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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (52857)	7/12/2002 5:35:50 PM
From: epicure	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

I have a lot of respect for people who exercise their consciences. I have less respect for people who sell out their consciences to gain votes. If you believe that every member who participated in that display did so from genuine feeling. I can see how you might admire that as a display of conscience. Alas it is a display of conscience aimed at exclusivity, but still, this is a free country- except of course when your government compels you to do something (like be in school, for example). I find it hard to believe they were all actually exercising their consciences. But it is nice they have the freedom to sell out as well, even if i do not feel the need to respect that. I suppose that is what democracy is all about. Or republicanism, or whatever system it is you think we have.

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (52857)	7/13/2002 5:08:10 AM
From: Solon	Respond to of 82486

"This was a lower level appeals court notorious for having its rulings reversed" It is a characteristic of law that it is dynamic and mutable. Your comment has no relevance to the point being discussed. "This was a 2 to 1 decision, not unanimous, even by this highly liberal court." Irrelevant to the issue under discussion. "Remember, the first judge to hear the case threw it out of court -- how come you don't respect his decision" Why must you be presumptuous? Is it because you do not understand the difference between disagreement and disrespect? "Don't you have any respect for the freedom of expression that allows our citizens, including members of Congress, to sneer at any court decision they think is wrong?" I think for the officials of the State to flaunt their disrespect of the law is remarkable. Freedom of expression is not the issue. The issue is maturity, integrity, and character. The State is NOT a religious institution. It ought to have nothing to say on whether or not God exists. Every street corner has a church or a mosque or a synagogue to do these things. And it is only when Church and State ARE separate that you CAN have freedom to worship whoever or whatever you choose to worship...or not.* It is religious people who have the most to lose by any infringement of this principle. It is the religious people who should be denouncing their government for breaking down the wall between church and state. That would be YOU. Why can't you get this simple principle?