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Column
By
Frank Gillespie
The Madison County Journal
May 9, 2001
Frankly
Speaking
 Church and state separation
not in Constitution
The first line in the Bill of Rights reads, "Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof..." Please notice that the phrase
"separation of church and state" is nowhere to be found
in the Constitution or any of the amendments.
What effect does the constitutional prohibition of Congress to
establish a religion have on Madison County's Board of Commissioners?
Does their vote to support and display the Ten Commandments violate
this principle?
Although it is easy to argue both sides, I tend to come down
on the side of the board.
The primary purpose for the clause prohibiting Congress from
establishing a religion came about as a result of policies of
certain Northern colonies who placed a mandatory tax on the citizens
to support a favored church, or group of churches. James Madison,
who wrote the Bill of Rights, had opposed an "assessment
bill" in Virginia that would have provided taxes for all
churches. The amendment was intended to prevent Congress from
supporting one religion over others.
The key part of the First Amendment that applies to the board's
decision is concluding phrase, "or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof." In my opinion, court decisions or congressional
legislation prohibiting the display of the Ten Commandments or
disallowing voluntary prayer in school or at school events fall
under this clause.
If the Ten Commandments are on a plaque on the walls of a courthouse,
passers-by have the right to read them, or to ignore them. They
are not compelled to adhere to the teachings the document contains.
By recognizing the existence of "almighty God," the
board of commissioners is doing nothing more than Congress does
by hiring chaplains to provide religious guidance to our Senators
and Congressmen. The Ten Commandments make up one of the oldest
codes of law known to man.
They were designed to regulate the conduct and attitudes of people
to their neighbors, their families and their church. They set
out basic rules of conduct. Without these rules, our culture
would be in shambles.
There would be no law and order. There would be no respect for
personal safety or property. No one would respect the bonds of
family. People would think nothing of defiling a place of worship.
Come to think of it, that is just what we have today. Every time
you pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV you are presented with
stories about violations of the commandments. Our children are
not being taught to respect other people, not even their own
parents. They think nothing of defacing or destroying public
or private property. They ridicule those who support God's law.
It is a good thing to place the Ten Commandments on the courthouse
wall. Now, if we can just find someone who can explain them to
our children.
Frank Gillispie is founder of The Madison County Journal.
His web page can be accessed at www.mcga.net. His e-mail address
is frankg@mcga.net.
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Column
By Margie
Richards
The Madison County Journal
May 9, 2001
A Moment
with Margie
 For Mother's Day
Mother's Day is this Sunday, and although my mother is no longer
alive, I still think of her often.
She was a driving force for the first 21 years of my life - and
she still is today. Many of the decisions I make are based on
things I learned from her. I frequently think of what Mama would
say about this or that or what she would do if she were here.
I miss climbing into bed with her and crying my eyes out over
a problem.
I just miss her.
But there have also been a number of other women who have been
maternal figures to me.
There was of course, my Aunt Donnie, whom I've written about
several times already.
Then there was my friend Carlene.
Carlene was managing editor of the Journal for a number of years
and she was so much more to me than "my boss." I depended
on her for advice, consolation and to just "be there."
It has been four years this month since she passed away, but
I still miss her terribly.
She had lost a daughter just my age, so I think we both kind
of fulfilled a need for each other.
Then there is Sybil, or as my kids call her, "Grandma Sybil."
I met Sybil years ago when I was working part-time at a Sky City
Department Store while going to college. I worked in the jewelry
department and Sybil worked next door in ladies' wear.
We became close friends during that time.
After Mama died, Sybil, who knew my husband Charles and I didn't
have much close family around (Charles' parents were also deceased),
invited us to have Christmas dinner with her family.
That, as they say, was "the start of something big."
We soon got to know her and her husband "Shorty's"
large family (she's a mother of six) and consider them our own.
I guess we were adopted by the whole family.
Before our kids were born, we spent a lot of late nights playing
cards or just hanging out with Sybil and Shorty. We all four
enjoyed staying up late (back then, anyway) and would often play
cards until the wee hours of the morning and then head out to
an all-night restaurant for breakfast.
We've celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, births and holidays
together. We've suffered through deaths and some hard times together.
Sybil was at the hospital when both my children were born - she
was there to beam at their newborn faces, as proud as any grandmother.
Although not tied to them by blood, she has always considered
them her grandchildren and has been there for all the "important
moments" of their lives.
For that, and for so much more, I am eternally grateful to my
friend Sybil, who has meant and continues to mean so much to
me, my husband and my children.
I love you, Sybil Walker.
Happy Mother's Day from one of your many adopted kids.
Margie Richards is a reporter and office manager for the Madison
County Journal.
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