According to the Salt Lake Tribune:
The tall crosses memorializing fallen Utah Highway Patrol troopers will not come down anytime soon — even though a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that they violate the U.S. Constitution.
The decision, which holds implications for roadside memorial crosses across the nation, likely will be appealed by the state and the nonprofit group that erected themonuments.
They could either ask the full 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the case or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. – http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50132157-76/crosses-utah-memorials-highway.html.csp
From what I understand, government land was being used to display 12-foot-high crosses donated by the private organization UHPA to honor officers that died near that location. The decision could still be appealed to higher courts, so this isn’t necessarily the final result. I suggest reading over the court’s decision for more details.
What do you guys think?
I agree with the court that the cross isn’t a secular symbol, but I’m not sure what viable alternative there is. American Atheists suggests obelisks, like the Washington monument. Maybe. But those aren’t strictly secular either ha ha (they originally represented the sun god Ra).
So yeah, I agree with the decision, but more than anything I’m just indifferent on the matter.
I don’t see how any atheist/sceptic can be indifferent to church/state separation issues. Even seemingly little things like this are really important.
it’s about dismantling the Christian privilege which permeates not just our culture but more importantly our government.
Once the followers of Ra order soldiers attend Egyptian-rock concerts (which may actually rock a lot harder than Christian rock), we can get upset about obelisks appearing on public ground.
james, in my four years on active duty i wasnt required to attend any such thing so im not sure where youre coming from. there was a uso show during basic training we went to and they may have been christian rock but their playing would have more to do with being horribly lame as all christian rock is. as for egyptian rock, nile is american and not the best metal band in the country but theyre all about egyptian myth and can rip. ill post a link when im not limited by a phone.
I don’t really care what the marker is, I’m more concerned with the question of why highway patrol officers receive any sort of special marker at all. What of the run-of-the-mill deaths on our highways involving say a city police officer or an ordinary person? These are somehow inferior to the death of a highway patrol officer?
Because they’re being paid for by a private organization that specifically advocates for the highway patrol. It was being funded by the UHPA, not the state. It’s not like (as far as I know) they were denying memorials for everybody but highway patrol officers. I bet if similar groups for organizations representing firefighters, garbage truck drivers came forward with the money, supplies, and workers for their own memorials, there wouldn’t be a problem (unless they chose to build big-ass crosses).
*firefighers, garbage truck drivers, or whatever
When I see a cross at a cemetery I consider it a memorial – like a headstone – and I don’t even think of the gruesome human sacrifice story of the bible. The Romans crucified lots of people, but we don’t necessarily think of roman criminal punishment techniques every time we see a cross, do we? I think, like the obelisk, it has become a rather neutral form of memorial.
Maybe I’m biased by the fact that I am currently reading The Lost Symbol and it is chock full of silly ancient symbols. I don’t know if I will finish the book – does it get better?
I know, we can insist they use a pre-christian cross, like the Egyptian ankh or something…
Now I’m babbling. I’ve already lost interest in the topic. I think I’ll go get some Cheetos…
I agree with you in that I don’t think of crucifixion when I see a cross in the cemetery or the side of the road. I don’t even necessarily think of Christianity as soon as I see one. However, I’d still cringe if I heard “Oh, he was a Muslim, but we only offer crosses”.
Also, giant 12-foot crosses are pretty different from subtle ones on the side of the road. I believe the UHPA when they say the cross was chosen mostly because it’s just a familiar symbol that immediately lets you know that a person died there, but I still don’t think you can just divorce the religious meaning of the cross because its intent was for a religiously-neutral purpose.
Robert Kirby, columnist for the Tribune, was one of the people that thought up the crosses. Here’s his response: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/50139453-80/atheists-america-kirby-religious.html.csp
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