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Atheist Group: 'Ground Zero Cross' An Insult
Talon News ^
| 09/10/03
| Jimmy Moore
Posted on 09/10/2003 7:26:35 AM PDT by 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.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: atheist; churchandstate; cross; ground; heroscross; purge; wtccross; zero
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To: bedolido
"Tax money must not be used to construct any sectarian memorial," remarked American Atheists President Ellen Johnson.And if someone just immersed the cross in a big vat of urine, these self-absorbed windbags would be bending over backwards to make sure it stayed.
To: All
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." Just wondering...
How many of the people who chose to jump from the towers or who fell from the towers were atheists
And how many passengers & crew members on those planes, realizing that the planes were about to crash were atheists
And those who were enveloped in a fireball of jet fuel while sitting at their office desks - how many of them were atheists
And those trapped in the floors above the fires & carnage, did any of them have a sudden conversion to atheism ?
What about those who felt the shudder of a 110 story building the seconds before it crashed down upon them. Has anyone tried to figure out how many of them were atheists?
And finally, all of those brave men & women who have and are fighting to preserve the freedoms of this country. When faced with combat, is there a mass abandonment of religious beliefs?
I thought not
I find it repugnant that one small group can show so much intolerance to something that gives comfort to so many. Doesn't tolerance mean we have to put up with things we may not like for the sake of others. Guess that only applies to the majority of us.
182
posted on
09/10/2003 10:37:49 AM PDT
by
KosmicKitty
(There are no athiests in the foxholes!!)
To: stuartcr
Then, it seems that the Costitution should be amended to state that ours is a Christian nation, but it hasn't.It is unnecessary.
183
posted on
09/10/2003 10:45:45 AM PDT
by
mhking
(Aw, man! Get the Jello! Smear it all over the floor! "Get outta here chicken heart!!!")
To: bedolido
Message to Ms. Johnson: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...or the one."
184
posted on
09/10/2003 10:48:24 AM PDT
by
mhking
(Aw, man! Get the Jello! Smear it all over the floor! "Get outta here chicken heart!!!")
To: fly_so_free
"Then you must not have been out much after 9/11. The cross was on the cover of either News Week or Time, or both, (can't remember), but it was at least one of these. It was shown in many articles in the weeks/months following 9/11. "
Ahhh...that would make sense, as I don't read either of those liberal rags.
"While some people may have felt abandoned by God 9/11 -especially, as you say, the families of the victims- Millions of people turned to God in the hours after it- they went to Church-they Prayed. What about the resurrection of the term God Bless America? "
'resurrrection'? Jesus Christ experienced a resurrection. Your usage is blasphemic, esp. considering the fact that the term 'God Bless America' never disappeared in the first place. Also, that return to Church was short-lived for most, as church attendance has returned to pre-9/11 levels in most places.
"It is nice of you to "allow" the cross to stay at the WTC site though- Thank you so much. "
You're welcome.
185
posted on
09/10/2003 10:49:24 AM PDT
by
Blzbba
To: semaj
So, in your world, looking for receiving signs and believing and reverencing the God of the Universe automatically makes a person a nutcase. Interesting. No, and that's not what I said. To the contrary, I don't find that looking for signs means trying to find patterns in the carpet to prove that divinity exists. And that's what this amounts to.
People who want signs can claim them in abundance. When God produced signs in the scriptures, it wasn't a pattern in the carpet, it was a Pillar of fire in the desert stretching to the heavens, the parting of a large sea, the appearance of a Star from nowhere in the heavens. Two pieces out of thousands of shreds and bits of metal being found in a rough cross shape does not measure up by comparison. Just because it might make you "feel" good, doesn't mean it's from God. But then too many think religion is about their feelings to begin with. Folly knows no bounds.
It may be cute or even mildly ironic - even interesting. that doesn't make it a sign. It doesn't make it meaningful. And on the other hand, it doesn't give anyone licence to bar it from being displayed either. I'm in the middle ground with nuts on both sides. Spare me.
186
posted on
09/10/2003 10:51:27 AM PDT
by
Havoc
(If you can't be frank all the time are you lying the rest of the time?)
To: mhking
A Cross, Minora, Budhda, etc. would be fine. I don't believe it would be wise to add another monument to the Muslim faith at ground zero. They're represented by all the others at the display. None of them would be there w/o islamic extremists.
187
posted on
09/10/2003 11:00:37 AM PDT
by
bedolido
(I can forgive you for killing my sons, but I cannot forgive you for forcing me to kill your sons)
To: mhking
I forgot... we need an symbol of nothingness for atheists.
188
posted on
09/10/2003 11:01:59 AM PDT
by
bedolido
(I can forgive you for killing my sons, but I cannot forgive you for forcing me to kill your sons)
To: bedolido
I forgot... we need an symbol of nothingness for atheists.Will that patch of grass over there suit?
189
posted on
09/10/2003 11:03:17 AM PDT
by
mhking
(Aw, man! Get the Jello! Smear it all over the floor! "Get outta here chicken heart!!!")
To: bedolido
"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."
Let it be a comfort to those it comforts. Those that don't like it have another 340 degrees in their view that wouldn't contain the offending symbol.
To: mhking
I'm sure that to you and many others, it is.
To: bedolido
Why is "tolerance" for other people's beliefs something that is only demanded from Christians? Why is Christianity reviled by the left, but all other religions are not just tolerated, but encouraged? This has always been curious to me as Christanity supports all of the leftist beliefs: turn the other cheek, the meek shall inherit the earth, a rich man shall not pass into heaven, etc., whereas Islam supports all the fascist beliefs: rule by a few, no rights for women, no tolerance for other religions, anti-semitism, etc.
192
posted on
09/10/2003 11:11:23 AM PDT
by
FreedomCalls
(It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
To: bedolido
I would then suggest that the athiests put up a picture of Bill and Hillary so the God-less don't feel left out.
To: FreedomCalls
To me, it appears that tolerance is adamantly espoused by Christians, while, at the same time, many of these same Christians are incapable of believing that someone else's beliefs, are equally valid as theirs. Sometimes, this appears a little hypocritical to non-Christians. This may help a little towards your question, it's also just a little of my take on the subject.
To: Blzbba
"Your usage is blasphemous"
From the Dictionary:
Resurrection:
2. Resurgance . Revival.
Resurgence-a rising again into life, activity or prominence (applies to the term "God Bless America" becoming popular after 9/11)
Sheeeeeeshhh..........lighten up.
195
posted on
09/10/2003 11:52:11 AM PDT
by
fly_so_free
(Never underestimate the treachery of the democratic party. Save the USA-Vote a democrat out of offic)
To: stuartcr
Christians are incapable of believing that someone else's beliefs, are equally valid as theirs. I've never seen a Christian strap on a bomb belt and blow up a group of non-Christians simply because they are non-Christian.
196
posted on
09/10/2003 11:55:31 AM PDT
by
FreedomCalls
(It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
To: FreedomCalls
I didn't mention anything about bombs. I guess your question was rhetorical and you didn'r really want any kind of an answer or explanation.
To: fly_so_free
sorry.
198
posted on
09/10/2003 1:10:30 PM PDT
by
Blzbba
To: stuartcr
It will tell me why not everyone in America isn't a Christian? What page? I would normally tell you to start at page 1 and read to the end, but the days are short and evil abounds. In which case you might want to begin with Revelation and then read the rest of the book, if you have the time.
199
posted on
09/10/2003 2:02:57 PM PDT
by
texgal
(end no-fault divorce laws and return DUE PROCESS to our citizens))
To: texgal
I haven't been able to find America mentioned anywhere?
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