Reno snips God from patriotic placards

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/wed/news/news_1n1signs.html ^ | October 1, 2003 | AP

[South40]

SPARKS, Nev. – God has been cut from Sparks City Hall. Literally.

Patriotic signs showing an American flag and the words "God Bless America" have been displayed at City Hall since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks two years ago.

But City Attorney Chet Adams, concerned reference to God could be construed as a city-sanctioned endorsement of religion and invite lawsuits, ordered that the signs be altered, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported yesterday.

An employee used scissors to cut the word God from the signs, which now read, "Bless America."

"Who is blessing America? I don't know who is blessing America, but I think a court would say the word 'bless' is OK," he said.

"I hope I didn't exacerbate the situation," Adams said. "Maybe it should just say 'America' on there."

Adams said current controversies – including the removal of a monument bearing the 10 Commandments from a courthouse in Alabama and a finding by a federal appeals court that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional – make displaying the word "God" inside City Hall inadvisable.

"My experience is that people will sue for any reason under the sun because they feel it's their God-given right to do so," Adams said.

Some city workers were taken aback by Adams' decision. Jan Holman, the employee who did the snipping, was particularly troubled.

"I just think it's such a sad state of affairs that we can't express ourselves fully because it might offend someone," Holman said.

[South40]

Are they winning?

[BureaucratusMaximus]

PC will be to the death of us all...BUMP.

[Rocket1968]

The next Crusade will be to free America from the secular-humanists. It may be time to take up arms.

[South40]

What gets me is they did this under no pressure. It was conceded that they "might" offend someone.

Wimps.

[mountaineer]

"I hope I didn't exacerbate the situation," Adams said. "Maybe it should just say 'America' on there."

Maybe it should just say "Chet Adams is an idiot."

[Kuksool]

***City Attorney Chet Adams, concerned reference to God could be construed as a city-sanctioned endorsement of religion and invite lawsuits***

The ACLU would have no problem with "Allah Bless America".

[Skooz]

"Maybe it should just say 'America' on there."

Dunno. IIRC, Amerigo Vespucci used the word "God" with reverence and considered himself a Christian. So you might have to take the word "America" out, too.

[dead]

"I hope I didn't exacerbate the situation," Adams said.

“What’s this button do?”

[CSM]

The continent of North America, "Aaaaaaaachoooooooo"

South America, "Bless America."

[Rocket1968]

The ACLU would have no problem with "Allah Bless America".

You beat me to the punch. No one would dare to "snip" Allah from a sticker.

[nothingnew]

Maybe it should just say GOD BLESS AMERICA and "Chet Adams is an idiot."

FMCDH

[South40]

Maybe it should just say "Chet Adams is an idiot."

lol! I think it aleady does.

Perhaps we should let Mr. Adams know, in a polite way, of course, what we think of his spinelessness.

c.adams@ci.sparks.nv.us

[aruanan]

But City Attorney Chet Adams, concerned reference to God could be construed as a city-sanctioned endorsement of religion and invite lawsuits, ordered that the signs be altered, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported yesterday.

City-sanction endorsement of religion versus a constitutionally-mandated prohibition of preferential treatment of one religion over another.

[Prospero]

"Bless" America?

So...who 'bless' America? I did go to public school, but even I know this is gramatically obscene. So stupid, you can't believe it.

[spoiler2]

"people will sue for any reason under the sun because they feel it's their God-given right to do so"

The group of people who would sue in this case, feel their rights don't come from any God at all!

[princess leah]

I just e-mailed Adams to say he/she/it doesn't represent the majority of us Americans and that I hope he wouldn't need a blessing anytime in his life since God's not likely to give him one...

[Chewbacca]

Put up a sign saying "God Curse Chet Adams".

See what happens.

[Salman]

Gesundheit America!

[Old Professer]

Well, bless has got to go; and Am? Everybody knows that churches hold services in the morning so we can't have that. Then there is ca, an abbreviation for California, everybody knows that this state is the Godliest state this side of Mecca so we'll have to dump that too.

Now, what's that leave us with? Oh yes - eric; a fine, non-theocratic name, just the thing to put on a plaque honoring some dead folk.

[roadcat]

"So...who 'bless' America? I did go to public school, but even I know this is gramatically obscene. So stupid, you can't believe it."

I notice this going on a lot when people sneeze. Some people reply "Bless you". And I'll say "May God bless you" or "God bless you". Why are people leaving God out of replies to sneezes? As if the replyer is more than a mere mortal?