Thursday, 9 July 2015

Satanists plan statue to stand alongside Ten Commandments in Oklahoma

A decision to erect a Christian monument outside the statehouse could backfire as satanists demand religious parity

The Horned One may get his own monument outside Oklahoma's statehouse if the Satanic Temple has its way. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis Bettmann/CORBIS

Associated Press in Oklahoma City

Sunday 8 December 2013 19.22 GMTLast modified on Tuesday 7 October 201414.58 BST

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In their zeal to tout their faith in the public square, conservatives in Oklahomamay have unwittingly opened the door to a wide range of religious groups, including Satanists who are seeking to put their own statue next to a Ten Commandments monument outside the statehouse.

The Republican-controlled legislature in the state known as the buckle of the Bible Belt authorised the privately funded Ten Commandments monument in 2009. It was placed on the Capitol grounds last year despite criticism from legal experts, who questioned its constitutionality. The Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit seeking its removal.

But the New York-based Satanic Temple saw an opportunity. It notified the state's Capitol Preservation Commission that it wants to donate a monument and plans to submit one of several possible designs this month, said Lucien Greaves, a spokesman for the temple.

"We believe that all monuments should be in good taste and consistent with community standards," Greaves wrote in letter to state officials. "Our proposed monument, as an homage to the historic/literary Satan, will certainly abide by these guidelines."

Greaves said one potential design involves a pentagram, a satanic symbol, while another is meant to be an interactive display for children. He said he expects the monument, if approved by Oklahoma officials, would cost about $20,000.

The Republican state representative Mike Ritze, who spearheaded the push for the Ten Commandments monument and whose family helped pay the $10,000 for its construction, declined to comment on the Satanic Temple's effort, but Greaves credited Ritze for opening the door to his group's proposal.

"He's helping a satanic agenda grow more than any of us possibly could," Greaves said. "You don't walk around and see too many satanic temples around, but when you open the door to public spaces for us, that's when you're going to see us."

The Oklahoma legislature has taken other steps that many believe blur the line that divides church and state. The House speaker said he wants to build a chapel inside the Capitol to celebrate Oklahoma's "Judeo-Christian heritage". Several lawmakers have said they want to allow nativity scenes and other religious-themed symbols in public schools.

The Republican representative Bobby Cleveland, who plans to introduce one such bill next year, said many Christians feel they are under attack as a result of political correctness. He dismissed the notion of Satanists erecting a monument at the Capitol.

"I think these Satanists are a different group," Cleveland said. "You put them under the nut category."

Brady Henderson, the legal director for ACLU Oklahoma, said if state officials allow one type of religious expression, they must allow alternative forms of expression, although he said a better solution might be to allow none at all on state property.

"We would prefer to see Oklahoma's government officials work to faithfully serve our communities and improve the lives of Oklahomans instead of erecting granite monuments to show us all how righteous they are," Henderson said. "But if the Ten Commandments, with its overtly Christian message, is allowed to stay at the Capitol, the Satanic Temple's proposed monument cannot be rejected because of its different religious viewpoint."

Arrest made in 2014 after car smashes Oklahoma's Ten Commandments monument

The Ten Commandments monument prompted a New York-based Satanist group to propose its own statue on the statehouse steps in Oklahoma.

Police said a vehicle plowed into the Ten Commandments monument near Oklahoma's capitol building at about 9pm on Oct. 23, 2014. The monument was smashed into pieces. The vehicle was abandoned after the incident and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating. The monument was replaced with an exact replica on Jan 8.

The U.S. Secret Service on Oct. 24, 2014 arrested 29-year-old Michael Reed Jr. after he made threatening comments at the Oklahoma City Federal Building about President Obama and said Satan told him to smash the monument. Reed also claimed he urinated on the monument before running it over.

The ACLU of Oklahoma and our clients are outraged at this apparent act of vandalism. While we have and continue to seek the removal of the Ten Commandments monument from the Capitol grounds through the judicial process, the Ten Commandments constitute a strong foundation in our clients' deeply held religious beliefs.– ACLU of Oklahoma

No evidence has linked Ten Commandments incident to the group of Satanists who seek to install their own monument at the state's

capital building.

Oklahoma State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK

A Satanist organization is seeking to build its own statue on the steps of the Oklahoma Statehouse, four years after the conservative legislature controversially approved building a Ten Commandments monument in the same place, in what critics called a blurring of the line between church and state.

Source: www.thesatanictemple.com

The Satanic Temple in January 2014 released designs for a 7-foot-tall statue it hopes to install. The statue depicts Satan as a goat-headed figure called Baphomet sitting on a throne adorned with a pentagram and surrounded by two smiling children. The Satanic Temple raised over $28,000 of its original $20,000 goal to build the statue.

An atheist group filed a lawsuit in an Oklahoma federal court in January 2014 to have the Ten Commandments statue removed. American Atheists contend the monument violates the constitution's establishment and equal protection clauses because it amounts to a religious endorsement on government land.

Another dispute:NM Ten Commandments Trial

A federal judge dismissed American Atheists' lawsuit March 10, ruling the New Jersey-based nonprofit group lacked the legal standing to file the suit. In 2014, a state judge ruled against a separate constitutional challenge to the Ten Commandments monument. That ruling was appealed to the state Supreme Court.

OUR SOURCES FOR THIS STORY

Satanists seek spot on Oklahoma Statehouse steps
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/satanists-seek-spot-oklahoma-statehouse-steps
Put a Satanic Monument at OK Capitol
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/put-a-satanic-monument-at-ok-capitol

Satanists unveil statue for Oklahoma capitol

Curled from: http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/ogblog/440766/Satanists-unveil-statue-for-Oklahoma-capitol/

The New York based Satanic Temple is raising revenue from online crowdfunding on Indiegogo to erect a statue of their deity outside the Oklahoma State Capitol building, right beside an existing monument to the Christian Ten Commandments.

Yep, those are misspellings.

The proposed design would feature a 7-foot-tall statue of a goat-headed Baphomet figure sitting cross-legged on a stone slab, flanked by two smiling children. The monument would also include quotes from poets Lord Byron and William Blake.

“The monument has been designed to reflect the views of Satanists in Oklahoma City and beyond," explained Satanic Temple spokesperson Lucian Greaves. "The statue will serve as a beacon calling for compassion and empathy among all living creatures. The statue will also have a functional purpose as a chair where people of all ages may sit on the lap of Satan for inspiration and contemplation."

"people of all ages may sit on the lap of Satan."

The organization claims the project is not just an elaborate prank, and points out they don't actually worship Satan, just the idea of free expression. Critics of that older monument say it marks a de facto endorsement of Christianity by the state government and therefore violates the US Constitution's "establishment clause" against a national religion.

"By accepting our offer, the good people of Oklahoma City will have the opportunity to show that they espouse the basic freedoms spelled out in the Constitution," the group's Indiegogo project site clarifies.

It's not clear that the Satanic Temple will ever be able to get the chance to build the statue. After other groups — including PETA and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster — asked for their own displays, the Oklahoma City Capitol Preservation Commission placed a moratorium on new monuments at the statehouse.

"I think it is very offensive they would contemplate or even have this kind of conversation," said one Oklahoma lawmaker.

The Satanic Temple, though, is unswayed.

"The decision by Oklahoma to impose a moratorium on new requests for monuments at the state Capitol means little to us, and our course of action remains the same," wrote Greaves.

“Our monument celebrates an unwavering respect for the Constitutional values of religious freedom and free expression. Satanism is a fundamental component at the genesis of American liberty. Medieval witch-hunts taught us to adopt presumption of innocence, secular law, and a more substantive burden of proof.

“Today, we are rightly offended by the notion of blasphemy laws and divine fiats. Acknowledging wrongful persecutions has helped shape the legal system that preserves the sovereignty of our skeptics, heretics, and the misunderstood. It has shaped a proud culture of tolerance and free inquiry. This is to be a historical marker commemorating the scapegoats, the marginalized, the demonized minority, and the unjustly outcast.”

“We trust that this unique monument will also prove a favorite tourist attraction to Oklahoma’s Capitol for years to come."

The Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision on Ten Commandments outside state house

Satanists and Democrats have finally found common ground on a rival statue to the Ten Commandments, but Republicans continue to obstruct the process.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision to order a Ten Commandments monument removed from the State Capitol grounds has so angered conservatives in the Legislature that some Republicans are calling for justices to be impeached. Others want to amend the Bill of Rights in the 108-year-old state constitution.

The outcry immediately followed the court's decision Tuesday that the monument violates the Oklahoma constitution's ban on using public property to benefit a religion.

Some state legislators want a public vote on whether to repeal that ban from the constitution, but state Rep. Kevin Clavey is calling for justices to be impeached.

The president of the Oklahoma Bar Association, David Poarch, says calling for impeachment when a ruling doesn't go in your favor is a dangerous precedent.

Jos Terrorist Attacks: Army Confirms Arrest of Mastermind

By NAN

— Jul 9, 2015 2:04 pm | 0 Comments

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of the mastermind of the two recent bomb and gun attacks in Jos and Zaria, Kaduna State.

The confirmation is contained in a statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in Abuja.

It said the suspect, in company with two others was arrested at a checkpoint in Dadin Kowa town of Gombe State while attempting to flee.

The statement said their arrest was made possible following a security cordon of the general areas, especially along the volatile areas on the north-eastern axis.

It said the security cordon which led to the arrest of the suspects was conducted by troops of 3 Division, Special Task Force and the Department of State Services.

“The terrorist kingpin and his colleagues who disguised in a trailer while trying to evade checks were fished out by troops of Nigerian Army.

“The arrested terrorists are currently being processed for further action and would soon face the full wrath of the law,’’ the Army spokesman said.

The statement urged the public to be more vigilant, security conscious and report any suspicious persons, movements and facilities to security agencies.

On Sunday, suspected Boko Haram terrorists carried out coordinated bomb and gun attacks on worshippers at Yan Taya mosque, Dilimi Street, Jos.

Another attack was unleashed on Shagalinku Restaurant, along Bauchi Road, Jos, which led to death of over 48 people, injuries on several others and destruction of property.

A similar attack was executed by suspected terrorists on workers undergoing verification at Sabon Gari Local Government Secretariat, Zaria, which claimed more than 25 lives. (NAN)

BET Awards, Organisers Slam African Artistes

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First, Dencia criticised the organisers, accusing them of presenting the BET Best International Act: Africa award before the main event started.

Later, Yemi Alade and Wizkid gave their views on the event, which generated wild criticisms.

But the BET Director, Lilian N. Blankson, has cleared the air on some of the issues raised. She accused African artistes for not doing enough to sell their brands to the global world.

According to her, “First of all, tell the truth and stop tweeting lies and mis-truths. There has never been a backstage presentation of any award. Pre recorded. We need to work hard and get our music on the radio here in the US. How do people respect your brand when you are not on the radio?”

“Make your music more internationally appealing. Think of ways to get all audiences invested. Oliver Twist is a great example. Universal story,” she added.

Bashir El Rufai Causes Outrage With Cash Eating Picture

Bashir El Rufai

While Nigerians groan under the harsh economy and the inability of government to pay workers' wages , Bashir El-Rufai, son of Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai was pictured showing off his money.

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