Anger is a gift (Happy 3rd Anniversary!)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I actually have no problem with the idea that the people at Guantanamo have no right to jury trials or whatever. They are essentially POWs and such a right has never attached.

Sort of. The problem as I see it is that the government's trying to play it both ways. "These are POWs, so we have a right to try them in tribunals." Okay fine, but at the same time they're saying, "These are ununiformed 'enemy combatants' and therefore we are under no obligation to grant them even the most basic rights afforded POWs."

Either they're POWs or they aren't.

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, they are in a legal limbo, at the whim of - - - are we still insisting that we are a democratic republic? Or is a nation which imprisons POWs after a war is over, detaining them indefinitely while specifically denying they have any rights under federal law, international law or the Geneva Conventions .... tell me again what form of government that is?

[SacTown Chronic]

It's a CHRISTIAN government, baby!

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by SacTown Chronic

It's a CHRISTIAN government, baby!

Heheh, that reminds me of something I just heard (hmmm, maybe another tangent coming on?)

On Wednesday, March 1st, 2006, in Annapolis at a hearing on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at American University, was requested to testify.

At the end of his testimony, Republican Senator Nancy Jacobs said: "Mr. Raskin, my Bible says marriage is only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?"

Raskin replied: "Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."

Hey, if I'm angry about it, it fits in this thread. Right?

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

"Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."

I think that's a great quote.

[JWBear]

On Wednesday, March 1st, 2006, in Annapolis at a hearing on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at American University, was requested to testify.

At the end of his testimony, Republican Senator Nancy Jacobs said: "Mr. Raskin, my Bible says marriage is only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?"

Raskin replied: "Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."

That is perfect! I love it!

[SacTown Chronic]

Great quote.

[Alex]

Here's the Snopes page (your quote is essentially correct) which gives some more detail. It is a wonderful response and I'd really love to have audio of it (as well as a recent speech I heard from Fran Lebowitz that perfectly captures the nature of my atheism).

Even if this guy didn't originate the retort, it really does some up the issue perfectly.

[Gemini Cricket]

[SacTown Chronic]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Here's the Snopes page

"As I read Biblical principles, marriage was intended, ordained and started by God — that is my belief," [Jacobs] said. "For me, this is an issue solely based on religious principals [sic]."

Wow, an open and honest admission by this Senator that she desires to make biblical law the rule of law in her state. Where's the outrage? Where's the religious persecution of Christian Americans that Tom DeLay so laughably alleged?