I think the founding fathers are very clear on the issue. They tried to be inclusive and not exclusive of all religions, providing people believed in decency and obeyance of the law as laid down in the constitution. A healthy respect for basic rules and some checks and balances against government abuse are thereby written into US law. The respect for belief in something greater than the individual was their guidline for drafting the articles. Choosing to base their law on something higher than themselves, means they were not just thinking in narrow terms of self interest. The fact that these laws were guided by a majority of Judeo Christian ethics is something that should be of comfort rather than vehement objection. Any attempt to remove icons from buildings is an insult to the majority of people who believe in their value. I state majority from the knowledge that Christianity is a major religion of the majority of Americans. Therefore is an assault and affront on that belief system.

Most republics were throughout history far from forgiving and kindly to their people; and led eventually to dictatorship and ruin. I agree it is wrong to flaunt and impose fraudulent Christian rule over everyone, but it is also abuse not to recognise and commemorate historical foundations of law and good government. Like most people here, I do not want to see extreme Christian groups try to gain control of government, thereby imposing their version of religion on everyone. The greatest example of what I see as an assault on the foundations of the US constitution, is to remember that Rome was not defeated by a superior enemy or world power, but by internal vice corruption and degredation of standards. I do hope the US does not follow the same route.