[Ghoulish Delight]

re: 10 Commandments.

I almost see where they were going. It's pretty tricky. Here are a couple extreme examples to illustrate the point.

Case 1: A courthouse erects a display of the 10 Commandments in the lobby with a plaque next to it reading, "The Word of God", complete with a speech at the unveiling about the importance of God and prayer.

Case 2: A well respected judge who sat on the bench at a courthouse for many many years dies, and as a tribute, some of his personal belongings, including an ornately framed copy of the 10 Commandments, are put on display at the courthouse.

I think most would agree that there is a clear distinction between these two cases. And I think most would agree that the first steps well over the line, while the second comes nowhere near it. So that's where things become complicated. There seem to clearly be appropriate displays and inappropriate displays. And, since the content of the 10 Commandments was influential to the founding of this country, it is difficult to just say, "nope, you can't have it." However, my feeling is, because not all cases (probably very few cases) are as clear-cut as my hypotheticals, and the only method for distinguishing them is a subjective analysis of motivation (aka, mindreading), an outright ban from public areas of government institutions should be the only solution. It may not be ideal, but if apparant motivation is the only test, then it's too easy to get around that just by putting on the right show.