???
On the other hand, does the Constitution prohibit any other level of government, state or local, from allowing one or more of their constituent components to have a viewpoint, pro or con???
Chas (just curious - I like Christmas)
edit: Cincinnati once had Jerry Springer (yes, that Jerry Springer) as a Mayor once. |
