Heads Up Darwin

Recently, the newspaper headlines reveal that religion has become an issue in the race for the U.S. Senator from New York. The issue is whether or not the ten commandments should be posted in the public schools of the country. The Republican candidate, NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, says yes and the Democratic candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton, says no. Thus, there is a clear and decisive difference in the positions of the two major political parties.

I have been arguing for sometime that the 2000 elections should be based on the different positions of the two parties. Republican Mayor Giuliani proves that he is a Conservative. In addition to this issue he has embraced vouchers for the public school system. His dispute with the Brooklyn Museum is also indicative of the Conservative Agenda.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has been on the other side of all three issues. The people elected Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan to the Senate for four terms. The voters now have to decide if they want to continue his progressive stance on important issues or elect Mayor Giuliani who has switched from a liberal Republican to a Conservative.

The Ten Commandments should not be posted in Public Schools because this would be a clear violation of the establishment clause of the constitution. The Catholic, Jewish and Protestant versions of the commandments differ from each religion. Which version would be used? How would the needs of all religions be served? The increase of Asian and Mid Eastern immigrants has brought more religion into the U.S.A. How would these religions be served?

No one should be obligated to observe any religion other than his own.  It is imperative that the Public Schools adhere to the principles of separation of church and state as promulgated by our founding fathers, Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison.