Freethought & Rationalism Archive

05-28-2002, 03:34 PM

The town of Elkhart, Indiana is abandoning its legal effort to defend the display of a stone Ten Commandments monument which has stood in the municipal square since 1958.

The constitutionality of the cenotaph had been challenged by two residents including Indiana American Atheists State Director Mike Suetkamp. Together with the help of attorney Ken Falk of the state Civil Liberties Union, they waged a four year battle that encountered repeated efforts by the city to circumvent court orders, and even arguments that the Commandments had nothing to do with religion.

<a href="http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/tenco26.htm" target="_blank">Full article</a>

Anunnaki · 05-28-2002, 04:12 PM

I`ve been following this story for months,but only just now realized that our own "demons on the roof" Douglas J. Bender is from that very same town.

I think this says a lot about Elkhart Indiana.

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: Anunnaki ]</p>

DieToDeath · 05-28-2002, 05:54 PM

The Ten Commandments have no business being there to begin with.

Free Thinkr · 06-02-2002, 11:52 PM

Hrm.. I'd love to have a "you go, Indiana" attitude, but my home town still displays the Ten Commandments right on the Courthouse lawn.

Steven Carr · 06-03-2002, 12:28 AM

I cannot believe that the Ten Commandments were displayed, and would bet good money that they were not.

In my experience, people who insist that the Ten Commandments are to be displayed , would be horrified if somebody put up Exodus 20 on a poster or statue.

They always want a sanitised, cleaned-up version displayed - one which is not to be found in the Bible.

braces_for_impact · 06-03-2002, 01:44 AM

If I remember correctly, the funny part is the whole sign can be moved to a church across the street, which is private, as opposed to public, property. But of course, to the Christian Coallition, that would be LOSING! The church offered a spot of land for the structure, isn't that where it belongs? When will these religious people get it through their thick skulls that that morality is NOT tied to religion?

GaryP · 06-03-2002, 01:59 AM

The idea that it could be moved easily to private land is so obvious, I've never understood the problem. It's almost as if christians need that endorsement by govt. Many apparently must not think God is omnnipotent if he needs the City of Elkhart to endorse him.

Here in my town, the Nativity scene was moved about 25 feet up the hill to bank property in 1999 after I asked to display an Atheist symbol of the season.

One anonymous lady called me and said I had ruined xmas for her kids. I asked her why her kids could not look at baby jesus 25 feet from where he used to be. She yelled an obscenity and hung up!

tragic_pizza · 06-03-2002, 06:57 AM

Urg. Nice witness.

What would an Atheist symbol of the season be?

GaryP · 06-03-2002, 07:10 AM

I was planning on getting permission from American Atheist to use theirs. I thought I would just write "Happy Solstice" on a sign next to it.

You can see it on their homepage:<a href="http://atheists.org/" target="_blank">American Atheists</a>

[ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: GaryP ]</p>

05-28-2002, 03:34 PM	#1
atheist_in_foxhole Guest Posts: n/a	Ten Commandments coming down in Elkhart, Indiana The town of Elkhart, Indiana is abandoning its legal effort to defend the display of a stone Ten Commandments monument which has stood in the municipal square since 1958. The constitutionality of the cenotaph had been challenged by two residents including Indiana American Atheists State Director Mike Suetkamp. Together with the help of attorney Ken Falk of the state Civil Liberties Union, they waged a four year battle that encountered repeated efforts by the city to circumvent court orders, and even arguments that the Commandments had nothing to do with religion. <a href="http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/tenco26.htm" target="_blank">Full article</a>

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05-28-2002, 04:12 PM	#2
Anunnaki Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: I`ve left and gone away Posts: 699	I`ve been following this story for months,but only just now realized that our own "demons on the roof" Douglas J. Bender is from that very same town. I think this says a lot about Elkhart Indiana. [ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: Anunnaki ]</p>

05-28-2002, 05:54 PM	#3
DieToDeath Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Up god's ass. Posts: 92	The Ten Commandments have no business being there to begin with.

06-02-2002, 11:52 PM	#4
Free Thinkr Banned Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,379	Hrm.. I'd love to have a "you go, Indiana" attitude, but my home town still displays the Ten Commandments right on the Courthouse lawn.

06-03-2002, 12:28 AM	#5
Steven Carr Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: England Posts: 5,629	I cannot believe that the Ten Commandments were displayed, and would bet good money that they were not. In my experience, people who insist that the Ten Commandments are to be displayed , would be horrified if somebody put up Exodus 20 on a poster or statue. They always want a sanitised, cleaned-up version displayed - one which is not to be found in the Bible.

06-03-2002, 01:44 AM	#6
braces_for_impact Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In a nondescript, black helicopter. Posts: 6,637	If I remember correctly, the funny part is the whole sign can be moved to a church across the street, which is private, as opposed to public, property. But of course, to the Christian Coallition, that would be LOSING! The church offered a spot of land for the structure, isn't that where it belongs? When will these religious people get it through their thick skulls that that morality is NOT tied to religion?

06-03-2002, 01:59 AM	#7
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	The idea that it could be moved easily to private land is so obvious, I've never understood the problem. It's almost as if christians need that endorsement by govt. Many apparently must not think God is omnnipotent if he needs the City of Elkhart to endorse him. Here in my town, the Nativity scene was moved about 25 feet up the hill to bank property in 1999 after I asked to display an Atheist symbol of the season. One anonymous lady called me and said I had ruined xmas for her kids. I asked her why her kids could not look at baby jesus 25 feet from where he used to be. She yelled an obscenity and hung up!

06-03-2002, 06:57 AM	#8
tragic_pizza Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 108	Urg. Nice witness. What would an Atheist symbol of the season be?

06-03-2002, 07:10 AM	#9
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	I was planning on getting permission from American Atheist to use theirs. I thought I would just write "Happy Solstice" on a sign next to it. You can see it on their homepage:<a href="http://atheists.org/" target="_blank">American Atheists</a> [ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: GaryP ]</p>

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