But along came the Warren Court and the famous prayer in public schools decision of 1963. In that decision, Justice William Brennan said that there were ''substantial minorities who worship no God at all.'' Having said that, he led the court to adopt secular humanism (it was Justice Hugo Black's wording) as a kind of officially sanctioned religion. Sometimes the federal courts allow a mixture of symbols to be used together--one Christian, one Jewish, one Muslim; other times, the courts rule otherwise. The whole issue needs clarification by the U.S. Supreme Court. And the issue may be heading that way, from Alabama--ironically, the very state that Hugo Black came from and represented in the U.S. Senate.

You've heard about the Alabama judge who, some years ago, insisted on hanging a plaque of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom? Of course. He was called a yahoo and redneck by the liberal press and an opportunist by those who saw him running for high public office on that theme. Well, Judge Roy Moore, a Vietnam veteran, won the battle to keep the plaque after a summons to remove it was overturned by a higher federal court. Then Moore ran for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court on the issue. He won.

Not long after he was sworn in as chief justice, Moore had installed in the capitol rotunda a 5,500-pound granite stone on which was inscribed the Ten Commandments. Now, enter one Morris Dees, head of the Southern Poverty Law Center, to take up the case. He said placing the boulder with the commandments was ''a gross violation of the rights of the citizens of Alabama.'' A compliant federal judge then ordered Moore to have the gigantic stone removed no later than Dec. 17. Moore said he will appeal.

Dees does not view the issue only legalistically. In a memo to his attorney, sent by mistake to Moore's counsel, Dees wrote ''You might remember from the start I was laying out our trial theme--i.e., how this was an act of a lone religious nut in partnership with a fanatical church.'' The lone religious nut is the chief justice of Alabama and the ''fanatical church'' is Christian--none other than Coral Ridge Ministries, a reputable evangelical body headed by Dr. James Kennedy, who appears on TV regularly with polished and biblically cogent presentations.

If the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals overturns the federal judge's decision, all well and good. But if it doesn't, a constitutional crisis centered in Alabama will make interesting history for generations. Federal marshals will go to the Alabama rotunda and remove the stone. One doesn't expect that newly elected Republican Gov. Bob Riley will meet the feds with state troopers on the steps of the capitol building to block their entrance, or that President Bush will federalize them and order them forthwith to remove the boulder, but the issue could jeopardize Bush's relations with Christian evangelicals in a rock-solid Bush state.

Yes, it would be best for all to have the battle over the Ten Commandments go from Alabama to the highest court in the land. ''The issue is clear,'' Moore's deputy spokesman David Williams told me. ''It is whether or not the state has the right to mention God. After all, we swear people into office on a bible.'' He could have added, ''In God we trust'' is on our currency.

In God we trust. Or don't we mean it?

Recently, Congress passed a resolution authorizing the possible use of military force against Iraq. I believe this resolution strikes the right balance by giving the president the flexibility he needs to address the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, without ceding the constitutional responsibilities of the U.S. Congress.

Saddam Hussein has demonstrated an utter disregard for the welfare of both his citizens and his neighbors in the region. He ordered the use of chemical weapons against his own people, killing a large number of innocent civilians. His regime invaded two neighbors and threatened others. His regime launched ballistic missiles at four of its neighbors -- Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Bahrain. He ordered the assassination of opponents in Iraq and abroad, including a former president of the United States. His regime beat and tortured American prisoners of war (POWs) and used them as human shields during the Persian Gulf War. His military continues to fire at U.S. and British aircraft patrolling the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq. He has harbored terrorists, including Abu Nidal.

Hussein has flouted the international community in his unrelenting pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. Iraq has repeatedly violated the terms of the cease-fire that ended the Persian Gulf War in 1991, as well as a series of Security Council resolutions designed to ensure that Iraq submits to U.N. inspections, dismantles its extensive weapons of mass destruction programs, and returns Kuwaiti and other nations’ POWs, missing persons, and property seized during the 1991 conflict.

For seven and one-half years, Saddam Hussein played a cat-and-mouse game with U.N. inspectors. The Iraqi regime misled, lied to, intimidated, and physically obstructed the inspectors; and Iraqi scientists who provided information to the inspectors disappeared, perhaps into Saddam’s dungeons and execution chambers. The inspectors uncovered an enormous amount of biological and chemical weapons materials and production facilities, but by their own account they could not find everything. Finally, in the closing months of 1998, Iraq prohibited all U.N. inspections, then agreed under international pressure to allow inspectors full access, then resumed obstructing their operations, leading the United Nations to withdraw the inspectors on December 15, 1998.

Inspections alone are unlikely to disarm Iraq, and a lengthy inspections regime could give Saddam more time to stockpile and conceal weapons of mass destruction. We know that Saddam has chemical and biological weapons, and is attempting to develop nuclear weapons. These weapons would immediately threaten U.S. troops and our friends and allies in the region. I do not believe that our safety and that of our allies should rest only on the hope that Saddam will show restraint, especially given his well-demonstrated contempt for international opinion and his willingness to use whatever options he has to advance his agenda.

I support the president’s efforts to obtain international support on Iraq, but U.S. action should not hinge on the endorsement of the United Nations. It would be preferable to have U.N. support, but we have to be prepared to go it alone if necessary. We cannot give the United Nations veto power over our decisions to protect our national interests.

By acting on an Iraq resolution now, Congress has strengthened the negotiating position of the president by demonstrating to Iraq and the world that America is united in our effort to compel Iraq to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, the resolution is carefully crafted to limit military action to Iraq and require close consultation with Congress before and during any armed conflict.

The passage of this resolution does not mean that war is either imminent or certain. However, its passage does affirm the policy of the United States that in order to ensure peace and security, both in the United States and in the Middle East, the threat from Iraq must be addressed. While there are serious risks involved in potential military action, the risks of doing nothing are greater.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you very much, Peter. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a wonderful ceremony every year, but this year it has been very special. I want to thank Wayne Newton and Renee Fleming, Marty Stuart, Al Roker -- he's a good Santa Clause. (Laughter.) I want to thank the cast from "Chicago," and Ricky Payton and the Urban National Youth Choir; and, of course, Colonel Tim Foley and the Marine Corps Band, the President's own.

The best perk of the presidency is the Marine Corps Band, and I want to give them all a hand. They've been wonderful. (Applause.)

For over 85 years now, our country has gathered around our National Christmas Tree to celebrate the beginning of this wonderful season of peace and hope. I am honored once again to be part of a tradition I have come to look forward to every year. For me, Christmas always starts now with the Pageant of Peace and the lighting of this beautiful Colorado spruce. And I am especially honored to be here to light the last tree of the 20th century.

In this sacred season, it is time for all of us to renew our commitment to give of ourselves, to reach out to those who are less fortunate, to reach out to those who are different from us, to build the one America of our dreams. In this Pageant of Peace, we celebrate Christmas, also the season of Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and others -- all joined by a simple and universal message: that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.

This holiday season, we Americans have an awful lot to be thankful for. Our nation is at peace, and all around the world we are privileged to make peace. From Bosnia, to Northern Ireland, to the Middle East -- the land where a homeless child grew up to be the Prince of Peace.

Just today, in this season, I was proud to announce that after a long, long stalemate, the Israelis and the Syrians have agreed to meet again in just a few days to make their peace. (Applause.)

At the dawn of a new millennium, as we enjoy these wonderful performers and the timeless songs of all of our childhoods, let us rededicate ourselves to the true spirit of Christmas. As we light the National Christmas Tree, let us spread the light of peace and goodwill toward our family, our friends, our neighbors, and all those across the world, especially those who need it most.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and God bless you.

http://clinton6.nara.gov/1999/12/1999-12-08-remarks-by-the-president-at-tree-lighting-ceremony.html

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Thank you very much. With the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, we observe one of the great traditions of our nation's capital. And throughout the Christmas season, we recall that God's love is found in humble places, and God's peace is offered to all of us. Laura and I are pleased to be with you at this Christmas Pageant of Peace, and we thank you all for coming as well.

I want to thank Barbara for hosting this event. (Applause.) I want to thank all the entertainers for making the night such a special evening. Thank you all for coming. (Applause.) I want to thank Peter and the board of directors and the production team for organizing this fine event. I appreciate Santa coming. (Laughter.) Looks like he needs a belt for Christmas. (Laughter.) Finally, I want to thank all the good people of the National Park Service. (Applause.) The National Christmas Tree is a living tree and the Park Service looks after it every single day of the year.
For nearly 80 years, in times of calm and in times of challenge, Americans have gathered for this ceremony. The simple story we remember during this season speaks to every generation. It is the story of a quiet birth in a little town, on the margins of an indifferent empire. Yet that single event set the direction of history and still changes millions of lives. For over two millennia, Christmas has carried the message that God is with us -- and, because He's with us, we can always live in hope.

In this season, we celebrate with our families -- and deeply miss family members no longer with us. Thousands of families in our nation are still grieving over the terrible losses that came to them last year on September the 11th. We pray for their comfort. We pray for the comfort for everyone who has lost a life this year.

Our entire nation is also thinking at this time of year of the men and women in the military, many of whom will spend this Christmas at posts far from home. They stand between Americans and grave danger. They serve in the cause of peace and freedom. They wear the uniform proudly and we are proud of them. (Applause.)

Laura and I wish every American family the blessings of this season, happy holidays, and a merry Christmas. And now we have the honor of lighting the National Christmas Tree.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021205-10.html

==>George Washington