Quote:
Originally Posted by djplong
Just great. Someone says "well, that's not what they meant in the COnstitution" so I provide the text where the writers explain what their intent was.
You don't put a whole dialogue into law. The idea used to be to make a law as succint and brief as possible (unlike today's 2000 page bills).
They said "respecting an establishment of religion" because that's what they meant. When people asked for an explanation, that's what they got. 2nd Ammendment defenders are *constantly* referring to the Federalist Papers where the founders made it CLEAR that citizens were to be allowed to arm themselves.
So why is it any different when it's YOUR ox being gored? When the framers explain what they meant, which has been backed up by the Supreme Court - why the sudden change of heart concerning this kind of material when it's the FIRST Ammendment?
...and yes, they referred to God and the Creator. But you'll notice they did NOT refer to any specific religion - and with *damn* good reason.
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There's not much to say about your answer than to say that you are completely and utterly wrong. If the meaning you glean out of the Constitution was meant to be in the Constitution, it would have been in the Constitution. You have a very concise and succinct bill with no hidden meanings and this was done on purpose. After the fact and after ratification you want to say that Jefferson meant something else than was written and voted on. Hogwash!!!
You want to use the language of the Constitution as if it was a metaphor and not a definitive statement and that is just ridiculous. The activist court is wrong and you are wrong and no amount of redefinition can change that.