We have received feedback on this issue from people all across America. Review the graph to the left for a quick snapshot of the responses received to date, or read the responses below.

... The law of our nation was founded on the very basi ...

January 27,2004

If we allow the display or use of quotes from famous book authors or other literature, why can't we display somthing with good ethics and morals in a state courthouse? The law of our nation was founded on the very basis of the "Ten Commandments"!

... Chriatians who managed to get into the house added ...

January 27,2004

...the United States of America is in nowise founded upon the Christian religion, anymore than it is founded upon the Islamic or Jewish religion....
James Madison, President of the United States and Co-Author of the Constitution of the United States of America, with full ratification of the United States Senate and House, Treaty of Tripoli, 1799-1801, Capital Builidng Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

Just because Chriatians who managed to get into the house added their motto to our Pledge in 1952 ("I pledge alliegence to my flag, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indvisible, with freedom and justice for all" is the actual origianal version. Notice not only is htere no mention of anyone's god, it also does not specify WHO'S flag your pledging allegiance to.
And somewhere in the late 1800s, am thinking 1880s, they got under god added to the money - the founders are rolling in their graves if they are watching what happened to their dream...the very religious tyreanny from which they all fled each year gets a stronger stranglehold on our country - and if you want to know what that means - look at Saudi, Iraq, Iran, and even Japan (their women are treated the same way as a proper Christian woman is treated, so they count). Persoanlly, I'm not interested in being the property of any man, or of having my ownershp transferred from father or brother to husband at Marriage - or did you never wonder why the preacher asked "Who gives this woman away?"

... The United States is or was a Christian nation, wh ...

January 27,2004

The monument should be allowed to stand. If I were to go to another country that was founded by another religion would I have the right to tell them to get rid of their monument because I didn't agree with it! The United States is or was a Christian nation, what are we becoming? a doormat!

... This country has lost all of its moral values ...

January 27,2004

I believe that this country was established on the ten commandments. I don't see any reason why that would be offensive to anyone. Sex and violence are portrayed on most television shows and no one objects. Why would anyone object to the ten commandments which were given to protect people's lives.?
No one is forcing anyone to read the ten commandments, yet homosexuality and abortion are legal rights and no one seems to object to such behavior. This country has lost all of its moral values as far as the courts are concerned. If we don't have the respect for God and the ten commandments who do we respect? Are we so smart and so good that we don't need the laws of God anymore? Have we become so perfect that we can rule this world without respect for God and for each other? Those that don't believe in God, believe that we are animals and the survival of the fittest is what counts in animals. Are we now animals without natural affection, without compassion for the weak and frail? Much evil has been done in the name of religion I do agree with that and I think it is terrible to go to war in the name of religion. We have a mind and we need to have the mind of Christ who laid down His life for others. If we are a Christian nation we need to love and respect each other and all human life. I love animals but we are not animals. We were created in the image of God and we need to represent God on this earth. God is love and God is good and we need to see more of His goodness in this world and in this country. If this country would live up to the standards of the founding fathers than the world would respect us and we would be protected by God's love and power. Greediness is not what God wants. We need to share our goods with the less fortunate and we need to respect all human life, all nature and all animals. God bless you. We need freedom of speech in all areas especially in religion. The best religion will draw others to it if they see the good works and the love we have for one another. Why are the ten commandments not allowed and yet every evil and every discusting picture and book is allowed in schools and for the public to view. Who is against God? Who is against God's laws? Only those who want darkness and not light,love and truth.

... It is a blueprint of respecting others and yoursel ...

January 27,2004

Our laws may not say, "thou shall not...", but our laws do protect our "certain inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happines". Each of those commandments serve as a reminder of how we should live as citizens in a country that has people from diverse cultures. It is a blueprint of respecting others and yourself. There is nothing wrong with getting along, is there?

... Look very closely at the 1st Commandment. Then loo ...

January 27,2004

While I think it would be wrong to put such a monument in a courthouse, it would do well for those who support such an idea to look very closely at the 1st Commandment.

Then look closely at the 1st Amendment.

One declares quite clearly that you MUST worship one God and one God only.

The other quite clearly states that you can worship whatever god you choose or nothing at all.

I would much rather have the freedom to worship as I choose.

... It is a slap in the face to all Americans who are ...

January 27,2004

Never. The goverment should be about upholding the laws of the state, and the state should be upholding laws that are based in one faith. It is a slap in the face to all Americans who are not christian. Americans who dont belive in the ten commandments should not be forced into living in conditions where the the authority is one-sided, the authority should be unbiased.

... founded upon the principles ...

January 27,2004

This nation was founded upon the principals of the Christian Religion. Putting the Ten Commandments in a courthouse is a testimony to one of the founding principals behind the United States of America. Even many of the unreligious of the founding fathers, such as Benjamin Franklin, had read the Bible and based many of their morals on it. The U.S. was founded upon the principles in the Ten Commandments. We cannot allow this important part of the founding of our nation to be removed.

... Bush played to a brand of rightist conservative ev ...

January 27,2004

The whole problem is the issue would never have been raised except that Bush played to a brand of rightist conservative evangelicals for political reasons and left the rest of us out. Lets get back to asking why over 500 of our citizens in uniform were sent to the salughter in Iraq. Read the Book folks, Jesus is cringing. I guess you all will be looking to do me in soon since I am not a fundamentalist? THATS the scary part..the government telling me what to believe and telling me what my religion should be.

... Ask the French! ...

January 27,2004

You should have polled the young people of Iran on the question of separation of religion and state. That would have been a fresh perspective on the issue. But of course, you would have had to disguise their voices and hide their faces. Oh, and Gwen Ifill wouldn't be able to do the story, unless she was accompanied at all times by her husband or a male family member.

Why raise Islam as an issue in a debate about the United States with our clearly Christian heritage? Ask the French!

We need to draw the line and hold it dearly.

... We are a nation very much divided! ...

January 27,2004

"One nation indivisible?"
We should not ask children to lie. But, that is what we ask them and all of us to do in the pledge of allegiance.

We are a nation very much divided! Election years highlight our divisions. We are divided as Conservative vs. Liberal, Republican vs. Democrat, Rich vs. Poor, Christian vs. non-Christian, even Christian vs. Christian, Black vs. White, Gay vs.
homophobe, Environmentalist vs. non-environmentalist, Iraqi war supporter vs. war opponent, etc., etc.

So go ahead with your pledge and break one of the Ten Commandments while your at it: "Thou shalt not lie." Ten Commandments, another dividing point. We have become one nation of liars without liberty and justice for all! Graven images posted everywhere. Two commandments down. Eight to go.

... Why should they be hidden - for what are we affrai ...

January 27,2004

My nation was founded on the faith that supports the Ten Commandments- I support that the Ten commandments be place back in our courthouses. Why should they be hidden - for what are we affraid - the truth?

... There is no higher source of truth and justice. ...

January 27,2004

Absolutely. Our founding fathers recognized the infinite wisdom of the Creator of the entire universe. They knew that only with a foundation of decision-making based on the Word and guidance of God Himself, can there be truth and justice. That is why our elected officials are sworn into office using the Bible. That is why in the court of law, we promise under oath of the Bible to tell the truth. That is why our national slogan is "IN GOD WE TRUST." There is no higher source of truth and justice. As it should be!

... Can anyone dispute the intent of the Ten Commandme ...

January 27,2004

We should remember the basis for which our country,The United States of America, was founded...a Christian faith, which upheld God's laws as those man should model man's laws. Can anyone dispute the intent of the Ten Commandments is to uphold cival respect and order?

... the founding fathers had already seen the results ...

January 27,2004

Contrary to common misconception, this country was NOT founded for a Christian religion; rather, the founding fathers had already seen the results of state sanctioned religion. I fear that this passion for religion vs. a passion from religion shall fuel a fire that shall weaken our nation's strength. This type of passion fuels hatred and ignorance as each sector digs in its heels.

... The Judiciary is there to enforce the law of the l ...

January 27,2004

The Judiciary is there to enforce the law of the land, not the laws of mythology and superstition. The falacy that our laws are based on the Ten Commandments is not based on fact. To say base anything given by a supernatural being - who consistantly breaks his own rules (.i.e Thou shal not kill) is absurd.

... I feel like a moderate in Iran who saw the iron ha ...

January 27,2004

There should be a separation of Church and State. Evangelical Christians should not be allowed to force their religious views on others. They should not be allowed to force their ethics or morals on others. I feel like a moderate in Iran who saw the iron hand of Islam settle over them. That is what seems to be happening in our country now. I would hardly use the bible as a guide in my life.

... If I went back to my homeland, Thailand, I would e ...

January 27,2004

If I went back to my homeland, Thailand, I would expect to see statues of Buddha. It represents the culture and faith of the people of the land. Who am I to think, that I am greater than those that walk before me that biult their land through thier faith and hard wark. I would want to know more about their way of life. I would accept and respect. I see fewer and fewer poeple through the eyes of the media doing the same.

... Please read Amendments 1, 9, and 10 of our Constit ...

January 27,2004

Those who would deny that our nation's laws are founded upon the 10 Commandments and the Covenantal framework of Scripture simply have not done a fair, balanced study of the matter. Rather, they have left reasonable research and held to their own self serving purposes.
Further, if the State in question has a legal framework that provides, encourages, or demands such display, the Federal government has no right to dictate to the contrary.
Please read Amendments 1, 9, and 10 of our Constitution.

... such a display is a blatant advertisement by Chris ...

January 27,2004

No monument to or of religion should be displayed in any public governmental buildings, and especially not in courthouses. Though lists
very similar to the 10 commandments were made in other religions than Christianity both before and after Christ, everyone knows that such a display is a blatant advertisement by Christians for Christianity. Would all the folks that say it would be OK
also say it would be OK to display a key section of the Koran, or Buddist texts in our courtrooms? I'll bet not.