(U.S. Supreme Court) Justices to decide if vets can be honored with cross

Washington Times ^ | Monday, May 25, 2009 | Washington Times

[Iam1ru1-2]

Some see it as the universal symbol of sacrifice in World War I, others see it as the undisputed sign of Christianity, but it will be up to the Supreme Court to make a final determination as to whether a 7-foot cross remains standing in a California desert to memorialize war veterans.

The cross was first erected in 1934 in what is now the federally protected Mojave Desert Preserve by a group of veterans whose doctors advised them that the desert heat would help them recover from shell shock.

Veterans today say this war memorial and others like it across the country that use religious symbols are under attack by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). *

"They are not the enemy; they are just dead wrong," says Joe Davis, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

But the civil liberties group says the cross is offensive to Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim and other non-Christian veterans.

[Iam1ru1-2]

America was founded on Christian Principles, not Islamic, Judaic, Buddhist, or any other religion. That's why our coins and bill have In God We Trust on them. And the Pledge allegiance says "Under God".

If they want to erect a Star of David that would not be offensive since Christianity's base is based on the Jewish Scriptures. But no other religion's symbols.

[OpeEdMunkey]

Yeah, but if we put that cross in a 7 foot container of urine then the ACLU will want to protect it as free speech.

The ACLU: portrait of people who just don’t know when to quit.

[rockabyebaby]

but but but we don’t want to offffffffffffffffend mooooslums, we MUST take down the cross and while we’re at it take the “In God We Trust” off of our currency....oh and yes, please remove “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, we must NOT offffffffffffffffend! /SARC

[GeronL]

freedom of religion... somewhere in the Constitution I guess they can find no freedom of speech, no freedom to assemble, no freedom of religion... then wait.. then can there still be a freedom of the press?

[seawolf101]

Given time they will want to remove all the crosses at Arlington Cemetery because it is public government property and Christian symbols are not acceptable because they might offend the Jihad terrorists.

[SECURE AMERICA]

But the civil liberties group says the cross is offensive to Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim and other non-Christian veterans

HORSE SHIT..
As a veteran I honor and respect ALL veterans from all religions. I know hundreds of veterans of all faiths and races and the above statement was made by civilians not by a honest to goodness American veteran.
I visit Ft Indiantown Gap National Cemetary numerous times each year and I do not pick and choose the faith of vetreans to show respect and honor too and I doubt many American veterans do either........
The American Communist Lawyers Union can kiss my rear end.

[freekitty]

How dare these Justices presume they can do this. There is no absolutely no question these people should be honored with a cross.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“But the civil liberties group says the cross is offensive to Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim and other non-Christian veterans.”

Why is it that the Obama birth certificate cases keep getting thrown out because of a lack of ‘standing’ and/or inability to show that the person bringing the suit has been ‘harmed’; yet, the ACLU can keep bringing these cases to court in which there is absolutely no proof that anyone is being harmed. Will it be necessary to march in the streets and scream ‘no justice no peace’ and wage all the civil unrest the left has in order to stop this onslaught of anti-Christian anti-American nonsense?

[Clintonfatigued]

Of course, the 9th. Circus Court of Appeals would be against it.

I’m willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of Jewish, Muslim, and even athiest veterans have no problem with the use of this cross.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Argonne Cross Memorial
More than 2,000 of the men and women who gave their lives in France for the defense of freedom are now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, primarily in Section 18. In a corner of that large section with its many rows of simple white headstones rises the simple white rood known as the ARGONNE CROSS. A grove of 19 pine trees forms an emerald grotto that surrounds the 13-foot marble cross. These trees represent the trees of the Argonne Forest where so many lost their lives.

Cross Of Sacrifice
Designed by Canadian architect Sir Reginald Bloomfield, the monument consists of a bronze sword adorning a 24-foot gray granite cross. The inscription on the cross reaffirms the sentiment expressed by Prime Minister King regarding Americans who served in the Canadian Armed Forces. Following World War II and the Korean War, similar inscriptions on other faces of the monument were dedicated to the Americans who served in those conflicts.

[Freee-dame]

I honor and respect ALL veterans from all religions

Maybe we could put up a symbol for each of the other faiths, making it in proportion to their representation among those who gave all. A visual like this might help some of our terribly uninformed younger generations realize what a Christian nation we have always been. Atheists already have their symbol, nothing.

[Inyo-Mono]

I first saw that cross in the Mojave back in the early 60s. If it is so offensive, why was there not a movement to have it taken down back then? Why now. I think we know the answer to that.

[Jean S]

Atheists cross at memorial

[piytar]

“Will it be necessary to march in the streets and scream ?no justice no peace? and wage all the civil unrest the left has in order to stop this onslaught of anti-Christian anti-American nonsense?”

In short, yes. At least that.

[FreepShop1]

But the civil liberties group says the cross is offensive to Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim and other non-Christian veterans.

I am a Jewish veteran, and find the monument very moving. And I disagree with the gentleman who said the ACLU is not the enemy. They are worse than the enemy, as traitors always are.

[FreepShop1]

The SCOTUS has absolutely no jurisdiction in this matter if the cross monument was not put there by an act of Congress.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Let’s hope and pray the justices decide that the cross does not violate anyone’s rights.

I think the Supreme Court is getting the case because lower courts had agreed with the ACLU that somehow this violates someone’s rights. Hopefully saner heads will prevail in the Supreme Court.

Do we have the right not to be offended? I see liberal, radical, rude, annoying behavior every day that is offensive on some level. Do I have a right not to be offended? Does it really offend someone’s sensibilities to see a cross somewhere?

yet we’re not allowed to be offended by pornography on cable TV or indecency in movies and TV shows. Exactly who is allowed to be offended by what?

[Dilbert San Diego]

I’m not sure about jurisdiction, but, apparently this is in federal court, setting the state for the Supreme Court.

I’m guessing it got to federal court because the ACLU sued in federal court to get it there, not because the Supreme Court decided on their own to intervene.

[Carry_Okie]

America was founded on Christian Principles, not Islamic, Judaic, Buddhist, or any other religion.

Read the inscription on the Liberty Bell lately?

An organized structure for limited government was first defined in Leviticus 25. Care to tell me how many Christians even read it?

[hinckley buzzard]

the civil liberties group says the cross is offensive to Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim and other non-Christian veterans.

How many times does it need to be said--There is no Constitutional right not to be offended.