Finally the 10 Commandments statue has been removed from that Alabama courthouse. And the right-wing Christian element is, for lack of a better phrase, up in arms. Their response is precisely why the statue had to go. No matter how much the preachers scream and cry on the courthouse steps, despite the presence of Bush acting as President, America is not a Christian nation.

The arguments to keep the statue in place were narrow and infantile:

"America was founded by Christians" - If the Founding Fathers wanted a Christian Nation they'd of explicitly stated such and would *NEVER* have included a Constitutional clause separating church and state. Our Founding Fathers were seeking to escape religious oppression. They knew of the totalitarian dangers when you mix religion and politics. Take a look at Afghanistan before we removed the Taliban. That is what happens when there's a dominant extremist religion in charge. You think for a moment that if the Christian Fundamentalists took over and increased prayer in school, had religious statues in the courts, and who knows what else, that the non-Christians in America would feel safe much less welcome? You think Islamic terrorists are somehow worse than the Christian Extremists who blow up abortion clinics? How long would it be before Concentration Camps and forced religious conversions re-appear?

"I don't believe that God would be happy.." (with the removal of the statue). I don't remember the exact quote but whomever said it should be hit upside the head with a 2x4. Who is this person who claims to know God so intimately? This is your opinion - meathead - and certainly no reason to keep the statue! Here's one from me - "God is ecstatic with the removal of the statue!" Prove me wrong.

"Our system of Law is based on a belief in God." Fine, which God? The Christian God, the Jewish God, the Hindu Pantheon? Even if our system of Law is based on such a belief - I'd like to see the justifications for such a statement - it doesn't mean that our government supports one religion over the rest.

We need to restore the wall separating Church and State. We need to remove "Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. We need to remove "In God We Trust" from our money. These two insertions were fairly recent additions and are divisive and offensive.

We have Freedom of Religion in America. That also includes Freedom FROM Religion. Our Government should focus on running the country, not on religious matters. Unfortunately, as the well organized Christian Fundamentalists increase their influence we'll see more conflicts and violence. I thought Jesus was about loving thy neighbor and turning the other cheek.