what I saw tonight made me sick...

[lavenderdiva]

I live in Houston, Texas. Tonight on the way home, my husband was driving and I was looking out of the window as we were whizzing down I-10. There on the right was a little church with a very large cross -approx 20ft tall- in front of it. Low and behold, smack-dab in the middle of the cross, where the two beams meet, was a large 'Bush-Cheney' campaign sign! I almost lost it right then. What is the world coming to? I don't know if the church condoned this action, or if someone had some hijinks going on. When did Americans take a stupid pill and swallow the crap this administration doles out? Why would someone deface a cross with this smut? It makes me mad and sad and sick. I just don't know what to think anymore...

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. Church & State

Separation? No more. Get used to it and the so-called moral minority.

[Machiavelli05]

36. There is no way to legislate the church being separate from the state

Only the state from the church.

Also, separation of church and state was not explicitly dictated in the Constitution.

[marcologico]

2. At this point Bush and Baptists are like peanut butter and jelly. n/t

[havocmom]

3. Take a picture, talk to the pastor, find out who put the campaign poster

up on church property. If the church did it, look into whether that violates the provisions for their tax-exempt status. Churches can advocate for policy, and get out the vote, but they cannot advocate for particular candidates.

[jonnyblitz]

4. exactly!

they are getting pretty brazen. they don't even feel the need to conceal it anymore.

[aquart]

8. Take a picture and post it here.

We'll make sure the world sees it.

[lavenderdiva]

10. I'll drive by tomorrow and take a picture and post here,

if its still there... I hope so, because I just couldn't believe my eyes.

[aquart]

18. I'll be looking forward to it.

[No Exit]

30. Good idea to take a picture---

so that this bizarre picture can be circulated all over the web, put on buttons and T-shirts, etc.--all so that the ostriches in our society can SEE plainly that these people WORSHIP a false god: Bush.

It's funny, isn't it, people don't even need to expend energy on parodying the Bush cult, b/c said cult engages in self-parody.

[bush_is_wacko]

39. My thoughts exactly!

this is the kind of stuff that stirs apathetic Americans. I would also write a letter to the pastor of the church if you have the time. Be prepared for a worthless response, but that can also be publicized. Grassroots efforts must not stop. Exposure is the key!

[icehenge]

19. prank?

Although it would validate our fears...
I doubt this was put up by the church.
Just my opinion, will find out tomorrow.

[Machiavelli05]

37. In fact

Putting up a campaign poster or raising funds for the candidate is one of the few ways that they CAN lose their tax exempt status.

Bush can come speak and ask for support all he wants at the church, but using the the church to campaign or raise money is strictly forbidden.

However it has nothing to do legally with a separation of church and state.

[Stand and Fight]

5. Yet another sign of fascism...

Will the American people fail to recognize the monster in time and be consumed in entirety?

[Greybnk48]

6. Complain--LOUDLY

Call the church and remind them that Jesus was not an American.

Does this violate some law? If churches are tax exempt can they display political literature?

[jonnyblitz]

13. yes it does violate the law.

if they are exempt from paying taxes.

[Erika]

16. A sign of theocratic/Fascism

Not of Christianity. I suggest all email the creep.

[flyarm]

7. that church ought to...

lose its tax free status..i would bring this up with state legislature!!
fly

[havocmom]

11. Bring it up with the IRS if it is found the church put it up and not some

prankster. (I think the latter is highly unlikely.)

[Liberty Belle]

9. Take a picture and send it to the IRS.

Sounds like this church should lose its tax exempt status, especially if you take 2 photos a couple of weeks apart to prove that they're leaving it up intentionally.

[dave123williams]

12. If you're suggestable enough to buy in to the bible as the literal word of

God, then you're a hop-skip-and-a-jump from voting as blindly as you pray.

[corbett]

34. The King James Version Is!

Oops! Forgot my meds during breakfast!

[Wilms]

14. I wonder how many cult churches are polling places. n/t

[DrCorday]

15. IT really has to STOP.

Again, I also don't know if that was an official thing or some sort of prank. Honestly, neither would surprise me and that's the part that scares me.

We (democrats) really don't see our religion as a political issue. I personally will not vote for a candidate solely because of his religious beliefs, and doubt very much that I'd vote against one for the same reason.

Yet some idiots have managed to swallow the whole idea of Bush being "the Christian candidate." Sickening. Failing somehow to skip over the entire New Testament in this endorsement, it's become so appalling that people vote for Bush because he's willing to "kill our enemies in the name of the Lord." Jesus would have disagreed with this particular folk, but it just goes to show how little the endorsement has to do with any actual facts.

IT HAS TO STOP.

[davidwparker]

17. A modern day version of Antiocus Ephanes sacrificing

a swine on the alter in 2 B.C.. That defiled the temple.

[jsw_81]

20. You think that's bad?

Take a look at the new U.S. Department of Faith.

[Raksha]

21. Whew, you had me scared there for a minute!

I breathed a BIG sigh of relief when I realized it's a Landover Baptist Church page...I thought for a minute it was for real!!!

[Timebound]

22. LOL I did too for a sec

But it was so funny, LOL. :)

[jsw_81]

23. It is funny

But it's disturbing to watch how the real government is starting to look more and more like the parody with each passing day. And there doesn't seem to be anything we can do about it.

[icehenge]

24. Eck

That was scary, for a while i was thinking
its worse then I thought.

Then I saw the article headline
"Is Your Little Baby Going to Go Gay? – Handy Homo Prevention Tips for concerned parents with suspect toddlers"

And thought wait a minute...

[BikeWriter]

25. I'm forty miles south of you, and I'm sick of it, too.

That goes for Pat Robertson and Falwell, too.

[RadicalMom]

26. They can stick both Bush AND Cheney up on a big cross...

As long as it keeps them where they can do no more harm.

[Helga Scow Stern]

27. It's the new version of the flaming cross.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=55162

And, like it or not, the cross has been associated through the ages with some of the worst atrocities known to the human race.

[elehhhhna]

28. Try to envision it as a roadside-accident memorial...

because when B&C actually meet Jesus, they'll be in the doghouse, BIGTIME.

[lonestarnot]

29. Well you know what to do about it don't you?

One is stop wasting time complaining about it and take action!

[Nightjock]

31. I am frightened for my country

I hope bush is doing the Nixon impeachment wave goodbye before 4 years is up.

[GetTheRightVote]

32. Get that photo, and oh my, for a second I thought the site was real

and boy did I get scared, but it is probably pretty close to how * and his posse feel.

:mad:

[Straight Shooter]

33. I would interpret it as bush and cheney should be crucified

But truth be told, I tend to look at the more optimistic view, else I might go stark raving mad, eh?

Or one might interpret it as a sign that bush and cheney are crucifying us.

Worst case, though, it's heresy, an abomination in the sight of "God," for it implies idolatry.

[lavenderdiva]

35. Straight Shooter, you may be right...

Here are the pictures... I got up at the crack this morning to drive over there to take these pictures. When I got there, I left more confused than when I started out! (Please note, at this point, I have my fire-retardant gear on, for those DU'ers who might blast me) Anyway, it turns out this bizarre display is in the yard of a home that has a Kerry-Edwards sign out front! It gets weirder: The house just behind the cross looks like a church, but is a private dwelling. Also, right beside the cross, this home has a large yellow banana painted with stars and stripes. Whoa! Very strange, indeed. Personally, I still find the cross-thing offensive, whoever put it up. Here are the pics, and I apologize in advance for stirring any animosities needlessly.

http://tinypic.com/17qmw7

http://tinypic.com/17qmub

http://tinypic.com/17qmx2

Please keep in mind I live in Texas, and there are a bunch of nuts here, of all varieties...
ps. this is the first time I am trying to post pictures in a forum, and I'm not sure I did it right- any help would be appreciated, if these don't post correctly.

[Blue_In_AK]

40. There's something very disturbing about those photos

I used to live in Houston myself, so I know there are some weirdos down there, but these photos take the cake. What's with the banana??

[lavenderdiva]

41. Blue_In_AK, I too found the whole display very disturbing...

I'm not quite sure what the banana signifies, perhaps a 'Banana Republic'? I don't quite get it, but its darned weird. Its right on the side of I-10, so thousands of cars pass it everyday. I guess its a protest of some sort, but I just don't get it.

[MellowOne]

38. Didn't Pat Robertson endorse Bush?

Supposedly, Roberston said Bush was anointed of God or something of that nature. Can he legally do that on his "church show"?

[rumpel]

42. Can someone go and take a picture to post all over the net, I

really would like to hear what the churches say to this.