Newly erected Arkansas Ten Commandments monument destroyed
Newly erected Arkansas Ten Commandments monument destroyed
BBC News, June 28 2017
One of the main backers of the monument said that it "honoured the historical moral foundation of the law"
A new monument in the US state of Arkansas listing the Ten Commandments has been destroyed less than 24 hours after it was unveiled.
The 6ft (1.8m) granite slab was erected in the grounds of the state capitol.
A suspect is reported to have driven his car into the structure early on Wednesday while filming on his mobile phone and posting footage on Facebook.
Michael Tate Reed is now accused of defacing an object of public interest and criminal trespassing.
He is also accused of first-degree criminal mischief.
A Facebook Live video by an account under the name of Michael Reed shows what appears to be a driver pointing his headlights towards the monument and shouting "Freedom!" as he moves toward it.
Michael Tate Reed was arrested in Little Rock, Arkansas
Mr Reed was accused of destroying a different Ten Commandments monument in Oklahoma three years ago, media reports say.
He was diagnosed with a schizo-affective disorder (a mental health condition) after that incident but was released from hospital in January 2015 as part of an agreement with the Oklahoma County district attorney's office in which he pledged to continue receiving treatment and therapy, Tulsa World reported at the time.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tweeted that "some idiot in my home state broke all 10 commandments at the same time. He wasn't Moses and it wasn't Mt Sinai".
The initiative to build the statue was led by Arkansas Senator Jason Rapert, who sponsored a 2015 law to display it on state grounds.
Mr Rapert said it "honoured the historical moral foundation of the law".
But opponents including the American Civil Liberties Union said that its appearance amounted to "an unconstitutional endorsement of religion" - they threatened to take legal action to have it taken down.
The statue was financed by more than $26,000 in private donations, local media reported.
Tags
Who is online
69 visitors
I was surprised to see that this monument had been erected on government property, because I knew that a number of years ago a similar monument was removed from in front of a courthouse somewhere in America because, as stated in the article, it was "an unconstitutional endorsement of religion". However, I disagreed then with its removal from in front of a courthouse, because, as stated in the article, it "honoured the historical moral foundation of the law". In fact, I believe it was the first recorded law in the world, which made it entirely appropriate to be located at a courthouse, no matter WHAT religion may have been the basis of it. After all, was it an atheist who created the image of "justice" with her scales and sword?
The hypocrisy of it all.
" The personification of justice balancing the scales dates back to the Goddess Maat , and later Isis , of ancient Egypt. The Hellenic deities Themis and Dike were later goddesses of justice. Themis was the embodiment of divine order, law, and custom, in her aspect as the personification of the divine rightness of law." (Wikipedia)
It's okay to depict ancient religions on American government or public property, but not present religions?
Why do we see "In God we trust" on American currency? Why is it okay for all American Presidents to end their speeches with "...and God Bless the United States of America"?
Good points that are too often dismissed.
Don't worry - God will make sure he's punished.
Hope he didn't damage his car much? Next time he should be sure to use something with a ram device on the front. You know, like a snow blade.
Good thing it didn't depict quotations from the Q'oran, or he could end up losing his head, and it isn't Allah who would wield the blade.
It still wouldn't belong on public property and I would still hope someone would run it down. If they put up a new one I hope someone runs a truck over it and then over the next one and the next one and one and on and on etc.
Mr Rapert said it "honoured the historical moral foundation of the law".
It has no moral foundation in the law. Period.