In her Aug. 27 column, “Ten Commandments are part of American history,” Amy Peet said the presence of a monument to one of the Old Testament’s versions of the Ten Commandments was, at worst, harmless and at best, a “valuable opportunity to experience the diversity in this country, especially for folks who don’t otherwise spend much time around passionate Christians.”

A valuable opportunity to experience diversity? Perhaps Ms. Peet hails from a very strange sector of Omaha, but I cannot say I know of more than a few areas in the United States in which being exposed to these commandments would be an eye-opening, horizon-broadening experience.

Diversity, as I understand the word, means representation of more than just the vast majority’s lifestyle or views.

In the United States, this does not mean representation of Methodists as well as Baptists — this means representation of atheists, agnostics, Baha’i followers, Satanists, Wiccans, Mormons, and even Lutherans.

The fact that only the Christian commandments are on display is a clear indication that diversity is, in fact, not being endorsed as well as it could be in this instance.

It’s also an example of the state favoring one religion over others, which is obviously unconstitutional.

Would Ms. Peet be so vehement in her defense of the monument if it were, say, a monument to the ancient Babylonian Hammurabi’s Code of Laws, which was reportedly presented to him by the sun god Shamash? They, also, might be considered as “simply good advice for leading a happy and healthy life.”

The only way the presence of the Ten Commandments in the Alabama judicial building could aspire to constitutionality would be for them to be accompanied by several other law codes from several other faiths and viewpoints.

I’m sorry, but this monument has no business being glorified in a state building. It can be glorified across the street in a privately-owned parking lot, or in a cornfield, or even on your front lawn or strapped to the roof of your car, but courthouses and public areas are off-limits until someone is allowed to glorify their gecko-worshipping, baby-eating faith with a graphic monument right next to yours.

Kendra Essman

Junior

Linguistics