>I received this is a email today. :)
>
>THE LAW IS THE LAW
>So if the US government determines that it is against the law for the words
>"under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.
>And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to
>be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.
>And since they already have prohibited any prayer in the schools, on which
>they deem their authority, then so be it.
>I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen.
>I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than I
>are in positions to make good decisions.
>I would like to think that those people have the American Publics' best
>interests at heart.
>BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?
>Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot Post His
>Commandments in Government buildings,


The last line I quoted is the fallacy in all this. Nothing about the court decisions in question or the Constitution prohibits prayer to or trust in God. What is prohibited is organized prayer in schools, with its implication that it's mandated by the authorities. At the moment, "In God We Trust" remains on our money.

The argument is and always has been about the relationship of religion to government action, not to individual behavior.

>I don't believe the Government and
>it's employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations

I don't care what they do in this regard in their private lives. I do have a problem with a "national Christmas tree" and the like. If the President happens to be a Christian (as, oddly enough, all of them have been, so far), having a Christmas tree and other decorations in the private, residential sections of the White House is fine. Ditto, I think, for individual employees decorating their work areas.

>I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter.
>After all, it's just another day.
>I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday,
>Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays. After all, it's just another day.
>I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry
>about getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another
>day.

First, I'll point out that Thanksgiving is an American holiday, not a religious holiday, one of only a couple that really can hold that title.

Moving on, having the courtesy to give people time off to celebrate their religious holidays is good behavior on the part of any employer. Enough government employees celebrate these holidays that running any semblance of service on those days would be nearly impossible, so closing makes sense.

In fact, I grew up in Philadelphia, where public schools to this day are closed on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Why? Because there aren't teachers available to keep them open on those days, regardless of how many students might attend.

>If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop
>giving in to the minority opinions and begin, once again, to represent the
>'majority' of ALL of the American people.

Another fallacy. In fact, our system of government was designed to protect the rights of minorities, while still allowing majority rule.

Tamar