"Thou Shalt Not…" A Ten Commandments Saga Sweeps the Nation
In a move that has ignited a firestorm of controversy, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, gleefully proclaiming, "I can’t wait to be sued." The law, which has been met with swift legal action from a coalition of organizations including the ACLU, immediately sparked a national debate about the separation of church and state, setting off a chain reaction that has rippled across the nation.
Key Takeaways:
- A Controversial Law: Gov. Landry’s Ten Commandments mandate has drawn immediate legal challenges, igniting a national conversation about the separation of church and state.
- A Nation Divided: The debate over the law has polarized political sides, with Republicans rallying behind the measure while Democrats, along with numerous secular organizations, condemn it as a violation of religious freedom.
- From Classrooms to Windshields: The controversy has snowballed, with Tennessee contemplating screen saver displays of Charlton Heston’s portrayal of Moses and South Carolina requiring the Ten Commandments to be presented on all Boeing aircraft and BMW vehicles assembled in the state, leading to some farcical outcomes, including grounded planes and BMWs veering off the road.
- Supreme Court in the Spotlight: The Supreme Court has promised an expedited hearing on Louisiana’s law, with Justice Samuel Alito’s home appearing unexpectedly adorned with a monumental "THOU SHALT NOT" billboard, raising eyebrows and questions about judicial bias.
- Trump’s Ten Commandments: Former President Donald Trump, a vocal supporter of the law, has vowed to add an additional ten commandments to the roster, should he be elected in 2024.
A Lawsuit and a Political Firestorm
The Louisiana law, signed in June, was met with immediate legal action by 28 organizations, including the ACLU and the Amalgamated Atheists of America. The Republican Party responded with a fundraising email blitz, touting their support for the law and painting it as a victory for faith and tradition, using the subject line "Moses ❤️ Louisiana (and Trump!!!)."
President Biden, in a rare public comment on the matter, pointed out that Louisiana was a state, not a city, to which a Trump spokesperson responded with a scathing statement condemning Biden as a "morally corrupt head of the Biden Marxist Leninist Maoist family crime syndicate." This exchange further cemented the deeply polarized political environment surrounding the issue.
The ‘Ten Commandments’ Debate Dominates the Election Stage
The Ten Commandments controversy spilled over into the 2024 presidential election cycle. During a televised debate, President Biden challenged Donald Trump to name "one commandment that you haven’t broken." Trump shot back with, "Thou shalt not rig elections."
This heated exchange further ignited the debate, leaving many viewers questioning the candidates’ understanding and respect for the principles enshrined in the Ten Commandments.
From Billboards to Screen Savers: The Ten Commandments Mania Spreads
The momentum behind Gov. Landry’s law quickly spread beyond Louisiana. Tennessee considered a bill mandating screen savers on all electronic devices, including televisions, iPhones and GPS systems, to display clips from the 1956 movie "The Ten Commandments."
South Carolina took the controversy to new heights with legislation requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed on windshields of all Boeing aircraft and BMW vehicles assembled in the state, using heads-up display technology. This law was met with resistance from pilots and drivers alike, resulting in aircraft mistaking Fort Sumter for an airport and BMW drivers veering off the roads into palmettos.
The sheer absurdity of these legislative attempts has given rise to a wave of satire and mockery, further highlighting the divisive nature of the Ten Commandments issue.
Judicial Bias and a Monumental Controversy
The Supreme Court agreed to an expedited hearing on the Louisiana law, but the controversy deepened when Justice Samuel Alito Jr., a vocal advocate for the separation of church and state, found himself the unwitting subject of a national spotlight. Photos and drone footage emerged showing a billboard inscribed with the Ten Commandments atop his vacation home. The footage also showed what appeared to be Justice Alito’s wife, Martha-Ann, dangling from a crane, painting the billboard.
Justice Alito claimed he was unaware of what was happening, claiming he thought the noise on the roof was "Martha-Ann throwing rocks at sea gulls." However, the incident has cast a long shadow over his impartiality, particularly after leaked texts between him and Justice Clarence Thomas revealed a jovial exchange about the billboard, with Thomas even commenting, "That girl’s got GAME."
The Supreme Court Rules, But the Controversy Continues
The Supreme Court ultimately ruled 7-2 against Louisiana, finding the Ten Commandments mandate unconstitutional. Gov. Landry declared a day of mourning, yet the controversy refuses to die down.
Trump, undeterred by the court ruling, declared, “I will add 10 fabulous new commandments on day one of Trump Two, so help me God!” This statement underscores the deeply entrenched political and religious factions that continue to fuel this nationwide debate.
The Ten Commandments controversy has become a microcosm of the larger societal divisions in America, exposing deep-seated beliefs, political agendas, and interpretations of religious freedom. Regardless of the legal outcome, the Ten Commandments saga serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to reconcile faith and freedom in a rapidly changing nation.
