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Here's one point: would we want McDonald's to be able to put 30' concrete Golden Arches in the middle of the fairgrounds, and leave it up at no cost to them? If one isn't a believer in Jesus Christ--as I am!--then a symbol for Christ is just a symbol for yet another entity that wants one's money. I know how that feels because I was once an atheist and I did get tired of people pushing religion on me. (It never was people pushing religion on me that helped me get it, either.)

I think the atheists honestly don't see the difference between McDonald's selling hamburgers and a church (or conglomerate of churches) preaching the Gospel. Now they're WRONG but the fact they are wrong about is something they have to work out between them and their Creator--and no concrete cross is going to effect that process. That symbol is, pure and simple, for believers only. No one else gets any benefit from it, though it's a stretch to say anyone is harmed! I question the sensibility of leaving a permanent, exclusive structure up on public property.

This is not to say I think they're right to be offended by the cross. I think they need more to do. But, I personally think it's the permanence of a 30' structure on public property that probably is the practical problem. Not every group that wanted their symbol up in such size and material could do so, or there would be no fairgrounds left. Therefore, the very size of it is imposing and yes, endorses religion.

And I think we--Christians, atheists, everyone who pays taxes--do have the right to voice our opinion about how public property is used! Twice every year at this same fairground a crafter comes in to do Affair of the Heart, a craft show, and they are selling stuffed kittens (they will claim, if you question them, that it's rabbit fur, but that's such an obvious lie.) I find THAT offensive, not in the PETA sense but because I am a Cat Person and it it just disgusting to me! but they come and go and are not a permanent part of a public facility. The private show promoter lets them in; I don't see how the public is endorsing or subsidizing that disgusting project in any significant way...and so I don't send letters demanding they be excluded from the show. If they were given a permanent venue for their little trade, I might do something. They come and go, so I just wonder how they keep getting away with it.

This cross is truly a state-sponsored endorsement of a religion. I don't think the same case can be made for a nativity scene that comes and goes--is set up and broken down again by one part of the public that uses a space. They aren't excluding other groups that might want to use a portion of the space at other times. But a cross that goes up and stays up implies public endorsement of religion at public expense, and I think our Founding Fathers would have agreed with my reasoning.

Find a nearby chunk of private land and put it up. Buy or lease a 20x20 chunk of the fairgrounds and put it up. Or make it portable, not part of the fairgrounds at all but instead a transient private use of public land. That's all I am saying here. God doesn't bless us for forcing religious symbols on other people who don't want them, I don't think. Concrete is pretty darn forceful.