A Bill of Rights monument in every courthouse

Just a short diary to alert the community to something that might be of interest that I just heard about.

With the daily erosion of our rights as codified in the Bill of Rights, some folks have come up with the clever idea that we should take a page from those trying to post the 10 Commandments in every state house and county court house in America and demand the same for the Bill of Rights.

It would seem such a basic, noncontroversial idea that even the most ardent Republican would support it. But it is quietly subversive in that it is a constant reminder to all that America, if it to remain free, must be a nation of laws, not men, and limited powers to government, not an “unfettered unitary executive.”

If they can wrap themselves in the flag, what better response than to wrap ourselves in the Bill of Rights?
The group’s website is www.MyBillofRights.org

Mission Statement

Our mission is to promote awareness and respect for the Bill of Rights as the foundation of our individual freedoms, our laws, and the American system of justice, through the design and crafting of Bill of Rights displays to be placed on public lands throughout America, beginning with the capitol grounds of all 50 state legislatures.

Contribution Policy

It is the policy of MyBillofRights.org to only accept contributions from individuals, and to not accept annual contributions larger than $250.00. This adds to our challenge, but though we’ve already had several significant sponsorship offers, we believe it is very important for this monument to directly represent the passion and commitment of as many individual Americans as possible, which is the only true guarantee that these rights will be there in the future.

Any thoughts?

8 Comments

Knoxville Progressive on March 31, 2006 at 11:17 am

If you think this is a good idea, please cross-post it where you like. (I just hang out here at the pond.)

Second Nature on March 31, 2006 at 11:42 am

This is one of those ideas where you smack yourself in the forehead and think ‘why didn’t I think of that?’

Everytime there is a ten commandments scuffle, just counter it with the bill of rights. How clever yet simple!

Knoxville Progressive on March 31, 2006 at 12:01 pm

Here’s another simple add-on idea: a bill in congress requiring such a display at the main entrance to all federal courthouses.
AP on March 31, 2006 at 12:11 pm

I KNOW!!

What a fantastic idea! Simple. Reality-Based.

When are they going on tour???
- stormkite on March 31, 2006 at 3:02 pm
  
  How about in every courtroom, right above the judge’s bench AND on his desk right in front of him… preferably in red neon flashing at irregular intervals, just so the #@$@#!!’s can’t pretend they forgot about it?
  - Knoxville Progressive on March 31, 2006 at 3:09 pm
    
    ROTFLMAO! I love it! You are soooo right!
    
    You know, this is really ironic for me to be writing about the Bill of Rights, as when I was in high school I had a social studies teacher who was a John Birch Society member and proud of it (today he’d probably be a mainstream Republican) and he always carried a vest-pocket copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights with him, like Sen. Byrd., to whip out and quote at a moment’s notice. He called me a “hopeless technocrat” because I believed in environmental regulation instead of addressing pollution using “free market forces.” This was 30 years ago. Now look which side of the spectrum is marching around decrying the shredding of the Bill of Rights. The way things are going, I may soon decide he was even right about the second amendemnt, LOL. How times change…

albert on March 31, 2006 at 2:07 pm

Good to see that this project won’t end up being “The Bill of Rights – Brought to you by Halliburton”

The funding coming from the people in no larger than $250 will really give this the stamp of approval from the people and not large entities with sponsorship wants.

Arcturus on March 31, 2006 at 6:24 pm

You must have missed the secret Bush order that renames the document:

The Bill of Options

Someone passed on the following in an email; I don’t have an url:

On March 1, 2006, at a hearing in Annapolis, Maryland, on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at American University, was requested to testify and he did so.

At the conclusion of his testimony, a right-wing senator rose to say, “Mr. Raskin, my Bible says that marriage shall occur only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?”

Professor Raskin replied, “Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible.”

Knoxville Progressive on March 31, 2006 at 11:17 am

If you think this is a good idea, please cross-post it where you like. (I just hang out here at the pond.)
Second Nature on March 31, 2006 at 11:42 am

This is one of those ideas where you smack yourself in the forehead and think ‘why didn’t I think of that?’

Everytime there is a ten commandments scuffle, just counter it with the bill of rights. How clever yet simple!
- Knoxville Progressive on March 31, 2006 at 12:01 pm
  
  Here’s another simple add-on idea: a bill in congress requiring such a display at the main entrance to all federal courthouses.
- AP on March 31, 2006 at 12:11 pm
  
  I KNOW!!
  
  What a fantastic idea! Simple. Reality-Based.
  
  When are they going on tour???
  - stormkite on March 31, 2006 at 3:02 pm
    
    How about in every courtroom, right above the judge’s bench AND on his desk right in front of him… preferably in red neon flashing at irregular intervals, just so the #@$@#!!’s can’t pretend they forgot about it?
    - Knoxville Progressive on March 31, 2006 at 3:09 pm
      
      ROTFLMAO! I love it! You are soooo right!
      
      You know, this is really ironic for me to be writing about the Bill of Rights, as when I was in high school I had a social studies teacher who was a John Birch Society member and proud of it (today he’d probably be a mainstream Republican) and he always carried a vest-pocket copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights with him, like Sen. Byrd., to whip out and quote at a moment’s notice. He called me a “hopeless technocrat” because I believed in environmental regulation instead of addressing pollution using “free market forces.” This was 30 years ago. Now look which side of the spectrum is marching around decrying the shredding of the Bill of Rights. The way things are going, I may soon decide he was even right about the second amendemnt, LOL. How times change…
albert on March 31, 2006 at 2:07 pm

Good to see that this project won’t end up being “The Bill of Rights – Brought to you by Halliburton”

The funding coming from the people in no larger than $250 will really give this the stamp of approval from the people and not large entities with sponsorship wants.
Arcturus on March 31, 2006 at 6:24 pm

You must have missed the secret Bush order that renames the document:

The Bill of Options

Someone passed on the following in an email; I don’t have an url:

On March 1, 2006, at a hearing in Annapolis, Maryland, on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at American University, was requested to testify and he did so.

At the conclusion of his testimony, a right-wing senator rose to say, “Mr. Raskin, my Bible says that marriage shall occur only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?”

Professor Raskin replied, “Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible.”

A Bill of Rights monument in every courthouse

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Knoxville Progressive

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