tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post5065666569750759955..comments2024-03-28T13:08:26.494-04:00Comments on Religion & American Law: Amish Buggy SignsBrantley Gasawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894338478934982958noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-32895543871660293052012-03-21T09:16:19.924-04:002012-03-21T09:16:19.924-04:00IK think the issue of safety vs. religious freedom...IK think the issue of safety vs. religious freedom is an interesting debate. Yes I agree that the law must be fair to all but I also see the Amish's right within this case. Their refusal to use the triangle is a little stretch for their religious beliefs but I must concede because of an ignorance to the the Amish tradition. In the end, I question to what extent people can get away with not following the law due to religious reasons?Blake_Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07536671959648158899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-23257377385809220252012-03-21T09:00:12.561-04:002012-03-21T09:00:12.561-04:00I agree with Catherine. The Amish are free to bel...I agree with Catherine. The Amish are free to believe as the wish, but not necessarily practice what they believe. They should have to use the orange reflective triangles because other individuals’ safeties are a concern as well. The Amish may believe God will protect them from danger because of their religious obedience, but what about others on the road? The government is not passing an anti-religion law, it is passing a safety law.Amber P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15170026718462786137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-10468364587479653952012-03-21T08:36:49.585-04:002012-03-21T08:36:49.585-04:00Well this article certainly brings up an issue in ...Well this article certainly brings up an issue in class “The Lemon Test” It brings up some of the reasons the state would get involve. I honestly believed when safety is being threatened when making religious decisions, then someone has to step in and take charge. As stated in class it cannot be an official separation of church and state because of situations like these. The bottom line of this article is the protection of people, therefore religious practices will have to bend a little.Christiana Torerehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157491165555258965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-24213099329556043732012-03-21T07:26:54.648-04:002012-03-21T07:26:54.648-04:00The reason that what they did is different is that...The reason that what they did is different is that they drove the buggies with out anything to alert motorists in the dark to them. Under the new law they still broke the law because they did not have the silver reflective tape either from my understanding. Now if that is incorrect and they had adopted the silver reflective tape as an alternative and were charged anyway then I have more sympathy for the push to drop the charges.Angela S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06728324639447624021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-59505308432638948262012-03-20T23:19:19.320-04:002012-03-20T23:19:19.320-04:00I do not see why they can not exonerate the nine m...I do not see why they can not exonerate the nine men charged. To be honest is an orange sign going to make much of a difference in an accident. Drunk drivers are not going to all of a sudden sober up because there is an orange sign on the back of the Amish buggy. If Kentucky has changed the law to help fall in lines with what the Amish believe, is it really so bad that they exonerate these men? Why should these men still have these charges when anyone else who does what they did now does not get into trouble? I honestly think that is hurts nothing to wipe it clean. It is a waste of tax money for the supreme court to even review the case.Tiffany S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08960005353907882741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-10553490706670441222012-03-20T22:59:35.842-04:002012-03-20T22:59:35.842-04:00This really shouldn't be an issue. It sounds l...This really shouldn't be an issue. It sounds like is is partially resolved with the compromise of reflective tape, but if the Amish want to use government paved roads, they should have to adhere to government regulations. Having a horse and buggy on the same road as motor vehicles already puts both the people in the buggy and other motorists in a dangerous position, why make it any worse? It can't be easy to see one of those black buggies at night, and at the speed they travel a motorist would be right on one before he could slow down. As the others have said, this easily passes the lemon test's 3 conditions and focuses on the greater good.Gabe ABhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16932059391247181212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-47338394590509536202012-03-20T20:00:52.158-04:002012-03-20T20:00:52.158-04:00I agree with Olivea.
These laws are in place to p...I agree with Olivea.<br /><br />These laws are in place to protect the Amish and other motorists in the area. This issue easily passes the Lemon Test. It would be a good gesture to work with the Amish and use silver reflective tape instead of the orange triangles. However, I completely agree that disregarding safety regulations due to religious purposes is irresponsible. These nine men should have expressed their concerns and worked with the government instead of ignoring rules that save people's lives.Rebekahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16548313632344315360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-73444643149168588632012-03-20T17:09:05.957-04:002012-03-20T17:09:05.957-04:00If the Amish buggies are sharing the road with mot...If the Amish buggies are sharing the road with motor vehicles, then they should have some sort of reflective flares in order to avoid injuries for all drivers. The orange triangles or silver flares are not electric. It seems this would not go against their doctrines. If it were a road that only the Amish travel on, it could be understandable not to pursue the idea of a flare. However, once the Amish population leaves their area and interact with outside society, even minimally, they should expect to accommodate somewhat. I agree with Cathye, this is example where people are free to believe but not to act. It is reckless behavior in society.joycekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14708705232297980911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-36057208707087817442012-03-20T17:08:44.565-04:002012-03-20T17:08:44.565-04:00If the Amish buggies are sharing the road with mot...If the Amish buggies are sharing the road with motor vehicles, then they should have some sort of reflective flares in order to avoid injuries for all drivers. The orange triangles or silver flares are not electric. It seems this would not go against their doctrines. If it were a road that only the Amish travel on, it could be understandable not to pursue the idea of a flare. However, once the Amish population leaves their area and interact with outside society, even minimally, they should expect to accommodate somewhat. I agree with Cathye, this is example where people are free to believe but not to act. It is reckless behavior in society.joycekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14708705232297980911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-3964968762430867072012-03-19T23:07:48.885-04:002012-03-19T23:07:48.885-04:00The Amish should be required to put either the ref...The Amish should be required to put either the reflective tape or the orange triangle on the back of their buggies. By not putting anything on their vehicles they are putting other people in danger. When the Amish do not adhere to the law, they are challenging the police power of the state and are endangering themselves as well as others. Kentucky was making an effort in order to not violate their Free Exercise rights by adopting the new law in which they could use silver reflective tape instead of the orange triangle. The law had a secular purpose, it did not advance nor inhibit religion, and there was not an excessive entanglement in government, making it Constitutionally sound. The main purpose of the statute is to ensure the safety of everyone using the roads.Olivea Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16785495964918845673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-37172358252195947862012-03-19T20:07:35.573-04:002012-03-19T20:07:35.573-04:00While I understand that the orange triangles are a...While I understand that the orange triangles are against Amish religious beliefs, the signs are a safety precaution for drivers who might otherwise be unable to see the dark buggies. By not having a sign, these men put people's lives in danger, which, in my opinion, is more important than anyone's religious beliefs. Had the men in question exhausted every avenue of changing the law in order to preserve their religious integrity, I would be more sympathetic. However, by refusing to use the signs, these men put people in danger, and they should serve the full term of their sentence.Alexis Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13978964973885405612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-58608906807953262762012-03-19T19:55:53.653-04:002012-03-19T19:55:53.653-04:00There is a very fragile line between separation an...There is a very fragile line between separation and equality. Trying to give religion a separate, special stance can prove very harmful for maintaining equality among all citizens. On the contrary, trying to maintain equality will prove harmful for the separation between church and state. This case is a perfect example of how hard it is to give religious groups an equal stance while recognizing their distinctness. since an alternative was present in this case, the Amish should have been mindful of the importance of such traffic safety rules and should have adopted the alternative of the silver tape. The fact that the triangle made them religiously uncomfortable isn’t a problem, but they shouldn’t misuse the special place given to religion in order to disobey the laws. The safety laws are there for a reason, and in cases where there is an opportunity of compromise, both sides should work to promote the general good. In this case, the Amish should have adopted the silver tape before the deaths of the two teenagers, and before they put several lives in danger. It very rarely happens that there is such a perfect compromise which can solve such a controversial relationship between religion and law.Aanal P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17891627677908626254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-90632834111928861422012-03-19T19:32:40.353-04:002012-03-19T19:32:40.353-04:00I agree with Cathye in that the reflective triangl...I agree with Cathye in that the reflective triangles are for the general safety of the people, and should therefore be mandated by the government. I'm also curious as to any dissent which may be taking place within the Amish community. Why is it that not all Amish believe the reflective triangle is a violation of their faith in God? Why is it that this is the first time we've heard of this being an issue?Nicole S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03767538237706101324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-17155464286688921882012-03-19T19:04:44.491-04:002012-03-19T19:04:44.491-04:00This is a really interesting case. I think this i...This is a really interesting case. I think this is another situation where people are free to believe whatever they want, but they may not necessarily be legally allowed to act in whatever way they want. The triangles are clearly for safety purposes and not an anti-religious action by the government. While it may be bright orange, it has to be for people to see dark buggies at night.Catherine Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01776157951977668773noreply@blogger.com