Moore Than Ten Commandments
Judge Roy Moore forgot a few, says Christopher Hitchens:
I wonder what would happen if secularists were now to insist that the verses of the Bible that actually recommend enslavement, mutilation, stoning, and mass murder of civilians be incised on the walls of, say, public libraries? There are many more than 10 commandments in the Old Testament, and I live for the day when Americans are obliged to observe all of them, including the ox-goring and witch-burning ones. (Who is Judge Moore to pick and choose?) Too many editorialists have described the recent flap as a silly confrontation with exhibitionist fundamentalism, when the true problem is our failure to recognize that religion is not just incongruent with morality but in essential ways incompatible with it.
(And incompatible with reason, too.)
In the name of fairness, however, I think the images of Dike (goddess of Justice, daughter of Zeus and Themis, pictured with a blindfold and holding a scales) should also be removed from the courthouses, since some pagans do indeed worship the ancient Greek pantheon.
I did rather enjoy seeing the histrionic displays on the news of protestors as the rock was removed. "Put it back!" some leatherlungs yelled. "Get your hands off my God!" (His god is a two and a half ton block of granite???)
Someone else confirmed the reporter's question, "It's a very emotional day," and as he looked at the camera, he said, "Christians, where are you?"
Patrick at August 29, 2003 6:42 AM
I had no idea that her name is Dike! Pronounced like "butch dyke," I presume.
What becomes a religious legend most? A blindfolded dyke and a guy in a loincloth nailed to a cross. Muy kinky!
Lena Cuisina at August 29, 2003 9:05 AM