Supreme Court of Wisconsin (1890)
“There is no such source and cause of strife, quarrel, fights, malignant opposition, persecution, and war, and all evil in the state, as religion. Let it once enter into our civil affairs, our government soon would be destroyed. Let it once enter our common schools, they would be destroyed. Those who made our Constitution saw this, and used the most apt and comprehensive language in it to prevent such a catastrophe.” (Supreme Court of Wisconsin, Weiss v. District Board, March 18, 1890. )
Those electrifying words were written 133 years ago in a decision handed down on March 18, 1890, by a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice in a ruling barring worship and bible reading in Wisconsin public schools.
FromFreethoughtnow.org
… but of course we can’t say that – it is not vey respectful to Islam is it?
OK – the Egyptian army is not exactly explaining the benefits of secularism either! They are right to remove Morsi of course, but they are using too much force and are not that interested in secularism either.
So then – what can we do..?
…nothing for Egypt but wait for the message of the European Enlightenment and that USA 1890 Judge’s message to get through the thick heads of politicians everywhere – especially here in the UK and in the USA itself.
Grief, what a mess. Democracy is clearly right but at a huge price for the people of Egypt, who have all been caught off-guard by the violence following the removal of Mohamed Morsi. The coup and subsequent bloodshed has shown how little western advice was heeded. Most accept that Morsi made huge errors of judgement but the scale of violence on show highlights that the army is no sure-foot solution to the crisis. So, should the Muslim Brotherhood be denied access to democracy and governmental power if the west get their way? Mixing a cocktail of religion with democracy is dangerous and will extend Egypt’s agony. No absolute solution but now is the time for the west to speak up for democracy and human rights.