An email of possible relevance

[Steven Jamar]

Most quotes on most memorials I see are edited in some fashion or  
other -- if nothing else then by selection of what to include or not  
include, where to start and where to end, and so on.  I think the  
exception is the Lincoln Memorial with the full Gettysburg Address  
and full 2d Inaugural address -- but I've not checked them word for  
word.

Even the 10 commandments are edited when chiseled or painted or  
printed -- mostly they put them up in English in the U.S., last I  
checked.  And then there is the problem of why stop at 10?  What  
about the other 40 or 100 or however you want to count it?  And which  
version does one use?

Nonetheless, there is something particularly noticeable about this  
particular excision -- its sensitivity to the establishment the  
putting in stone the endorsement of religion by the President.  While  
I would not be upset with a decision to have included the words in  
the first place, I am more pleased at the avoidance of endorsement as  
being a better showing of separation.

Medium matters, perhaps.

Steve

-- 
Prof. Steven D. Jamar                               vox:  202-806-8017
Howard University School of Law                     fax:  202-806-8567
2900 Van Ness Street NW                   mailto:stevenjamar at gmail.com
Washington, DC  20008	                         http://iipsj.com/SDJ/

"Education:  the path from cocky ignorance to miserable uncertainty."

Mark Twain


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