My Oklahoma house representative has proposed a bill to allow a privately funded 10-Commandments granite monument be placed on the state capitol grounds. Even in a red state like Oklahoma it has drawn vocal opposition crying “separation of church and state”. The press has been fair in its reporting. No taxpayer money is involved. Representative Dr. Mike Ritze said he wants Oklahomans to be reminded of our historical roots but is their more of a motive? Several have asked that in their letters to our local papers. I wondered too. Here is my letter to our local paper, The Broken Arrow Ledger.
What is it that directs our actions?
If you remember _Braveheart_ and Mel Gibson’s character, William Wallace, shouting “FREEDOM” with his last breath as he was tortured to death you get my meaning. What is this inner part, conscience, heart, or sole, of a person which dictates nearly every action he takes? Actions of one rise up in opposition to what is strongly believed evil or at least wrong action in others. As the napkin fell out of Mel’s hand, we understood William Wallace’s action in opposition to the English because of their rape and murder of not just any innocent victim but his own wife. To William this wasn’t just a crime of English people, but a crime of civil English law which said such action was legal. Mel, as director, got his point across. Righteous indignation leading to action opposing civil evil was worth fighting, and yes even dying, for.
Why does House Congressman Dr. Ritze want to place a 10-Commandments monument outside the State Capitol building? I think his intent is fairly presented by our media. But why would he want this reminder of the Christian history of our state and nation so close to civil courtrooms? He freely admits there is no *legal* civil relevance today. Is he out to get a reaction from those who disagree? Is he simply wanting some kind of public debate on this?
I say, let’s go. Righteous indignation against this proposed law is deserved. The state (capitol building) needs to remain separated from the church (God’s 10 Commandments). History was then. Today is now and now people behave civilly one toward another not because of God’s 10 Commandments but because of — something else.
All is not lost if Ritze’s bill becomes law and passes judicial muster. The path will have been cleared. One may propose other granite monuments at no taxpayer expense of one’s own version of the 10 Commandments, or whatever else one believes defines (or should define) the civil conscience of a people.
In the process, one may come to believe True Christianity has no reasonable rivals. Perhaps this is Dr. Ritze’s real intent?