America is under assault by a cancerous mind virus the founders warned against

[Mikey]

My kids are swimmers. Our Local Swim Committee introduced new by-laws this year that basically says, flat out, transgenders are allowed to use the locker room that matches their identity. If I ever hear of it actually happening, my daughter will no longer be using that locker room. Total group psychosis.

It's not their fellow swimmers that present a threat to your kids.

It's the coaches.

Who said anything about "a threat?"

It's about EMPATHY for others.
Are you that much of a narcissist to not understand that biological women and girls don't want to shower and change with biological males.
Really? You weren't aware of this?

Are you a biological girl?

[JPGettysburg]

88, I can only talk about Dylan, the only person I've known who is trans. Born with female parts, but mentally the person is a man.

I asked him how did he realize he was trans and not a gay woman. He said that orientation is who you're attracted to, but being trans is who you are. Mentally, he is a man. I don't know if he's had surgery or not, didn't ask.

So he exists. And so do others who have similar circumstances. Trans people exist.

A caveat: a related question is trans in athletics. I think you just create a third category, perhaps call it open, and whoever can compete in it.

As to calling a dude a lady -- 88, Dylan is a man, regardless of what parts he was born with. Just like you and I have a man's mentality and identity, so does he. He's a man.

So trans people exist. Why should we pretend otherwise? And why should they be cast as boogeymen? You know what I'm talking about. They are as American as you and I, and our country should treat them as we are treated. There is not a transgender exception in the 14th Amendment.

As to minors having surgery, that should be like other surgeries, the parent makes the decision. Why should the parents of trans children have less rights than the parents of non-trans children?

As a person who holds liberty as sacrosanct, I will fight for trans rights.

And yes, treat them as we are treated.
You aren't allowed to shower and change with biological women and girls, are you?
You aren't allowed to compete against biological women and girls, are you?

[JPGettysburg]

It's not their fellow swimmers that present a threat to your kids.

It's the coaches.

Who said anything about "a threat?"

It's about EMPATHY for others.
Are you that much of a narcissist to not understand that biological women and girls don't want to shower and change with biological males.
Really? You weren't aware of this?

Are you a biological girl?

I bet you wish I were.

[JPGettysburg]

T1B is not a place for serious discussion.

sincerely,
Marcus Allen

How did this devolve into an argument about transgender locker rooms and child mutilation? Seems like this is how almost every discussion involving the "anti-woke" crowd ends up.

I realize people who swallow the woke mind virus think they’re doing others a favor...

Even though she's making an effort to sound reasonable, I can tell from this that ppanther has swallowed the MAGAt Kool-Aid down to the last salty drop. Sad.

"Woke" is not a religion, any more than vegetarian, or Republican, or housewife is a religion. It's an adjective co-opted by the loud mouth nut-job wing of the Republican party as a convenient epithet to describe anything that they don't like. Catholicism is a religion. Judaism is a religion. LDS, Methodist, Southern Baptist, Islam, Hindu, Zoroastrianism, etc., etc. These are religions.

That being said, I have nothing against private schools, or religious schools, or home schooling. We (my wife) home schooled our daughter for a year in 8th grade after she was bullied all through 7th as the new kid in town. She did fine when everybody changed schools for 9th. And yes, public schools do have their problems, undoubtedly different now than when our kids were in school. But public schools are PUBLIC. That has several implications. They are funded by taxpayer dollars. They have to accept all students, whatever their religion, mental or physical disabilities, family situations, or other problems they might have. They are accountable to a School Board, usually made up of members chosen in public elections. If you don't like what your public schools are teaching you can go to a board meeting and make your objections known, you can also run for the Board.

Private schools are accountable to nobody except their own private management and, to a certain extent, the parents. Religious schools are usually run by an organized religious body. They can accept or reject any students that they want to for whatever reasons they want to. They can teach whatever they want to. That's fine with me too. But don't use public tax dollars for schools that have no public accountability.

So I still don’t get the pearl clutching over private Christian schools receiving funding via vouchers. They can have ours, since we pay a pile of property tax and ask nothing from the schools in return.

Pearl clutching. LOL.

We have PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM in the United States, which is an entrenched part of our democracy. Everybody pays into it because it's how we educate our next generation(s). I don't have any kids in school, but I don't object to my tax dollars going to public education. I benefitted from public education so I owe it to the system to pay it forward. If you want to give your money to a Christian school...fine. But don't send other peoples' money there. Every dollar that goes to some unaccountable private school is a dollar that's not going to public schools, who need it a lot more considering the requirements for Special Ed, feeding kids who's families can't afford healthy meals, etc.

Public schools should be 100% free of any religious teachings.

There should also NEVER be any mention of sexuality in grades K-6. Kids don’t need the opinions of people who are supposed to teach them math, science, and English.

And RACK Sam's entire take.

I do think it's important for kids to get a religious education, but that's up to the parents, or their church, or their private school. I think that public schools should include world religions in their history classes. But as history, without bias and without indoctrination.

You addressed everything EXCEPT the vicious downward spiral of the secular government school system.

[Roux]

T1B is not a place for serious discussion

Sorry about that. I'm in considerable pain at the moment, and so I'll blame that. Took meds and now I'm in the hot tub, attitude adjustment coming.

[Mikey]

T1B is not a place for serious discussion

Sorry about that. I'm in considerable pain at the moment, and so I'll blame that. Took meds and now I'm in the hot tub, attitude adjustment coming.

LOL. Being a little facetious here. A little flame throwing never hurts. I usually have only enough energy, or interest, for about one long take per...week?

Carry on.

[mvscal]

I do not believe it is an illness. It seems like it is a condition, although there's probably a better word that is not coming to mind now.

Condition? Better word for it? You're too fat to tap dance, counselor. You know exactly what it is.

[ppanther]

Mandating biological males showering and changing with biological women and girls, is "faith based pretend time"

My kids are swimmers. Our Local Swim Committee introduced new by-laws this year that basically says, flat out, transgenders are allowed to use the locker room that matches their identity. If I ever hear of it actually happening, my daughter will no longer be using that locker room. Total group psychosis.

It's not their fellow swimmers that present a threat to your kids.

It's the coaches.

There are crappy people everywhere. But I’m not concerned about my kids’ coaches, they’re great. I’m not sure why you’d assume all swim coaches are creeps because a very few have been. Also, you let me know when your teenaged daughter is being forced to change with a dude against her will, then your thoughts on this subject will be relevant.

For you, it’s abstract. For me, it’s not.

[Diego in Seattle]

My kids are swimmers. Our Local Swim Committee introduced new by-laws this year that basically says, flat out, transgenders are allowed to use the locker room that matches their identity. If I ever hear of it actually happening, my daughter will no longer be using that locker room. Total group psychosis.

It's not their fellow swimmers that present a threat to your kids.

It's the coaches.

There are crappy people everywhere. But I’m not concerned about my kids’ coaches, they’re great. I’m not sure why you’d assume all swim coaches are creeps because a very few have been. Also, you let me know when your teenaged daughter is being forced to change with a dude against her will, then your thoughts on this subject will be relevant.

For you, it’s abstract. For me, it’s not.

I'm not saying that all coaches are bad. But there's a lot of bad ones, and even worse is how they've been protected by US Swimming. Google Chuck Wielgus (Rest In Hell).

[Dr_Phibes]

As to minors having surgery, that should be like other surgeries, the parent makes the decision. Why should the parents of trans children have less rights than the parents of non-trans children?

What a horrific statement. You're comparing a terminal illness with a lifestyle choice in a minor? Or tonsillitis? You'll read that back at some point and be ashamed of yourself.

[Roux]

Perhaps one day you will understand it is the same "choice" that you and I had when we chose to be born male.

[Dr_Phibes]

You just posted it was the parents decision, not the childs. You're contradicting yourself, badly.

[Carson]

What's worse is there are doctors and hospitals selling these procedures.

Which one is worse: slurping a baby out of your womb because you didn't want a girl, or cutting a child's dick off because you wanted a girl?

[Roux]

You just posted it was the parents decision, not the childs. You're contradicting yourself, badly.

You are misunderstanding, badly.

For a minor, a parent makes medical decisions.

The transgender person did not decide to be transgender, and it is not a lifestyle choice. They were born that way.

[Dr_Phibes]

For a minor, a parent makes medical decisions.

The transgender person did not decide to be transgender, and it is not a lifestyle choice. They were born that way.

And the choice is made for the minor because they're not of an age to make an informed decision themselves, in a situation that requires immediate attention. Encouraging or imposing on minors to mimic genetic malfunctions seems irrational.

[Roux]

in a situation that requires immediate attention.

Not necessarily surgical attention. Dylan has been openly trans for many years, and I don't know if he's had top or bottom surgery. I think he's getting testosterone shots

[Sudden Sam]

Public schools should be 100% free of any religious teachings.

There should also NEVER be any mention of sexuality in grades K-6. Kids don’t need the opinions of people who are supposed to teach them math, science, and English.

And RACK Sam's entire take.

I do think it's important for kids to get a religious education, but that's up to the parents, or their church, or their private school. I think that public schools should include world religions in their history classes. But as history, without bias and without indoctrination.

I agree with your point about teaching a world religions class. But finding a 4th grade teacher who will fairly present all religions might be asking too much.

[88BuckeyeGrad]

The transgender person did not decide to be transgender, and it is not a lifestyle choice. They were born that way.

Uh, you might want to take a few minutes to think about what you wrote there. The moment a baby is born, we can determine whether the baby is male or female. We do not need to even see the baby to make that determination with unassailable accuracy. A single drop of blood can be sent to a lab and the lab tech knows in seconds without seeing the baby.

Gender roles are learned social behavior. Dylan feels more comfortable in the role the opposite biological sex plays according to our social norms. Again, whatever. When Dylan was a newborn, Dylan had no knowledge of our social norms. The assertion that Dylan knew that the gender assigned at birth (a ridiculous notion, by the way) was incorrect is equal to the notion that same sex acts observed in other species somehow validates that homosexuality should be viewed as other than aberrant in ours. Again, no harm should result to consenting adults who choose that lifestyle. But its prevalence among a small segment of the population, by definition, means it is abnormal.

[Mikey]

Public schools should be 100% free of any religious teachings.

There should also NEVER be any mention of sexuality in grades K-6. Kids don’t need the opinions of people who are supposed to teach them math, science, and English.

And RACK Sam's entire take.

I do think it's important for kids to get a religious education, but that's up to the parents, or their church, or their private school. I think that public schools should include world religions in their history classes. But as history, without bias and without indoctrination.

I agree with your point about teaching a world religions class. But finding a 4th grade teacher who will fairly present all religions might be asking too much.

Yeah I was thinking more like HS for the history thing. I’m not sure that they even teach history or civics anymore. Too much time spent on STEM, especially for students who won’t have any use for it down the road.

[Roux]

The moment a baby is born, we can determine whether the baby is male or female. We do not need to even see the baby to make that determination with unassailable accuracy. A single drop of blood can be sent to a lab and the lab tech knows in seconds without seeing the baby.

Medical reality would like a word with you please.

its prevalence among a small segment of the population, by definition, means it is abnormal.

Ok fine, I'll concede that point. Yes by that definition, being transgender is abnormal. And by that same definition, being left handed, having red hair, and being 6'10" are abnormal as well.

I think that public schools should include world religions in their history classes.

Rack this. That would be beneficial all over the globe.

I had somewhat related class at TCU, Philosophy of Religion. It was fascinating to me, probably my favorite class I've ever taken. I remember the final exam, it had just two questions:

(1) Prove God.

(2) Disprove God.





And with that, I'm retiring from this thread, unless ppanther asks me something. Hopefully someone starts a cooking thread or something like that.

[Mikey]

My daughter had a double major in Literature and Religious Studies, which I didn’t really get because she’s a math whiz. Won the county Math Olympiad in HS, but she didn’t really like Math that much.

It turns out that RS was like a History major but from a perspective of world religion. Fascinating stuff, but not really preparing one for a job in the real world. So then she got a Masters in Accounting.

[ppanther]

I do not believe it is an illness. It seems like it is a condition, although there's probably a better word that is not coming to mind now.

Sure, I think there are circumstances where surgery is appropriate. Again, some people are born where the mind and body don't match. Some people are born with physical parts of both men and women, that is just a medical fact. So it shouldn't be too difficult to further understand that some people are born with the mental identity and orientation of both men and women.

Unless it is an emergency, surgery is not the first option in the practice of medicine, and it seems that dealing with transgenders should not be an exception to that general rule. So therapy and counseling are tried. But if that doesn't work, then what? Well then surgery may be in the best interest of the patient.

As to your question re souls, this may surprise you, but I am ordained. To be very clear, I did not go to seminary school, and generally do not hold myself out as a religious official. Still, I do take it seriously, and I've performed around 100 weddings and a few funerals.

As to souls --- well, that is difficult. And my answer would include my appreciation of what happened to me when I came so very close to dying. Yes, I had a near death experience that I cannot fully or properly describe. It may have been 30 years ago when it happened, but it had a profound affect on me at the time, and that continues to this day.

You are such a lawyer. You answered those questions with as little substance or commitment as possible.

What does being ordained have to do with believing in souls? I'm pretty sure anyone could get ordained if they really wanted to. It doesn't make you an authority on spiritual matters.

But, the way you (almost, sort of) answered the question about souls means I can't ask the follow-up. Thanks for the discussion, I hope you have a nice weekend! :)

[ppanther]

The transgender person did not decide to be transgender, and it is not a lifestyle choice. They were born that way.

This is a subjective opinion, not an objective fact. Just had to throw that in there.

[ppanther]

I'm not saying that all coaches are bad. But there's a lot of bad ones, and even worse is how they've been protected by US Swimming. Google Chuck Wielgus (Rest In Hell).

I'm sure he was a pretty bad guy. My kids have been swimming since they were 5 and 7. They've had a few coaches over that time. Almost all of them have been wonderful. We had one issue with a coach who did not know how to communicate with children (or parents) -- more than one swimmer quit. I wasn't about to let a coach ruin the sport for my kids, so we pulled them and put them on the team they still love to this day.

USA Swimming has put lots of rules in place that are in response to the abuse that has happened in the past. Some of it is to a fault, and probably not in the best interest of the kids (like adult officials, and sometimes all adults not being allowed in locker rooms during meets) but they're just trying to cover themselves legally, pretty sure. When a boy who thinks he's a girl gets undressed next to my girl, no adults around -- NO. No, no, no. Utterly insane.

[ppanther]

Even though she's making an effort to sound reasonable, I can tell from this that ppanther has swallowed the MAGAt Kool-Aid down to the last salty drop. Sad.

Mikey, do you really think there are only two options available?
1) Agree with Mikey
2) Be a MAGA extremist

"Woke" is not a religion, any more than vegetarian, or Republican, or housewife is a religion. It's an adjective co-opted by the loud mouth nut-job wing of the Republican party as a convenient epithet to describe anything that they don't like. Catholicism is a religion. Judaism is a religion. LDS, Methodist, Southern Baptist, Islam, Hindu, Zoroastrianism, etc., etc. These are religions.

Thanks for the education, Mikey. Except you know what I meant when I mentioned the woke mind virus, didn't you? And fine, it's not a religion, but it is most definitely an ideology. In terms of education, there's no real difference between gender theory and any religion. Which was the point everyone on the RIGHT side has been making in this thread.

[Softball Bat]

I'm pretty sure anyone could get ordained if they really wanted to.

Indeed.

Literally any adult can be ordained.

Just send your fee in to one of the handful of organizations that provide "ordination," and you are mailed a certificate which declares you to be an ordained minister.

That's it.

[88BuckeyeGrad]

The moment a baby is born, we can determine whether the baby is male or female. We do not need to even see the baby to make that determination with unassailable accuracy. A single drop of blood can be sent to a lab and the lab tech knows in seconds without seeing the baby.

Medical reality would like a word with you please.

You own link proves my assertion disproves yours. The extremely rare condition you note does not equate to or relate to transgenderism in any way. No correlation at all.

Gender norms, and the confusion some people have with them, are social based. If you take a baby, born in China to Chinese parents, and allow a couple from the Deep South raise it as their own in that culture, the child will have the same speech patterns, dialect etc. as those in its social group. And it also works the other way. Language, gender norms, dress, mannerisms etc. are social constructs. Do you recall any “up talkers” among your peer group growing up? Sit in an airport next to a Starbucks some day and then argue that the apes known as human beings do not mimic (ape) others in their social environment. Young people are a mess naturally (trying to sort themselves out and figure out where they fit with a complete absence of actual life experience). We do them no favors by lying to them (e.g., telling them they can actually be a woman even though they are biological males). I know you come from a place of compassion. And that is admirable. But ceding the responsibility to tell the truth to doctors with an agenda is what led to eugenics, which was once championed by “Progressives”.

[Sudden Sam]

Young people are a mess naturally (trying to sort themselves out and figure out where they fit with a complete absence of actual life experience). We do them no favors by lying to them (e.g., telling them they can actually be a woman even though they are biological males). I know you come from a place of compassion. And that is admirable. But ceding the responsibility to tell the truth to doctors with an agenda is what led to eugenics, which was once championed by “Progressives”.

Well said. This nails it.

[mvscal]

The moment a baby is born, we can determine whether the baby is male or female. We do not need to even see the baby to make that determination with unassailable accuracy. A single drop of blood can be sent to a lab and the lab tech knows in seconds without seeing the baby.

Medical reality would like a word with you please.

Fuck off. Seriously.

Vanishingly rare genetic mutations have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the current transgender social contagion.

[Softball Bat]

So tell me, why are kids in public schools experiencing such crisis levels of mental health problems?

The current surgeon general evidently thinks that social media is major culprit.
He is pushing for "a tobacco-style warning" on social media platforms.

https://www.axios.com/2024/06/19/social ... on-general

[Mikey]

So tell me, why are kids in public schools experiencing such crisis levels of mental health problems?

The current surgeon general evidently thinks that social media is major culprit.
He is pushing for "a tobacco-style warning" on social media platforms.

https://www.axios.com/2024/06/19/social ... on-general

Yeah but he’s just another woke liberal so it has to be something else.

[Mikey]

Louisiana to require Ten Commandments in the classroom

Louisiana public schools will now be required to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, following a new law signed on Wednesday by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.

The first state to take such action, Louisiana's legislation mandates a poster-sized display of the religious rules in “large, easily readable font” for kindergarten classrooms up to state-funded universities starting in 2025.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pol ... 150508007/

And if you disobey any of them you might lose an eye or a tooth. Or maybe get stoned (not in a good way). Up to the discretion of the local Southern Baptist Minister.

[kcdave]

Louisiana to require Ten Commandments in the classroom

Louisiana public schools will now be required to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, following a new law signed on Wednesday by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.

The first state to take such action, Louisiana's legislation mandates a poster-sized display of the religious rules in “large, easily readable font” for kindergarten classrooms up to state-funded universities starting in 2025.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pol ... 150508007/

And if you disobey any of them you might lose an eye or a tooth. Or maybe get stoned (not in a good way). Up to the discretion of the local Southern Baptist Minister.

ACLU will be filing a suit in 3... 2....1....

Chip, what of knobs are you having to deal with down there
in the land of perpetual sweat?
Can't wait for the Muslims, satanists and who the fuck else
ever want their equivalent lists posted in school also.
It's obviously an election year with a dipshit looking to
win a few votes from religious kooks.

[HighPlainsGrifter]

I don't see what's so offensive about the ten commandments. Unless you're a big fan of lying, murder, adultery, disrespecting your parents and other devious stuff.

[FiatLux]

I don't see what's so offensive about the ten commandments. Unless you're a big fan of lying, murder, adultery, disrespecting your parents and other devious stuff.

It's Jewish brainwashing..

Separation of Synagogue and State.

I think that's what our forefathers said.

I wasn't there so I could be wrong.

[Mikey]

I don't see what's so offensive about the ten commandments. Unless you're a big fan of lying, murder, adultery, disrespecting your parents and other devious stuff.

That’s not the point, is it? The first three (or four depending on which version you’re using) aren’t exactly compatible with religious freedom. Or are you on board with forcing Christianity on everyone? That concept has had a few questionable outcomes historically.

[HighPlainsGrifter]

I don't see what's so offensive about the ten commandments. Unless you're a big fan of lying, murder, adultery, disrespecting your parents and other devious stuff.

That’s not the point, is it? The first three (or four depending on which version you’re using) aren’t exactly compatible with religious freedom. Or are you on board with forcing Christianity on everyone? That concept has had a few questionable outcomes historically.

Is there an enforcement arm I'm not aware of? Where is religious freedom being usurped or Christianity being forced?

Link a brother to this Christian totalitarianism, please.

[88BuckeyeGrad]

As an Atheist, I have two thoughts: (1) I don't see why it would be appropriate to post The Ten Commandments in public schools (unless you are also going to permit the posting of all other viewpoints on the issue include my personal savior, the FSM; and (2) WGARA if The Ten Commandments are posted in public schools if you don't believe in that stuff?

I defer to Roux on all things Louisiana (including boudin balls) and expect that his take would be that the current governor has picked a bad fight (which he will likely lose 9-0 at the SCOTUS, assuming it would get that far). I personally think the Establishment Clause precedent is whack. The language means what it says, which is that the U.S. government cannot establish a country-wide (state) religion. But it cannot possible apply to the individual States, which at the time of the enactment of the U.S. Constitution had state religions. As an Atheist, I'm not a big fan of Christian prayers before football games (and also players thanking God after the game for picking them or their team over the other poor schlubs on the losing team that were petitioning for the same "Goddamned" thing...). But I also view it as a tolerable nuisance (like face tattoos, rainbow flags and blue crew cuts on 50-something women).

This seems like a micro-assault, like someone using the wrong pronouns with reference to a 6'3" person with a 2-day beard wearing red pumps. If I was the judge, I'd tell the Louisiana Governor to take his Ten Commandments and put them right next to the FSM's colander and the Satanists whatever, or get that shit off the wall. And then I would go eat boudin balls with Roux.

[Roux]

I was at the Capitol as this bill went thru the process. There were many times that I wanted to scream, but of course didn't say a word as the bill was not one that my organization was involved with. I am at the Capitol as a representative of that organization, not in my individual capacity, so it is appropriate for me to 'stay in my lane'.

Where to begin? Well, of all the problems facing Louisiana, this doesn't register in the top million. Why waste time and energy on something like this that is clearly unconstitutional?

The bill author, Rep. Doddie Hortion, is a perfectly delightful lady and pleasant to be around in social settings. However, she is virtually identical to Speaker Mike Johnson in terms of their political philosophies: they are true believers in Christian Nationalism. The ultimate authority for the United States is not the Constitution, but rather their interpretation of the Bible.

If you are not familiar with Christian Nationalism, I urge you read up on it. Realize that Johnson and Horton are not merely using CN as a means to obtain political power, they are true believers, and that is concerning. Again, do some reading about Christian Nationalism, it is scary stuff.

As to the law itself, it should be easily held unconstitutional, again, as a virtually identical law in Kentucky was held unconstitutional in 1980.

BUT: in 2005, Van Orden v. Perry (Ten Commandments displayed at the Texas State Capitol was constitutional) and McCreary County v. American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (Ten Commandments display at the courthouse was unconstitutional). And of course, the composition of SCOTUS is different now as compared to 1980 and even to 2005.

So I said the law is clearly unconstitutional, but with the current SCOTUS, who knows. Fwiiw, I expect the lawsuit to go like this: ACLU files suit and asks for an injection from the law going into effect. District Court grants the injection, so no school will be required to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Trial is held, and citing the 1980 case and distinguishing the 2005 cases, concludes the law is unconstitutional. State appeals to the 5th Circuit, which will want to reverse but won't. Then the state will file a writ to SCOTUS, and honestly I don't know what will happen. If SCOTUS agrees to hear the case, then I think it will rule in favor of the state and may establish a new test for courts to evaluate such laws. Hopefully SCOTUS simply denies the writ and this whole this is over. Well, then the state will have to pay for the ACLU legal fees, and then it will be over.

As the bill went thru the legislative process, the supporters gave lip service to an alleged secular purpose, but that's horse shit. The ACLU will find many comments by legislators supporting it for religious reasons, they couldn't help themselves. Gov. Landry couldn't help himself either:

Before signing the bill, Landry called it “one of (his) favorites.”

“If you want to respect the rule of law, you gotta start from the original law given which was Moses. … He got his commandments from God,” Landry said. Link

During his keynote speech on Saturday at a Republican fundraiser in Tennessee, Landry touted the bill as a conservative victory in the ongoing culture wars and boasted that he "can't wait to be sued. Link

So much for a secular purpose.

Now I want some boudin balls for lunch.

[Diego in Seattle]

As an Atheist, I have two thoughts: (1) I don't see why it would be appropriate to post The Ten Commandments in public schools (unless you are also going to permit the posting of all other viewpoints on the issue include my personal savior, the FSM; and (2) WGARA if The Ten Commandments are posted in public schools if you don't believe in that stuff?

I defer to Roux on all things Louisiana (including boudin balls) and expect that his take would be that the current governor has picked a bad fight (which he will likely lose 9-0 at the SCOTUS, assuming it would get that far). I personally think the Establishment Clause precedent is whack. The language means what it says, which is that the U.S. government cannot establish a country-wide (state) religion. But it cannot possible apply to the individual States, which at the time of the enactment of the U.S. Constitution had state religions. As an Atheist, I'm not a big fan of Christian prayers before football games (and also players thanking God after the game for picking them or their team over the other poor schlubs on the losing team that were petitioning for the same "Goddamned" thing...). But I also view it as a tolerable nuisance (like face tattoos, rainbow flags and blue crew cuts on 50-something women).

This seems like a micro-assault, like someone using the wrong pronouns with reference to a 6'3" person with a 2-day beard wearing red pumps. If I was the judge, I'd tell the Louisiana Governor to take his Ten Commandments and put them right next to the FSM's colander and the Satanists whatever, or get that shit off the wall. And then I would go eat boudin balls with Roux.

1) Why do you think that Amy Coathanger Barrett would vote against the 10 C's?

2) Why do you think that Thomas Jefferson in his 1803 letter to the Danbury Baptist Church explained his interpretation of the Establishment Clause as being a separation of church & state, not church & government?

3) Similarly, can you point to any SCOTUS cases where they established that the word government was only applicable to the federal body?