If there was ever a reason the Supreme Court should ban posting of the Ten Commandments in public buildings, especially schools, this supercedes all others:

Hamtramck is a small city of 23,000 located just off Interstate 75 about 20 miles north of Detroit. In 2003, a small number of Muslims appealed to the city council requesting that they amend a noise ordinance that would allow a daily Islamic call to prayer over loud speakers, in Arabic, five times a day, starting at 6 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m. They argued on grounds of religious freedom, citing Christians’ ringing of the church bell, demanding equality. They won. Today, American, non-Muslim residents of Hamtramck have no choice but to bear the daily intrusion.

For whatever reason, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and in the United States. If and when the Ten Commandments, or any other Christian symbols are nailed to the walls of public schools, the five pillars of Islam will be sure to follow, along with the four noble truths of Buddhism, Stars of David, and perhaps others.

Sometimes, it’s best to leave things as they are without stirring the pot. Not one child is going to be traumatized or deprived of religious freedom by the absence of Moses’ tablets displayed in the lunchroom. Kids have unlimited opportunity to learn those commandments in their homes, churches, among friends and clergy. That’s the responsibility of parents. It boggles the mind to understand why this must be made into such a divisive issue when so many other vital concerns are on the table about life and death, when people are suffering, dying and starving around the world and within our own country.

Zealots would have us believe that the Ten Commandments are the basis for our system of laws. That is simply not true. The first four commandments deal strictly with the observance of God, clearly separate from any laws in state or federal statutes. The only commandments related to law are about killing, stealing, and lying. Our laws are far more vast and complex, unguided by any commandment.

I didn’t need a biblical commandment to tell me it was wrong to kill another human being. In 65 years of life, I know of no person, no friends, no colleagues, and no criminals who were deterred from stealing and lying because the Ten Commandments were posted in a courthouse or a public school. Those who were deterred learned from parents, clergy, teachers and role models. And I’ve known hundreds of religious people, well indoctrinated by biblical teachings, who reside in our prisons today, thieves and liars.

I truly don’t understand what is there to gain by signs being hung on the walls of tax supported property, particularly schools, that tells us: “Thou shalt not have no other Gods before me!” When government representatives authorize the posting of that edict, they are telling us what God we must worship. By itself, the message is enough to polarize those who happen to believe otherwise, including Buddhists, Hindu, Shinto, Scientologists, atheists and agnostics. Their tax dollars are just as green.

Aye, there’s the rub. Public institutions are just that, buildings, property and programs that are funded by us all, not just Jews, not just Christians, not just Muslims and atheists. There is plenty of time, and plenty of room throughout America for display of religious dogma within the private sector, and for those who wish to avail themselves.

We’ve often heard the adage: “Be careful for what you wish for. You might get it.” One only has to see Hamtramck as a microcosm of America’s future. Once the court permits display of Christian edicts in public institutions, the force of Islam — and other religions — will follow in due time. Proponents may win this issue with a conservative leaning court, but will that truly — in the long run — be a win?

(Marshall Frank is a retired Metro Dade homicide detective. He can be reached at mlf283@aol.com.)