[M. Dodge Thomas]

If we interpret traditional Western images such as vertical objects arranged along an arc, a common motif in Western memorial and monumental architecture (for example this one, which as it happens I pass frequently)

http://rclsgi.eng.ohio-state.edu/~bhandari/chicagosnaps/Millenium%20Park.JPG

in terms of their Islamic use and intend to purge our culture of anything shared with Islam we have much bigger problems than an arc of Red Maples - for example we are going to have to start by removing depictions of Jesus - who is believed in Islamic theology to be an honorable if imperfect and misguided profit of Allah - from our churches!

Of course, we don’t intend to let some mullah tell us who Jesus is – and IMO it’s just as degrading to let their use in other cultures dictate to us the meaning of various designs and symbols of long traditional use in our own.

[Migraine]

I had no idea this object was associated with a muslim terrorist act! http://rclsgi.eng.ohio-state.edu/~bhandari/chicagosnaps/Millenium%20Park.JPG Wow! By adducing it as in some way parallel to the PA crash site, I assume you are suggesting that.

[ApplegateRanch]

Naturally, I was being rather sarca(u)stic; if people can't differentiate between a crescent and an arch, then we better get rid of the Roman aqueducts, and some of the old Spanish missions.

Ogee windows and doors also come to mind as verboten, along with eyebrow dormers. Are domes next?

Grain silos (I always joke farmers are the biggest group of amateur astronomers; they all seem to have 'observatories'!) may be mistaken for minarets

Maybe start using rectilinear horseshoes, and boycott Crescent Tools, too, though I shouldn't really give them ideas.

When I finally saw a picture of the Flight 93 Monument, I couldn't believe that a simple arc was being interpreted as a "crescent".

OTOH, the architect seems to be responsible:

"This is not about any religion per se," Murdoch said in a telephone interview with the Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown. "It's a spiritual space, and a sacred place, but it's open to anyone."

The word "crescent," he said, was used as a generic architectural term for a curved line.

"Sure, there is an Islamic crescent," Murdoch said. "Theirs is a lunar crescent. Ours isn't based on that."

So, he never heard of arc, arch, bow, ogee, conic section, catenary, or other 'generic terms' for a curve? Like certain artists who feign innocence when called on various things, he knew exactly how inflamatory it would be to so describe it.

The 'not about religion per se' tell me that it is about religion, de facto...but, I can choose to ignore that interpretation while looking at it, and think of it as an encompassing bow.