Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Atheists Protest Ground Zero Cross
WorldNetDaily ^ | Posted: June 18, 2002 | By Ron Strom

Posted on 06/18/2002 2:52:56 AM PDT by Bad~Rodeo

Decry plan to use symbol as part of 9-11 memorial

:

The organization American Atheists is protesting a proposal to use a large steel cross found in the rubble of the World Trade Center in a memorial to victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Describing itself as a "nationwide movement which defends the civil rights of nonbelievers," the group said in a statement yesterday that use of the cross in a government-funded monument "would violate the separation of church and state, be insensitive to those victims who had no religious beliefs and would incredibly pay homage to religion – the prime motivating factor in the faith-based attack of Sept. 11."

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation is the local agency in charge of planning for the rebuilding of the site.

Ed Malloy, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council and a board member of the agency, has asked that the cross be made a permanent part of any future memorial.

According to the New York Daily News, construction workers, firefighters, police officers and family members have held weekly Sunday services at the site of the cross since Sept. 11.

"We're hoping it will stay right where it is and become part of any permanent memorial," Malloy was quoted as saying in the Daily News.

Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists objects to the possibility that the cross might be used in a taxpayer-supported project.

"This is an inappropriate use of taxpayer money," she said in the statement, "You can't take government funds to promote religion, especially sectarian religion in the form of a cross or any other religious symbol."

Johnson added that any memorial to the victims of the attacks "should bring Americans together, not divide them on the basis or religion or anything else."

Ron Barrier, national spokesman for the group, stressed that Muslims, Hindus and other non-Christians were killed in the attacks as well.

What about them? he asked. "Are we going to turn the site of the WTC into a religious shrine with competing religious slogans, symbols and displays? Any monument to the victims, and those who helped in the aftermath of Sept. 11 should be tasteful, as well as a unifying statement about America and humanity.

"Christian symbols are as inappropriate as a Muslim crescent or some other religious label," Barrier said.

Construction worker Frank Silecchia happened upon the perfectly symmetrical cross in the midst of the WTC wreckage just a few days after the attacks. It was standing straight, 20-feet high, surrounded by many smaller crosses.

"When I first saw it, it took my heart," Silecchia said. "It helped me heal the burden of my despair, and gave me closure on the whole catastrophe."

Said WorldNetDaily columnist Ann Coulter in an October column : "The cross at Ground Zero was not simply the cross beams remaining from an existing building. It was formed out of beams from Building One plunging, splitting and crashing into Building Six."

"There's no symmetry to anything down there," an FBI chaplain said at the time, "except those crosses."

Johnson said that her group would go to court if necessary to challenge the use of government money for the placement of any religious symbol at the WTC site.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 241-254 next last

1 posted on 06/18/2002 2:52:57 AM PDT by Bad~Rodeo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
Next the atheists will be protesting doves because they're mentioned in the Bible.

Notice that these 'atheists' have no problem with Muslims or any of the 'designer religions' that have popped up, like Scientology. I think most of them aren't really atheists, they are just anti-Christian.

2 posted on 06/18/2002 2:58:59 AM PDT by capt. norm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: capt. norm
I think most of them aren't really atheists, they are just anti-Christian. Exactly!!!!!!!!
3 posted on 06/18/2002 3:06:08 AM PDT by Terp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
This is something. The geometric formation is not even made deliberately. If it had been an upsidedown cross, they would have no problem with it. If it were a demon head, no problem. It is the same thing as a natural object made by 'Mother Nature'. So, even the phoney rules don't apply.

I have an idea though. The cross could be donated to a church and placed in the church's front yard. Some highly public church. Whatever makes them spin their heads at 360 degrees and spit out split pea soup. [Therefore, lets keep trying what we're trying. That really ticks them off.]

4 posted on 06/18/2002 3:09:01 AM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
Describing itself as a "nationwide movement which defends the civil rights of nonbelievers

They are not "non-believers". They are strident believers in Atheism. That is their "religion". They want to push "their religion" on everyone else.

5 posted on 06/18/2002 3:37:24 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
Freedom OF religion.
not
Freedom from religion.
6 posted on 06/18/2002 3:41:37 AM PDT by Greeklawyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
I thought the idea of a memorial would be irrelevant for atheists.
7 posted on 06/18/2002 4:07:22 AM PDT by Semper Paratus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
This country was founded by those seeking religous freedom. The cross the workers found is a ideal tribute to the fallen, and the atheists who don't like it need to remember that this country's strength in it's beliefs in the freedom of everyone is what gives them the ability to denounce God. If they don't like it, they should try shouting "there is no allah" in mecca. God Bless America
8 posted on 06/18/2002 4:25:22 AM PDT by big_Rob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
The Devils own march against the redeeming blood of Christ. I dont care if they don't believe in anything, it is satan himself who has people marching against such a peaceful and reassuring symbol.
9 posted on 06/18/2002 4:35:23 AM PDT by smith288
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
Don't like it? Turn it off or change the channel.

Is it just me, or has the number of people who have no lives exploded in the past year or so?

10 posted on 06/18/2002 4:39:12 AM PDT by Skooz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
"Christian symbols are as inappropriate as a Muslim crescent or some other religious label," Barrier said

And no symbol stands for atheism by default. What a crock.

11 posted on 06/18/2002 4:45:04 AM PDT by Tom Bombadil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
Said WorldNetDaily columnist Ann Coulter in an October column : "The cross at Ground Zero was not simply the cross beams remaining from an existing building. It was formed out of beams from Building One plunging, splitting and crashing into Building Six."

For Ghu's sake, EAT a little something before your brain starves to death.

The cross beams are obviously formed by an original joint that remained in place.

12 posted on 06/18/2002 4:48:05 AM PDT by steve-b
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericaUnited
They are not "non-believers". They are strident believers in Atheism.

True.
I am an non-believing agnostic and I hate these radical atheists.

13 posted on 06/18/2002 4:55:24 AM PDT by eddie willers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: eddie willers
Johnson added that any memorial to the victims of the attacks "should bring Americans together, not divide them on the basis or religion or anything else." Sorry, AA. In case you haven't notice, we're already divided. Flying jumbo jets into buildings and killing thousands was a pretty big wedge.
14 posted on 06/18/2002 5:01:32 AM PDT by ncpastor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: HellInAHandCart; ELS
I couldn't bring myself to visit the site of the World Trade Center until just 2 weeks ago. Though I've been working in NYC for years, I haven't been downtown in over a year. I had an occasion to meet a friend from out of town there.

I didn't take the ramp tours. I mainly stood by that park to the south east of the center where lots of people played chess. When I worked downtown in the mid 90's, I went through there everyday. Now it's parking lot. I wasn't comfortable at all.

The one thing that surprised me was that the cross was still there. I remember reading about it when it was discovered but I had presumed it had been carted off site. Instead, it's prominately displayed.

Why people are so intent on taking away a symbol so meaningful to most of those who work at the site and presumably, to those who died there, is beyond me.

15 posted on 06/18/2002 5:14:07 AM PDT by Incorrigible
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
would incredibly pay homage to religion – the prime motivating factor in the faith-based attack of Sept. 11."

The prime motivating factor in the attacks of 9/11 was hatred. Cool, irrational, senseless hatred. Religion was the cloak it hid behind. Just as ir-religion is the cloak these vermin hide behind.

Religion WAS the sustaining force throughout the dark days when the rubble lay burning and the air filled with the stench of rotting flesh. The first official act of recovery was the High Mass at the National Cathedral. It was probably the most unifying gesture Bush could have made.

These naysayers have outlived their usefulness. It's time to shut them up.

16 posted on 06/18/2002 5:14:46 AM PDT by IronJack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
If the government can't spend money on a cross, then I suppose we had better shut down all the memorial cemetaries, like say, Arlington.....
17 posted on 06/18/2002 5:15:59 AM PDT by miner89
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
Maybe New York should dig up the streets around WTC and re-lay them in a circular design.
Heaven knows, as they cross at right angles, they just MIGHT appear to be crosses (GASP!)
18 posted on 06/18/2002 5:22:13 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Skooz
Is it just me, or has the number of people who have no lives exploded in the past year or so?

I think their number hasn't changed, they're just louder and more annoying.

19 posted on 06/18/2002 5:25:33 AM PDT by Constitution Day
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: IronJack
These naysayers have outlived their usefulness. It's time to shut them up.

Unfortunately, as long as the liberal media is controlling what the masses see and hear...this won't happen. The Constitution protects Freedom of Speech, but has no guarantee that anyone will listen. These anti-Christian zealots have learned over the years...their cause will be promoted by their "fellow-(non)believers" in the media! When there is no choice...people will hear the message. The press (and the ACLU) will ensure that.

20 posted on 06/18/2002 5:27:30 AM PDT by borisbob69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 241-254 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson