eagle scout ordered to take god out of park project

[Merlyn_LeRoy 72]

They aren't representations of pagan gods, they're the English names of the planets (which were named after the pagan gods). You can lobby to have the names of the planets changed if you like, but "offensiveness" is not a constitutional violation.

 

[evmori 11]

Well, Pluto should be removed just for accuracy sake!

 

I'm with MarkS! If the city is allowing the names of pagan gods to be displayed in this fashion, aren't they endorsing being pagan? They can't do that!

 

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

[evmori 11]

but "offensiveness" is not a constitutional violation

 

Exactly! So why, if someone was offended, was the 11th stone removed?

[Merlyn_LeRoy 72]

Because the reason for removing it was not its "offensiveness", Ed. As the article quoted the complaint, it was "an infusion of religion into an educational display on public park property." You and George Griesinger are trying to portray it as due to offensiveness, but that isn't the reason it's a problem. The Griesingers can put the same rock on their own lawn, and it would have about the same "offensiveness" factor (minus whatever the difference would be on private vs. public property), but now it would be perfectly legal.

 

Trans-thread PS to OGE: Yes, you got my position right in the now-closed thread.

[evmori 11]

And the entire project could be considered "the infusion of religion" since the planets are named after pagen gods, but I guess that's OK.

 

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

A blessed New Year to all

[Merlyn_LeRoy 72]

Any project using e.g. Wednesday would be considered infusing religion using that standard, Ed.

[Trevorum 24]

Happy Wodin's day!

 

[evmori 11]

Shouldn't the same standard be used across the board?

 

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

A blessed New Year to all

[OldGreyEagle 5]

I agree with Ed

 

BTW Trev, Happy Thor's day!

[Gold Winger 9]

Yep, I agree. Let's get rid of these religious names for days, I find them offensive and view them as the governments attempt foist religion on people. Might have to change the names of a few of the months too.

 

We have a couple ways to do this. Change the names of the days of the week to Firstday, Seconday, Thirday, Fourthday, Fifthday, etc.. We could eliminate the weekday names and month dates and just go with day of the the year. We should also pick a new starting year for the calendar, let's go with the year the Sputnik was launched to commemorate the begining of the space age.

[Trevorum 24]

Let's also get rid of the annoying Babylonian 24 hour day, 60 minute hour, and 60 second minute. Wasn't there a TV show where time was expressed in "centons" of some such? I think a decimal approach is much more reasonable than base 12.

 

If we're going to rename the months, I've always thought that the weeks should have names too - all 52 of them. My idea is to name them for foods so that if someone says they'll be on vacation during, say, Strawberry or Pumpkin, you'll know exactly when.

 

[GernBlansten 10]

Wouldn't it be easier and more efficient to just round up all the liberals and athiests and those who don't look like us and send them to some other country? Like France?

[Gold Winger 9]

No, send them somewhere that's more tolerant of foreigners. Saudi Arabia comes to mind.

[OldGreyEagle 5]

GW, we have a start on numbering the days of the week,

Two's Day

 

Trev, can't go with your suggestions, I mean some parts of western Montana worship Strawberry Shortcake as a goddess so that's out. Then, the Exalted Church of Classic Nursey Rhymes reveres Peter Peter the Pumpkin eater as Blessed, so thats out as well.

[Gold Winger 9]

"GW, we have a start on numbering the days of the week, Two's Day"

 

Not sure if you're joking here. Tuesday is named for a Germanic or Norse god of war (don't remember which). So to prevent confusion, we really couldn't use Oneday, twoday, or three day because of potential mixups with the old "Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday."