FORKNI-L
Digest - 14 May 2007 to 15 May 2007 (#2007-49)
Tue, 15 May 2007
There are 4 messages totalling 105 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Episode Discussion: False Witness (3)
2. Scheduling Episode Discussion: Cherry Blossom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 23:25:12 +0200
From: P J <blue_twingo772@y.......>
Subject: Re: Episode Discussion: False Witness
From: gwatson2:
> It's one thing to give a quick, easy lie; and then to repeat it simply
because it's the answer that everyone wants from him. But, in the courtroom,
after taking that oath, he's lying before his God. <
That's a good point. I hadn't taken that factor into consideration.
On another note, I find it amazing how easy he slips into the lie. It shows
that it has become second nature to him to lie to mortals in order to hide what
he is. I wonder if he actually is aware of that.
Petra.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 02:03:48 -0400
From: gwatson2 <gwatson2@r.......>
Subject: Re: Episode Discussion: False Witness
McLisa wrote:
> I don't know what Canadian practice is as to oaths for witnesses, but I
> just finished
> my fourth stint as a jury member. This was in two different states, one of
> them the
> very Bible-Belt South Carolina. Nobody swore on a Bible. In both states
> the oath
> included "swear or affirm" and ended "so help you God."
I've only been sworn in once, and that was here in Toronto. The clerk
certainly had a Bible, though I can't recall offhand whether the other
people actually put their hands on it when they took the oath.
Before each person started the process, the clerk asked them whether
they wished to swear or affirm; and what her words were after that depended
on your answer.
I affirmed; and (obviously) there was no Bible. But there was also
no reference to any deity. It went, as I recall, something like "Do you
affirm that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth."
How can they put in "so help you God" if someone is affirming? I *could*
not, in good conscience, take such an oath. If they said, "Do you...etc.
etc." and finished "so help you God", I guess I'd have to answer "No".
Which I don't imagine they'd like (and I *hate* causing fuss like
that). But it wouldn't be contempt of court, though I suppose they'd
probably like to call it that. It would be a great respect for the court,
except for not being able in good conscience to agree to having a god (any
god) put in the swearing.
I know that the U.S. has a Bill of Rights; but I don't know its details.
Doesn't it guarantee freedom of conscience? I thought Americans had more or
less the same rights we do in Canada.
Greer
gwatson2@r.......
http://ca.geocities.com/gwatson2@rogers.com/index.html
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 08:05:32 -0400
From: "Phillips, Tim" <Tim.Phillips@s.......>
Subject: Scheduling Episode Discussion: Cherry Blossom
Hello,
Cherry Blossom is next.
May 22nd is the day.
Tim
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 10:01:24 -0600
From: Angela Gottfred <agottfre@t.......>
Subject: Re: Episode Discussion: False Witness
As a Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) in the most recent federal election, I was
equipped to swear electors, or to let them solemnly affirm an affirmation. The
few that needed to do anything in that line chose to affirm. (I did have my
Bible, in case any chose to swear; it also served the purpose of covering the
top of the ballot box, so that the elector didn't put in their own ballot
before I'd removed the first counterfoil.)
I assume that the oath in the episode was for dramatic purposes; perhaps Nick
feared (falsely today, but 60 years ago, correctly) that his testimony would
not be taken seriously if he chose to affirm.
Your humble & obedient servant,
Angela Gottfred
------------------------------
End of FORKNI-L Digest - 14 May 2007 to 15 May 2007 (#2007-49)
**************************************************************
Knight graphics and parchment background created by Melissa Snell and may be found at http://historymedren.about.com/
