Posted on 12/14/2005 5:32:42 AM PST by Former Military Chick
OK, OK, enough already.
I get that American Atheists Inc. has every right to wield its beliefs - publicly and loudly - against all things suggesting that God is in his universe.
Atheists serve a useful purpose in this country. They are the burr under the saddle of this predominantly Christian nation. They are like the kid in class who won't sit quietly and join in while everyone else is practicing perfect penmanship.
When atheists poke and prod at none-too-subtle efforts to co-mingle church and state, they help shake up the 80 percent of Christians in this nation and nudge them toward considering that others - if only a few - may see life differently.
They have a way of making sure the rights of the minority don't get trampled. You remember that nugget from civics class, right? Protecting the minority matters, even in a place built on majority rule.
But sometimes the American Atheists go all prickly. They get petty. Sometimes they get it really wrong.
American Atheists Inc. has chosen our little ol' state to get riled up about crosses erected on highways to memorialize state troopers killed in the line of duty. Last week, the Texas-based organization filed a suit in U.S. District Court seeking removal of the 14 crosses, each of them 12 feet high, from public property. The suit also seeks removal of the Utah Highway Patrol symbol from the center of the crosses.
Their argument is that UHP symbol on the cross is a government-sponsored endorsement of religion, which violates the First Amendment. Ditto for those crosses that stand on public land. It's the first lawsuit of its kind in the nation, but the atheists are on a roll here.
American Atheists president Ellen Johnson, who lives in New Jersey, told The Associated Press this week that depending on the outcome of the Utah effort, they may file similar actions in other states.
" . . . These crosses are going up everywhere," Johnson told the AP. "We end up with little shrines everywhere."
That's some travesty, all right. All of us who barrel along in our comfy cars, forced to take two whole seconds to contemplate a fallen cop who died on some lonely stretch of road while doing his or her job. The object of our attention is a big white cross. Yes, I get precisely where the Atheists are going with this. This time, they messed up.
Back in the late '90s, the Utah Highway Patrol Association raised private funds to post the crosses, with full support of the late troopers' surviving relatives. The families were fine with the use of the cross, which, while no one would argue is the ancient and predominant symbol of Christianity, has come to mean more. In this case, the troopers' crosses signify service to others and the ultimate sacrifice.
To some, this issue adds up to more than a mild annoyance. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff on Tuesday called the lawsuit "mean and ignorant." Shurtleff told me he understands the purpose of protecting the rights of minorities (he has, in fact, been a tireless advocate of hate-crimes legislation), but he believes the suit "is not based on law" and that his office will vigorously defend the state in the matter.
"I think it's safe to say when they drive by one of these crosses, the average observer is not thinking about the state endorsing religion," Shurtleff said.
"I'm beyond aggravated about this. This amounts to spitting on these troopers' graves."
Here is a case where the Atheists botched it. Pick your battles, people, save your energy.
Any state endorsement here is on the side of valor and compassion.
hmullen@sltrib.com or (801) 257-8610
Agreed.
If there's one thing atheists are good for, they give Christians an enemy to fight.
then take another route!
Atheism is a faith that there absolutely is no god.
Freedom of religion is not freedom from religion.
I want to see and end to Atheism and State. They cannot force the state to adopt their "no god" God.
Agnostics say "don't know" when it comes to God but I don't see agnostics getting worked up because of some public display (on public or private grounds) of someone's faith.
They should perhaps built a little turn off area. It doesn't have to be a park or rest stop, just enough extra road to pull on and off. It wouldn't cost much and it would give people a chance to pay their respects safely.
I was worried about sharing my thought, so I am glad someone feels similar, thank you.
As a Christian, I think these crosses on highways for people who have died should be banned.
They focus the life of the person on where he died, rather than where he lived.
Next target - Arlington Cemetery.
Texans should have run the late and unlamented nut-job Madeline Murray O'Hare out of the state when she brought the first suit against prayer in school. Now we have her malignant legacy, Atheists Inc., fouling the air in Texas. There ought to be some way of ridding ourselves of this blight.
That is an excellent idea.
As I listen to the arguments of "federal land" (this morning on FOX and Friends) I get a bit angry, my father is buried at Arlington, and you know you cannot drive by their markers but if you could the accidents of those looking well there would be many ....
It is a highway you cannot take another route. I am not trying to be nasty about this.
Yikes forgot about her but she did indeed have an effect on this issue for sure. Just recalling her gives me the chills.
My father is buried at Arlington.
Since when does the minority have the right to offend the majority but the majority dare not give the minority offense? I would like to see what Johnathan Swift would make of this cockeyed, through the looking glass society we have emerging.
I was surpirsed Kilmeade was so sarcastic with the guest. He really showed how absurd this arugment is.
Have you lost someone in a highway accident? Perhaps you might think differently if you tried to memorialize them AND maybe save someone else by giving future drivers a reminder to pause and drive more carefully.
But if not...why deny a grieving family their own choice in this? If you haven't been there, you cannot possibly understand how meaningful these death sites and memorials are to the families who place them.
BTW- as a Christian, do you disappprove of the cross to symbolize Christ? Doesn't that focus on his death? Maybe you think we should use a manger instead?
Well stated.
A real atheist COULDN'T be "offended" by something he doesn't believe in. These people aren't atheists, they are Christian/religion haters and there is a HUGE difference.
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