Families of Fallen Utah Highway Patrol Troopers Fight Atheist Group Over Roadside Cross Memorials

Fox News ^ | 11/16/2007 | Melissa Underwood

[ConorMacNessa]

If a national atheist organization has its way, a series of 12-foot-tall memorial crosses that adorn Utah's highways will be taken down.

But not if the families of the people those crosses honor — state Highway Patrol troopers killed in the line of duty — have anything to say about it.

American Atheists Inc. has filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that the 13 white, steel crosses represent the death of Jesus Christ and therefore violate the First Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits government establishment of religion.

But the families of the fallen heroes say otherwise. They say the crosses, which bear the names and badge numbers of the troopers, were built strictly as memorials.

"We're being attacked personally for something we did to help us heal," said Clint Pierson, whose father, Trooper Ray Lynn Pierson, was shot and killed during a traffic stop in 1978.

[ConorMacNessa]

Here's one of the crosses they want to eliminate:

[chimera]

I seem to recall seeing a lot of crosses and Stars of David at military cemeteries. Would those have to go to? Those are run by the government.

[Don Corleone]

Which religion are they establishing? Hmmmmm?

[frogjerk]

American Atheists Inc. has filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that the 13 white, steel crosses represent the death of Jesus Christ and therefore violate the First Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits government establishment of religion.

American Atheists Inc. need to get a life.

[49th]

This is atheism run amok. I’m a secular humanist, but I also support the freedom OF religion, not the freedom FROM it. If the family members want their child memorialized by the Cross they should be allowed to do so. If a Jewish trooper dies and they want a giant star of David, they should get that. Should a Taoist die in the line of duty, they should receive a yin-yang symbol. Acknowledging an individual’s personal faith is not establishment of religion.

[ConorMacNessa]

I think it’s a damn shame that these folks can’t have their memorials without interference from a few Godless fools.

[meowmeow]

Everyone knows the United Atheist Alliance are the true atheists.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

To American Atheists Inc.: The title of your group offends me!...take IT down!

[svcw]

I am always amazed how atheists, who say they do not believe in God are so terrified by a cross. (Gee, almost like vampires.)

[goldstategop]

The Leftist jihad against Christianity continues.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[DoughtyOne]

For a group of people who profess not to believe in God, they sure don’t mind lining up behind Satan.

[steel_resolve]

Take them down, along with the individual accident ones. The cemetery is the place for mourning, not the highway.

[chimera]

I was wondering something similar. If these people really believe that God doesn’t exist, why do they spend so much time attacking God and those who believe in God? If they are so sure of themselves, why don’t they just go away and leave other people alone? The fact that they spend so much time attacking something they say doesn’t exist leads me to think they either don’t believe what they say, or are afraid they might be wrong.

[wastedyears]

They’re taking the First Amendment out of context.

[\/\/ayne]

Afraid of two bars arranged in a cross. How pathetic. And they don’t even realize that the cross is merely a symbol of something they can never ban or take away.

[Aquinasfan]

Glenn Beck handled the topic masterfully last night. His guest was from Atheists Today, or something like that. He cleaned her clock with the right balance of argument, rhetoric, and ridicule.

[isrul]

They ARE vampires trying to drain the spiritual life of the nation. How can we rid ourselves of them?

[rellimpank]

—agreed— they are distracting clutter—

[VOA]

I seem to recall seeing a lot of crosses and Stars of David at
military cemeteries. Would those have to go to? Those are run
by the government.

They are in National (federal) Cemetaries.
Certainly they'd have to go if the Evangelical Atheists were consistent.
And they'd better get busy removing Moses and those Tablets,
along with Mohammed at the (IIRC) US Supreme Court building.

(And I say this with no prejudice to atheists/agnostics of good
will who are no part of these "freedom FROM religion" campaigns.)

[VOA]

American Atheists Inc. need to get a life.

If there were "Truth in Fundraising" laws, they'd be called:
"Needlessly Agitationg Atheists For Profitible Fundraising, Inc.".