Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Dianna · 02-12-2002, 05:43 AM

The Florida Legislature is passing a bill to force principals to post "In God We Trust" in a prominant location in Florida public schools.

On Saturday, February 9, 2002, Representative Jerry Melvin, District 4 Republican, Florida House of Representatives was quoted in the Florida Today newspaper saying that people who disagree with the posting of "In God We Trust" in public schools were perhaps not "true Americans" and "ought to move out of the...country."

The exact quote is as follows:

----"It's sort of a 'gotcha,'" Spalding (atty for FL chapter ACLU) said. "It is a way to put God into the public schools in a constitutional manner."

To that Rep. Jerry Melvin, the bill's co-sponsor, retorted: "I don't sneak God into anything."
"I would suggest whether they're true Americans or whether they ought to move out of the...country," the Fort Walton Beach Republican said.----

Mr. Melvin stood by his remarks in an email to a member of the YahooGroups email list "AtheisminFlorida" saying:
"You have the right to say what you think! I also have the right to say what I think! In God We Trust is the motto adopted for this
great nation of ours. I stand by my position - If you do not support our country, its Motto, its Constitution, its Declaration of
Independence, etc., I'm sure there are other countries that will be glad to accept your way of thinking."

You can write to Rep. Melvin at
The Honorable Jerry Melvin
Room 1301, The Capitol
402 Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300

or email him at:
MELVIN.JERRY@leg.state.fl.us

4th Generation Atheist · 02-12-2002, 05:45 AM

......suffice to say I am not surprised......

scombrid · 02-12-2002, 07:16 AM

"If you do not support our country, its Motto, its Constitution, its Declaration of
Independence, etc"

WTF does he know about the constitution?

Mageth · 02-12-2002, 07:40 AM

WTF does he know about the Declaration of Independence, as far as that goes? It, of course, is directed at tyrannical governments which tread unjustly on the unalienable rights of the people.

[ February 12, 2002: Message edited by: Mageth ]</p>

Darwin's Finch · 02-12-2002, 07:46 AM

If all secular people left the country who would be left to vote out the fundie jackasses? I hereby order Rep. Melvin to write E Pluribus Unum one-hundred times.

manhattan · 02-12-2002, 08:04 AM

Damn. I was gonna email him threatening not to vacation in his district, or play golf there, or whatever.

Have you seen his district? He represents a freaking swamp out on the panhandle that you couldn't get to if you were lost! The place's motto is probably "You shore got a purty mouth."

Krieger · 02-12-2002, 12:09 PM

I suggest that Rep. Jerry Melvin pull his thumb out of his ass, or else he might be sorry.

Edit: the same goes for Jerry Falwell, Ann Coulter and several others I'm too angry to think of at the moment.

[ February 12, 2002: Message edited by: Krieger ]</p>

bonduca · 02-12-2002, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Consitution of the United States
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances
...

Quote:

Believing that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their Legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State (Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Danbury Baptists, 1802).

Quote:

I stand by my position - If you do not support our country, its Motto, its Constitution, its Declaration of
Independence, etc., I'm sure there are other countries that will be glad to accept your way of thinking."

I appear to be already living in it.

If you guys put together a moving fund for Rep. Melvin, I'll chip in $25.

ex-idaho · 02-12-2002, 02:08 PM

Here is a copy of the letter I sent to mr. Melvin.

Mr Melvin, Your remarks suggesting that anyone that does not wish to have the 10 commandments posted in schools should leave the country because they are possibly un-American are inflammatory. The first amendment states in part that the Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. By mandating that this baltantly religious document be posted in public schools or in any other publicly funded building is an obvious violation to the Consititution.

People like yourself that wish to trample the rights of a minority group with the intention of promoting your own personl religious ideology are the true anti-American. You must come to terms with the fact that this nation is made up of millions of people that do not agree with your particular view of God. Whether the founding fathers were Christian or not makes no difference in todays world. The fact is they constructed a legal document that protect the rights of all people to practice whatever religion they chose. So whether they are Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Atheist they are free to believe what they like.

The Supreme Court has ruled on these cases many times in the past and found them to be un-Constitutional. So please, stop wasting valuable tax dollars in attempt to promote a hateful and divisive agenda.

Rick D. Boyd
Boise, Id

ex-idaho · 02-13-2002, 12:19 PM

Well boys and girls Mr. Melvin has written me back. I was astounded to see that he had actually written but disappointed at the actual message. Here it is for all to see.

"I'm in this country because of the freedom it provides. I assume you are here for the same reasons. Jerry"

02-12-2002, 05:43 AM	#1
Dianna Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Central Florida Posts: 86	Secularists should leave the country! The Florida Legislature is passing a bill to force principals to post "In God We Trust" in a prominant location in Florida public schools. On Saturday, February 9, 2002, Representative Jerry Melvin, District 4 Republican, Florida House of Representatives was quoted in the Florida Today newspaper saying that people who disagree with the posting of "In God We Trust" in public schools were perhaps not "true Americans" and "ought to move out of the...country." The exact quote is as follows: ----"It's sort of a 'gotcha,'" Spalding (atty for FL chapter ACLU) said. "It is a way to put God into the public schools in a constitutional manner." To that Rep. Jerry Melvin, the bill's co-sponsor, retorted: "I don't sneak God into anything." "I would suggest whether they're true Americans or whether they ought to move out of the...country," the Fort Walton Beach Republican said.---- Mr. Melvin stood by his remarks in an email to a member of the YahooGroups email list "AtheisminFlorida" saying: "You have the right to say what you think! I also have the right to say what I think! In God We Trust is the motto adopted for this great nation of ours. I stand by my position - If you do not support our country, its Motto, its Constitution, its Declaration of Independence, etc., I'm sure there are other countries that will be glad to accept your way of thinking." You can write to Rep. Melvin at The Honorable Jerry Melvin Room 1301, The Capitol 402 Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 or email him at: MELVIN.JERRY@leg.state.fl.us

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02-12-2002, 05:45 AM	#2
4th Generation Atheist Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tower of Ecthelion...by the Starbuck's Posts: 1,815	......suffice to say I am not surprised......

02-12-2002, 07:16 AM	#3
scombrid Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,759	"If you do not support our country, its Motto, its Constitution, its Declaration of Independence, etc" WTF does he know about the constitution?

02-12-2002, 07:40 AM	#4
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	WTF does he know about the Declaration of Independence, as far as that goes? It, of course, is directed at tyrannical governments which tread unjustly on the unalienable rights of the people. [ February 12, 2002: Message edited by: Mageth ]</p>

02-12-2002, 07:46 AM	#5
Darwin's Finch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gardnerville, NV Posts: 666	If all secular people left the country who would be left to vote out the fundie jackasses? I hereby order Rep. Melvin to write E Pluribus Unum one-hundred times.

02-12-2002, 08:04 AM	#6
manhattan Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: New York, NY, USA Posts: 400	Damn. I was gonna email him threatening not to vacation in his district, or play golf there, or whatever. Have you seen his district? He represents a freaking swamp out on the panhandle that you couldn't get to if you were lost! The place's motto is probably "You shore got a purty mouth."

02-12-2002, 12:09 PM	#7
Krieger Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: ... Posts: 2,191	I suggest that Rep. Jerry Melvin pull his thumb out of his ass, or else he might be sorry. Edit: the same goes for Jerry Falwell, Ann Coulter and several others I'm too angry to think of at the moment. [ February 12, 2002: Message edited by: Krieger ]</p>

02-12-2002, 02:08 PM	#9
ex-idaho Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Spudtopia, ID Posts: 5,315	Here is a copy of the letter I sent to mr. Melvin. Mr Melvin, Your remarks suggesting that anyone that does not wish to have the 10 commandments posted in schools should leave the country because they are possibly un-American are inflammatory. The first amendment states in part that the Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. By mandating that this baltantly religious document be posted in public schools or in any other publicly funded building is an obvious violation to the Consititution. People like yourself that wish to trample the rights of a minority group with the intention of promoting your own personl religious ideology are the true anti-American. You must come to terms with the fact that this nation is made up of millions of people that do not agree with your particular view of God. Whether the founding fathers were Christian or not makes no difference in todays world. The fact is they constructed a legal document that protect the rights of all people to practice whatever religion they chose. So whether they are Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Atheist they are free to believe what they like. The Supreme Court has ruled on these cases many times in the past and found them to be un-Constitutional. So please, stop wasting valuable tax dollars in attempt to promote a hateful and divisive agenda. Rick D. Boyd Boise, Id

02-13-2002, 12:19 PM	#10
ex-idaho Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Spudtopia, ID Posts: 5,315	Well boys and girls Mr. Melvin has written me back. I was astounded to see that he had actually written but disappointed at the actual message. Here it is for all to see. "I'm in this country because of the freedom it provides. I assume you are here for the same reasons. Jerry"

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