Separation of church and state; Should the headstones in Arlington cemetery be replaced with stones...?

Question

unadorned with religious symbols? This would fall in line with removing religious symbolism in courthouses and schools.

Answer 1

I disagree. The headstones are adorned with the religous symbol of the soldiers not the government.  There are several different christian symbols that represent the different sects of christianity along with jewish symbols. The symbols are chosen by the famalies of the fallen not by the govt, therefore the govt is not endorsing any particular religion.

Answer 2

Number one, the constitution does not say that there is a separation between church and state or that there can be no association whatsoever with a religion, God etc. What it says is that Congress shall make no law concerning an establishment of religion or a disestablishment thereof. The separation of church and state comes from a discussion in the Federalist Papers. The Federalist Papers are not government documents or laws. Its a series of letters discussing just government etc. It may be that some of the founders weren't Christians but none of them were atheists. They pretty much all believed in God. What they were trying to do is prevent a Church of England type of arrangement that recieved tax money or required attendance. They have been saying prayers in Congress since the beginning. The Bible has been used in court since the beginning. Civil law is based on the ten commandments. Christianity has been a participant in U.S. government since the beginning. There is nothing illegal or unconstitutional about a religious display on government property. This question is a relatively recent invention by atheists and antichristians and is B.S. even though they've gotten a few judges to go along with it lately. This is just another example of the perversion of the Constitution. These people think that they have a right not to ever be offended (which is simply an invention on their part anyway) by any religious display at all. Its kind of like the smoking thing. It started with no smoking on airplanes. Reasonable. Its turning into no smoking on some and eventually all private property. (Which an airplane is by the way). This is now a question of private property rights not smoking. You or the government have no right to dictate what legal activity is allowed on private property whether you like it or not. Private property consists of any property not owned by the government including grocery stores and shopping malls. Just because the public uses these areas does not make them public property and you are never required to go there. Who are you to tell a tavern owner that he can't allow smoking in his establishment? Here's where "democracy" gets involved with the majority infringing on the rights of the minority. There are a lot of ignorant citizens out there that think the majority should be able to vote for anything they want. Morally, and legally they are wrong and getting a judge to side with them doesn't prove that they are right. I digress. I would like any one to show me where it states that a government employee or elected official cannot legally display in their place of work any religious icon they choose. I'm talking about laws here not personal opinions or judicial opinions. Judicial opinions are not laws and administrative codes are not laws. Laws can only be enacted by legislation. You'll look long and hard and you won't find it. It doesn't exist in any federal (and I'm guessing state) document as law.

Answer 3

Do not disturb the dead.

Let them rest in peace.

Answer 4

Of course not, unless the specific person's next of kin want them removed.

These symbols represent the belief system of the person that died, I dont see it as the Government making any preference to a particular religion or lack of it.

The choice of religion was made by the deceased when he/she was living and we (the government) are merely honoring that person's commitment.

Answer 5

no..let it go..those guys are dead anyway

Answer 6

Headstones with crosses (or stars of David or crescents) are considered 'de minimis', like 'In God We Trust' on money.  It doesn't really violate anyone's rights to let someone looking at a grave know that this veteran was Christian or Jewish or Wiccan or whatever.

That's not at all the same as the government choosing one religion above others as a 'standard' for courthouses, schoolhouses, statehouses, etc.

Also, if you provide a choice between cross and star on gravestones but not symbols for Buddhism, Wicca, Zoroastrianism, etc., then you're practicing discrimination, right?  Who gets to come up with the list of 'approved' religions?