Rant: Conflict Between the Ten Commandments and the Constitution

Conflict Between the Ten Commandments and the Constitution and the People who Think the Two Can Be Appealed to for Public Policy


I'm supposed to be working on a paper but what I heard got me so worked up, I had to write something about it.  NPR was broadcasting a debate between contestants in the Texas senatorial election.  Every idiot ended their speech with the same idiotic claim, that they promise to uphold the Constitution and the 10 Commandments as the guiding documents for their policies.  If these morons want to follow the 10 Commandments in their personal life, fine.  But don't get up on the pulpit and say you're going to use it as guidance for your public policy decisions.


Reason #1 why they are idiots:  If they actually read the gotdam Constitution they'd see right there in the 1st Amendment there is a prohibition against government enacting any law regarding the establishment of religion.  By the rules of the Constitution they are prohibited from enacting many parts of the 10 Commandments.


Reason #2 why they are idiots:  Just like 90% of "Christians" I've met, I'll bet they can't even name the 10 Commandments or even know that there were TWO lists of 10 Commandments given to Moses.  So, lets look at some of the things they will appeal to for their policies:

1st Commandment:  Thou shalt have no gods before me. You're going to make this public policy?  How the fuck does this fit with the establishment clause?  What about freedom to worship as people please?  Idiots.

2nd Commandment:  Thou shalt not make thee any graven images...blah blah blah.  What the fuck.  So are they going to make policies that ban art?  What about freedom of expression?  And if someone wants to worship a statue, that's protected by freedom of religious expression.  Idiots.

3rd Commandment:  Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain.  Hello? Freedom of speech?  Idiots.


4th Commandment: Keep the Sabbath--even your manservant and maid.  Oh, so now all businesses have to shut down on Sunday?  I'd like to see a Republican put forward an anti-commerce law.  Idiots.

5th Commandment:  Honor they father and mother.  What the fuck are you going to do to people who don't?  Send them to jail?  What about people whose parents are cretins?  Are people obligated to honor those who don't deserve it?  Idiots.


6th Commandment:  Thou shalt not kill.  Oh! This one's good.  Such wisdom does the bible have!  No other society could ever have or ever has figured out this is a good rule.  Idiots.  Oh, and by the by, in the bible this statement is left unqualified.  So, I guess that means you Texas Republicans will be repealing capital punishment.  I look forward to seeing that legislation.  Idiots.

7th Commandment:  Thou shalt not commit adultery.  Or what?  What happened to your ideas of curtailing the powers of government.  So, now government's going to get involved when people cheat on their partners?  Is that what you're saying?  Idiots. Oh, and what's the punishment going to be? Public stoning?  Idiots.

8th Commandment:  Thou shalt not steal.  Once again, the wisdom of the bible overwhelms me.  How deep and profound is this rule!  Surely, no other tradition or society could have come up with a rule so sublime!  There's already a rule against stealing, we don't need the bible for that.  Idiots.
9th Commandment:  Thou shalt not bear false witness.  (See 6 and 8).  Idiots.

10th Commandment:  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, wife, ox, etc...  I see, so you're going to be introducing thought crime.  How?  Make it a law that when I have thoughts about wanting my neighbor's ox, I go to jail?  I'd like to see you enforce it.  Idiots. 


So, would someone please tell me how it is possible to simultaneously uphold both documents when creating public policy?  Answer: you can't.  So all you idiot politicians stop pandering to the Christian right.  If you think the 10 Commandments are the more important, that's fine, go run for a committee at a church, but keep that crap out government if you value the Constitution (as you say you do).  


What the conclusion?  When these idiots say that their policies will be guided by the ten Commandments, they mean "I will violate the establishment clause and legislate my particular version of Christianity as the State religion".  When they say their policies will be guided by the Constitution, they mean, "I will interpret the 2nd Amendment out of its context to allow easy access to guns".  It's clear that's the only part they're ever read.  Idiots.


Ok, I feel a bit better now.