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The Washington Post headline—‘High Court Disallows Ten Commandments in Courthouses’—tries to make the most of the Court’s decision from the point of view of the Left. But in fact it is equally correct to say ‘High Court Allows Ten Commandments in Courthouses:’
Sending dual signals in ruling on the separation of church and state for the first time in a quarter-century, the high court said that displays of the Ten Commandments _ like their own courtroom frieze _ are not inherently unconstitutional. But each exhibit demands scrutiny to determine whether it goes too far in amounting to a governmental promotion of religion, the court said in a case involving Kentucky courthouse exhibits.
In effect, the court said it was taking the position that issues of Ten Commandments displays in courthouses should be resolved on a case-by-case basis.
That’s a huge loss for the ACLU. It means:
What’s more, the Ten Commandments and other religious displays are specifically allowed on government grounds:
A sharply divided Supreme Court on Monday upheld the constitutionality of displaying the Ten Commandments on government land…
...”Simply having religious content or promoting a message consistent with a religious doctrine does not run afoul of the Establishment clause,” [Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist] said.
It’s a huge relief to get a favorable ruling on this from the Supreme Court.
#1
New Dollar Coins are Devalued
The US Mint today at the National Portrait Gallery unveiled the designs for the new dollar coins. Four coins a year will be released starting on February 16th with President Washington.
This in itself is remarkable because of the reluctance of the general public to actually use dollar coins. I’ve normally seen them as change in post office vending machines, California unmanned toll collection stations, and gambling slots. (Who really wants a pocketful of large, heavy coins? The UK and Canada have one pound and one/two dollar coins which are cumbersome and ineligible to be exchanged for foreign currency.)
But there is something disturbing about the design of these coins: In God We Trust is no longer on the obverse of the coin, but on the edges along with E Pluribus Unum, the date, and mint location. The explanation is simple enough: they needed to make room for the new, bolder portrait design and didn’t have room for all the other information. The other information includes the values held by the majority of our nation. The edge inscription is being lauded as a revival in US coinage and a curiosity that will intrigue collectors and the general public alike. (i.e. The British Pound Coin has a change of inscription each year.)
My gut reaction is that the government is placating a minority (i.e. Michael Newdow) that have been trying to have In God We Trust removed from all US coins and currency.
I suspect that relegating God to the fringes would have appalled the first President, and in fact, all presidents.
We should be appalled as well.
Still, I suppose, it is better than In God We rust.