Let's hope the devil's monument engraver uses spellcheck.
Earlier this week, The Satanic Temple offered to build and fund a monument at the Oklahoma State Capitol honoring Satan. Their proposal, which was submitted to the Capitol Preservation Commission, comes nearly a year after a monument displaying the 10 Commandments was installed on the north steps of the capitol.
From a Satanic Temple press release:
The Satanic Temple, an established New York City-based religious organization, has offered to donate a public monument to Oklahoma’s Capitol Preservation Commission for display upon Oklahoma City’s capitol grounds. Described as an “homage” to Satan, the purpose of the monument is to complement and contrast the Ten Commandments monument that already resides on the North side of the building. The donation offer has been submitted and is currently awaiting the commission’s reply.
The Ten Commandments monument, donated to the Capitol Preservation Commission in 2009 by Mike Ritze, a representative of the Oklahoma State Legislature and ordained Southern Baptist Deacon, has raised the ire of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who filed suit in August of 2013, noting that, “the monument stands alone, with no other monuments or memorials in the immediate vicinity.” Also of concern to the ACLU is the “self-evidently exclusive” religious message “that supports and endorses the faiths and creeds of some churches and sects.” The Satanic Temple believes that in being allowed to place their monument within the proximity of the Ten Commandments monument, they can appease the ACLU’s concerns.
That's funny. I'm not a fan of any religious monument being displayed on public grounds, and think that something glorifying Satan and all his vices is just as unconstitutional as one that promotes ancient religious laws. That being said, I like the idea of fighting absurdity with even more absurdity. If you're going to let the Southern Baptist's install a monument honoring their 10 commandments, you might as well let the satan worshippers build something that honors their religion and laws, too. Otherwise, it looks like the state of Oklahoma is endorsing or promoting one religion over another. That's illegal right?