Atheist Group: 'Ground Zero Cross' An Insult

Talon News ^ | 09/10/03 | Jimmy Moore

[bedolido]

NEW YORK (Talon News) -- An atheist group is fighting an effort to place a cross at the site of the World Trade Center towers as a memorial to the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The American Atheists, which was begun by renowned anti-Christian activist Madalyn Murray O'Hare before she died, are opposed to displaying the 20-foot tall cross that was found by a rescue worker named Frank Silecchia in the midst of the rubble just a few days after the buildings collapsed.

Silecchia said he "cried for 20 minutes after his discovery," the Associated Press reported at the time. "Some people will say it's velocity of physics that put it there. To me, it's an act of God."

That cross, along with many smaller crosses around it, served as a source of comfort for many of the construction workers, firefighters, policemen, and family members of the victims in the weeks following the loss of thousands of American lives.

The cross bears the names of police officers and firefighters who gave their lives on September 11, 2001. Also inscribed on the cross are the words "God Bless Our Fallen Brothers."

Nevertheless, American Atheists has threatened to sue for the right to keep this cross from becoming a part of a World Trade Center memorial.

"Tax money must not be used to construct any sectarian memorial," remarked American Atheists President Ellen Johnson.

Johnson said allowing the cross in the memorial would "insult the victims, rescue workers, and other Americans who are not Christians, who do not believe in a deity, and are not religious."

The project developer, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, indicated previously that the cross should be included as part of the memorial display.

Supporters of the "Ground Zero Cross," as it has become known, believe it should be a part of the memorial as a lasting symbol and tribute to the victims of the September 11 attacks.

Copyright © 2003 Talon News -- All rights reserved.

[johnb838]

Baal was the ancient god of fertility of the babylonians. It may have been to him that the israelites were building images when Moses came down from the mountain.

Sharpton was talking about the election of 2000 among other things. Point being, the other side sure seems to see it as a civil war.

[nowings]

That huge chunk of land should look just like it did before.
No memorial other than the new twin towers. The terroists would love to watch Americans grieve at the "memorial".
They would hate to see us have business as usual.

[SaveTheChief]

LOL

Well Sharpton is just spouting off at the mouth, making no sense as usual. I can't believe these people still live in the past.

As someone else said, somewhere in the Far East there is a fertility festival in which there is a parade with large penis floats and the like. I saw photos one time a few years ago on the Bob & Tom Show website. They may still be there tucked away somewhere, but I haven't been there in a long time.

[subterfuge]

The reason many are not Christian is that they, like yourself, are blind.

[gracex7]

You can start with Romans 1;18-32 (pg 1418-1419 in my Bible) and then go to II Timothy 3:1-7. You might also try Psalm 14:1.

I hope you look them up. Eternity is a long time and we only have this life in which to make a correct choice.

[bedolido]

well said

[Trampled by Lambs]

"I'm curious. Why would a religious symbol offend someone who sees it as nonsense? Why isn't it simply a cross member of the building rather than a symbol of Christ?"

Exactly! Speaking as an agnostic (not quite an athiest), seeing a cross offends me no more than seeing a picture of Santa or the Easter bunny. If you don't believe in a thing, how can a symbol of that thing impact you one way or another? Only if you are one who demands that everyone thinks as you do.

[semaj]

"they find a bit that looks like a cross in the midst of a bazillion bits that don't and Eureka - nutcase city."

So, in your world, looking for receiving signs and believing and reverencing the God of the Universe automatically makes a person a nutcase. Interesting.

[Semper Paratus]

I'll go along with whatever the chaplains for the athiests in the NYPD and NYFD say.

[stuartcr]

It would appear, that in this day and age, the first line of your last paragraph says it all.

[MEGoody]

Oh for crying out loud. It's an actual piece of the remains of the building that is in the shape of a cross. Get over yourself, atheists.

(Note to those atheists who would not whine about this kind of thing - this does not mean you.)

[stuartcr]

Thank you for your concern, but I don't believe our choices here on earth have anything to do with what happens after our death.

[Spok]

These obnoxious %$#!*%! people make a great argument for reviving the Inquistion.

[Diamond]

A Supreme Court opinion is not official?

Cordially,

[mhking]

I believe, Chancellor Kent was speaking as a Supreme Court Justice of the State of New York, not a Federal Judge.

In that context, Kent was being quoted and cited for support by Mr. Justice Brewer on behalf of the majority SCOTUS opinion, hence, in this context, his word is official.

[Jack of Diamonds]

Because a cross was found, not a star, or Cresent Moon, or Budda, or goat's head, o whatever. A cross was found, and most of the people where Christian.

[semaj]

"God Rules The Laws Of Physics. And He Can Break Them Any Time If He So Desires."

Actually, because God resides outside of the Universe He is not subject to the laws that govern its behavior. He can interject into it, enter and exit from it, accelerate, or stop it whenever He wants. He has no desire to break it...yet.

[stuartcr]

Then, it seems that the Costitution should be amended to state that ours is a Christian nation, but it hasn't.

[stuartcr]

OK.

[stuartcr]

No, I don't believe an opinion amends the wording to the Costitution.