>You are obviously a clear thinking and thoughtful individual but you have somewhat missed the mark in this reply. Most legal systems are based on the "premises" found in the 10 commandments as well as other ancient "codes" of conduct. There is no denying this. To say then, that this crosses over into the establishment of religion is to miss the point.

What part of ourl system is based on the "premises" of the Ten Commandments? Thou shalt have no other gods before me? Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain? Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy? Honour thy father and thy mother? Thou shalt not kill (state sponsored executions)?. Thou shalt not commit adultery?

>First.....Like it or not, our country, its constitution and laws, are/were predicated on a Judeo/Christian.

And Amendment 1 of the Constitution clearly forbids the establishment of any religion, Judeo/Christion or not. Putting the Ten Commandments in schools clearly violates this. That is not just my opinion, but ruling after ruling of the US Supreme Court has upheld this.

>Second.... Most every legal system has its base of ethic in some faith or it can be traced back to some faith.

Personally, I don't care what any other country does, just the United States. What other legal systems do has no relevance here.

>Third.... There is NO seperation of church and state in our constitution. This doctrine comes from a simple letter from Thomas Jefferson that has been misunderstood and mis-used for a couple of centuries now. The phrase seperation of chruch and state does not exist in our constitution.

I don't see how that can be true after reading the first amendment.

>We slipped so far away from that that recently congress had to pass a law RESTORING religoius freedom and expression.

What are you refering to?

>Again, you just can not get the 10 commandments out of our legal system. They are there not because of this phrase "rich cultural heritage" but because they are right. Word them any way you like. The basic principles of the 10 commandments are found in almost every legal, ethical, and moral system known to man. The suggestions you have added simply are not.

Again, where are these laws in our legal system? A few of them I see: Thou shalt not steal, bear false witness, but most of them, I do not. And again, what other legal systems do is irrelevant.

>It is a good question Chris. I doubt that anyone would want in our laws any of your examples. But.... if they really do.... they can elect officials that will go to Washington and change our laws. That is the ultimate freedom that we have in this country. Of course, those who do not think like they do also can seek to elect officials that will keep them from doing just that. :)

Yes, and when officials are elected that can overturn the first amendment, it's time to head to Canada. But only for the summer. Come Winter, I am heading to Jamaica man, and smoking some ganja(?). *g*