An American no to the 10 commandments

I have just e-mailed the BBC on their "have your say" website about the Alabama State Court's decision to "remove from public view" a monument dedicated to the 10 commandments. The move was instigated by a certain Larry Darby, Alabama state director of the American Atheists organisation.

Not believing in the existence of God is one thing, imposing that to achieve the eradication of anyone's notion of Him is another. I am reproducing what I sent to the BBC so that your readers may, if they wish, contribute (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/default.stm) to the efforts of the decent Americans who are even being arrested for opposing this move:

"Can Larry Darby, Alabama state director of the American Atheists organisation, explain what he finds offensive about any of the 10 commandments? They are rational, more than religious, and separate him from the beasts. It's all just legal stratagemming - for what purpose I don't know.

"I hope Larry does not complain if someone robs or kills him. Nobody will covet this neighbour's mental goods, though!

"It is ironic that a person like me, who can hardly be labelled as a Bible-thumper, should have felt so irritated. It is even more ironic for an America I love and admire in many ways to sing 'God Bless America' to a God it is not legally (as a State - or is it as a Union?) entitled to acknowledge - at least in Alabama!"