--- In [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > In a message dated 7/6/06 12:55:38 P.M. Central Daylight Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > The First Amendment holds that all religions must be > equal in the eyes of the law. It has been pointed > out that religious belief *thrives* under this mandated > freedom; the U.S. is the second most religious country > in the world, after India. > > And this is exactly what I meant by the people have a right to decide if > they want laws based on Judaic/ Christian principles or some other. If people > elect a majority that want to have values more in line with the laws of Manu > they can, if they are the majority.
But (as I said) not if those laws abrogate the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Of course, if these people become powerful enough, they can amend the Constitution and take away all those rights. But then we would no longer be the same country. > Democracy means majority rules. The Constitution, not incidentally, was intended, among other things, to protect the rights of the minority. The > constitution protects specific rights. You may not be forced to be a Hindu or > contribute to a Hindu temple but you may have to build your house according to SV > if you want to live in a certain community or not allowed to own a butchershop > in that community. Only if the courts decide such laws are in accordance with the Constitution. (Of course, this bunch is intent on taking over the courts as well.) The Constitution was designed to prevent just such a takeover of the government by religious fanatics. That's why it exists in the first place. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> See what's inside the new Yahoo! Groups email. http://us.click.yahoo.com/2pRQfA/bOaOAA/yQLSAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
