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.The license plate controversy is manifestly unrelated to the press, the right to assemble, or a redress of grievances. That leaves religion and free speech. Since this ruling abridges the freedom of speech of those purchasing the plates, the judge must believe that the license plate slogan establishes religion to such a degree that it overrides the free speech issues. Free speech is typically sacrosanct among those who flee to the First Amendment whenever they want to justify absurdities like a crucifix in urine being hailed as brilliant art, but the cultural Uruk-Hai are never above using the First Amendment in attempts to stifle the free speech of those they oppose.
Just horrible.
"Separation of Church and State" is now the doctrine of "anything which smacks of maybe being about church, or maybe not, shall be illegal."
Or somesuch. What rubbish.
anything which smacks of maybe being about church, or maybe not, shall be illegal.
Subjectivity is fun for those in power, isn't it? Most people don't seem to realize how much protection objective strict constructionism gives them, and how much loose constructionism costs.
re: "Choose Life" license plate.
the power of this evil world (cosmos) gaining more and more control. the persecuted church abroad face death and imprisonment and yet here we face the slow controlled death of sharing of sharing the gospel freely. Can't share at my job--- can't smoke at my job---can't share in public places, can't have license plates--pretty soon no smoking places--setting the stage.