American Atheists File a Lawsuit Over Including a Cross in 9/11 Memorial. Idiots.

[undertakerlives]

Run time: 08:56 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp42WjXijFo   Posted on YouTube: July 29, 2011 By YouTube Member: undertakerfreak1127 Views on YouTube: 304   Posted on DU: July 30, 2011 By DU Member: undertakerlives Views on DU: 2899

 
A group of atheists known as American Atheists are suing to block the display of an iconic cross pulled from the wreckage of the World Trade Center in the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. As an atheist, I see this as a load of crap.

[Archae]

1. I agree.

I'm an atheist, and see this as much ado about nothing.

[valerief]

2. Good for them. Every chance to fight the cross should be taken. nt

[undertakerlives]

4. I used to agree, then I realized that it's a losing battle.

[valerief]

5. Ultimately, yes, except for the exposure. You know, setting an example.

Who does that help? Well, fewer magic thinkers helps a little.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. Right wingers taught me to HATE Christian churches. I would banish all the churches, I swear it

In fact, I would do away with all religions. If someone wants to pray, GO PRAY AT HOME. Generally, nothing but evil comes from religions and churches.

[Union Thug]

14. You and me both...

I have neither respect nor tolerance for xtianity, judaism, Islam or any of the other popular delusions and fantasies.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

19. They're social clubs that have done and are capable of doing tremendous harm. nt

[Kurmudgeon]

21. Would you banish left wingers along with their churches?

[WillParkinson]

6. Yes...of course...

Let them do what they want while people stay cowed in the background and let them ride roughshod over Atheists, Muslims, Buddhists and anyone else who may have died during the attacks. I'm not sure why you call them idiots and say it's a losing battle. Does this mean that the battle should never be fought? Would you prefer atheists stay hidden away?

Sorry, just confused.

[seeker4ever]

9. +Infinity

[undertakerlives]

11. They don't ride roughshod over us.

The sad fact is that Christianity has been perversely smeared all over public policy, politicians, lawmakers, judges, and anyone who matters regarding authority.

In terms of 9/11, no one's really going to care what's displayed. The memorial is there to remember those who died, and any other issue put head to head with that will be pissed all over.

I also said in the video that the Memorial officials said that other faiths will be represented in the museum.

Even still, I sincerely doubt an enormous amount of people will be walking through this museum and derogating it at the very sight of the cross. It's been displayed in so many places in this nation that it's second nature to see it sitting there, anyway.

[TwentyFive]

7. It's an insult to anybody persecuted in the name of that cross. Even Jesus was against symbols..

Just leave religion out of it.

It's always the religion pushers trying to get these things slapped onto any public place. The Jews, Gays, Atheists, Pagans, Wiccans, Buddhists and others who consider the cross to be a symbol of oppression should be respected.

After all, America is supposed to be a secular nation. But that's just the silly old Constitution....nothing compared with the wishes of Pat Robertson.

[drgonzosghost]

8. Oh for the love of Odin....

Let them put a cross up there, this isn't the state establishing religion, this the free expression thereof. Militant Atheists are just as moronic as religious fundies sometimes. What rights are being trampled on here? Is there a rule prohibiting other religions symbols? If so, I agree with the Atheists, if not, they need to pick another battle.

[COLGATE4]

20. The museum is being funded with State money. That makes it

a separation of church and state, rather than a free exercise issue.

[enki23]

10. Why would they want to advertise their god's approval of the terrorist attacks?

Maybe we should let them, in the interest of choosing our battles and all, but it really does seem to be in poor taste. "I'm God, and I approve this terrorist message." Well, at least we know whose side he's on.

Or maybe he meant it as a sort of apology? "Sorry guys, I missed that one. Here's an ambiguous sign composed from a couple metal bits at right angles to express my eternal regret. I won't let it happen again. I swear. I mean it this time. I'm totally going to install those faith recognition scanners as soon as possible. Feasible. Whatever. Anyway, you know, my bad."

[vrp]

12. The Undertaker

is a bit naive, I'm afraid. I love his passion however. Let's get to the central point. Who's building the museum? If it's the government, then they need to consider the first amendment that the government shall "establish no religion." If the museum is private they can put whatever they want in the exhibits. Should public money be used for religious exhibits? It's clear that the Undertaker needs a course in constitutional law. The museum needs to find a different, non religious way to honor those who died. I'm certain that Muslims also died in the attack. What about them? Can you imagine the controversy should the planners also want to include symbols from Islam?

[undertakerlives]

13. I'm fully aware of the constitutionality issues.

However, the main point I'm trying to make here is that it's a waste of time considering no judge within sniffing distance of that memorial is going to see an issue with a simple cross that was declared historically and culturally significant being put up as a DISPLAY. Plus, did everyone ignore where I said that other religions will be represented? For now only Jewish artifacts have been announced, but others are sure to be included.

[vrp]

18. No judge within sniffing distance?

Then the issue is with the judge, not the constitution. Those guys who added the original 10 amendments to the constitution understood what they were doing. Our government is secular, not religious, and putting a cross in a publicly funded museum is clearly unconstitutional. That being said, comparative religion classes in public schools have been declared constitutional as long as all religions are given equal weight. Great religions of the world classes, for example. I didn't know anything about this issue until you brought it up, but I smell a rat with those who insist on a cross in a public space. As a secular humanist I fight this issue whenever I have a chance. It's not necessary to honor those who died.

[Union Thug]

15. Ironic that a religious symbol would be used...

to memorialize what is largely a crime inspired by religion.

Given my druthers, there would be no separation of church and state; there would simply be a separation of religion and earth.

[AlbertCat]

16. Personally, I'm sick of crosses and Jesus billboards all over the place.

I'm tired of religion being shoved down my throat all the time.

But let them put their cross up... with a plaque underneath reading:

WHY WOULD AN ALL POWERFUL LOVING GOD ALLOW SUCH A THING TO HAPPEN? IS HE EVEN THERE???

[Kurmudgeon]

22. I expect some are sick of different skin colors too, but like them, you have to tolerate.

[D23MIURG23]

26. Ideas aren't people.

I tolerate you, but I don't have to respect your religion. You can tolerate me but disagree with my DU comment. See how that works?

[suzanner]

17. I agree with the athiests. Is a cross the best we can do??? Pathetic.

How about an infinity sign or multi-national meme like the people in the WTC? It just underscores Bush's "evil doers" crap... or the "official story" no body believes.

[defendandprotect]

23. Cross has been used for millennia to create FEAR .... as in "introducing the cross with the sword" -

Not everyone's cup of tea though I know Christians are rather fond of parading

around with it --

It's a memorial for all who died on 9/11 -- not all were Christians --

[SoDesuKa]

24. "It's Just a Symbol"

A lot of things are just symbolic, including the American flag. The National Anthem sees great significance in the fact that despite the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, the morning's light showed that the flag was still there. The same thinking has been ported over to the fact that despite the September 11th attack the cross was still there.

Such reasoning elevates the cross to the status of national symbol, especially since so many believers are seeing the survival of the 9/11 cross as evidence of God's blessing on America. I support a full-court press against that reasoning, which we see elsewhere. I oppose Rick Perry's Day of Prayer in Texas, which a judge allowed to proceed despite an atheist group's lawsuit against it. I also oppose a display of the Ten Commandments inside a courthouse, a controversy that was decided in favor of the First Amendment, i.e., Congress shall make no law establishing a religion.



By the Dawn's Early Light

[D23MIURG23]

25. Lawsuit over "a meaningless hunk of junk" and he's outraged?

Relax dude. I'm sure the American Atheists will pay for that court's time that you think they are wasting. Score one for the pot smoker who gets five extra minutes of freedom before being sentenced to 50 years of hard labor for getting high. Oh, I'm sorry: was I supposed to assume that courtroom had something useful to do?

As for the symbol business, it isn't an emotional issue for me. I will say that it isn't hard for me to understand that some people might not appreciate the idea of promoting the same god who inspired the attack in the museum commemorating its horror, and presumably using taxpayer money to do so. Just a thought.