Originally Posted by razark
If a private group wishes to establish a memorial, or erect the ten commandments at a courthouse, etc., they should be free to do so, provided that government money is not used. However, this needs to be applied to all religious groups equally.
If a Christian group is free to put up a Christian display, then a Jewish group is free to put up a Jewish monument, a Muslim group is free to put up an Islamic monument. Soon, a Wiccan group will put up their monument. Shortly afterwards, a neopagan group will put up their monument. The atheists will need a place to put up a blank rock. Of course, no one will object when a Satanic group puts up a monument to their Dark Lord, right? It's just free exercise of religion.
In reality, each group will oppose the other groups' monuments, and complain about some "false religion's" symbols being granted the same status with their own. The courthouse yard will become a cluttered mess of monuments and displays, all of them being contested and vandalized by others.
Or, we could just apply the other equality, and remove all of the monuments and displays from government property. If a group wishes to put up a display on their own property, then they are free to do it, wihtout government interference. But they also need to accpet other groups' rights to do the exact same thing.
It's not about being offended, it's about being considerate of others and allowing them the same rights you wish to have for yourself. This equality needs to extend to all levels of government, not just monuments. Passing laws based on purely religious reasons should not be done, either. If you want to hold organized prayers in school, each group must be given their chance to lead the prayer. If you have an issue with your child being told to participate in prayers to Allah in school, there is a parent somewhere that is opposed to their child being told to pray to your deity. If your religion has a youth group at school, don't be surprised if another religion wants to have a youth group at school as well.
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