Anti-swearing law

[Anne Gilbert]

----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Fitzke <fitzke at VOYAGER.NET>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2000 8:31 AM
Subject: Re: Anti-swearing law


> Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your mind set) the "wall of
> separation" is not nealy as clear cut as the phrase implies. Most courts
use
> "swear or affirm" to accomodate those who recognize no deity. The
government not
> only employs "chaplains" for Congress, it has them scattered throughout
the
> armed forces. The phrase, "In God we trust" is a commonly recognized
breach of
> the wall. And the 'swearing' statute in Michigan is only the tip of the
> religious icebergs that clutter the law. For example, sodomy statutes and
other
> laws dealing with "perversion", for the most part, reflect nothing more
than our
> Puritanical heritage.
>
> The courts generally recognize and accept this historical foundation
rather than
> giving full force and effect to the "wall".

Bob:

I didn't say the "wall of separation" is airtight.  It obviously isn't, as
the examples you have given suggest. And there is continual and ongoing
argument about how airtight this "wall of separation" ought to be.  But
that's another story, and probably doesn't have much to do with
sociolinguistics.
Anne G