World Trade Center Belongs to All Americans

Author: admin / admin's blog

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For the record, yes, we will oppose (as we always have) the inclusion of the WTC Cross in the WTC memorial in NYC. As you may remember, the buildings were made from girders crossing each other, and in the rubble some Christians found a pair of girders still welded that closely (not exactly, but closely enough) resemble a Christian Roman Cross.

The cross has become a Christian icon. It has been blessed by so-called holy men a few times, and presented as a reminder that God, in his infinite power of goodness, who couldn't be bothered to stop the Muslim terrorists, or stop the fire, or hold up the buildings to stop 3000 people from being crushed, cared enough to bestow upon us some rubble that resembles a cross. Ridiculous.

This cross is set to be included in the official WTC memorial. No other religions or philosophies will be honored. It will just be a Christian icon, in the middle of OUR museum. This will not happen without a fight.

We love this country, and our constitution. We honor the dead and respect the families, which is why we will not allow the many Christians who died to get preferential representation over the many non-Christians who suffered the same fate. This was an attack against America, not Christianity, and Christianity's does not deserve special placement just because THEY think the girders look like their religious symbol.

We will pay for our own memorial of equal size inside the museum, or the museum will not include the cross. Equality is an all-or-nothing deal.

Comments

Anonymous (not verified) / Sun, 11/27/2011 - 17:29

Alan, I respect your opinion and your effort to affect change from within, I just do not see the christian rights power ever diminishing to the point where those views which you disagee on will ever be considered. Rather we continue to see their power and influence grow to such an alarming level that some of us believe their hypocrisy and outright assault on freedom of religion must be shown for what it truly is at each and every instance.

I too share your fiscal conservatism and while I am an independent, I too often must choose between the lesser of two evils. While we may disagree on the approach, I believe we share a common ideal that the christian right must not be allowed to gain control and set policy and law. I do not know the political atmosphere where you are from, but here in Ohio; the christian right continues to push their agenda down the publics throat. They are dumping large sums of money into creation candidates for local school board members to advance their psuedoscience intelligent design, and they continue to push their ridiculous life begins at conception law which thankfully went down in defeat in Miss this month. There are stories circulating that it will be on the ballot in Ohio next year.

So my point is that I believe it is too late in the game to capitulate to their agenda. I believe it is time to take these issues to them in the open and stand and fight for 1st amendment rights. The chistian right grows bolder each day and left unchecked, I believe we are headed for christian theocracy. I do believe as you suggested that they are fearful of losing their grip on their congregations annd that fear makes them all the more dangerous while they have an attentive, god loving, god fearing GOP candidate pool to infect and control with their money and influence. That is my motivation. Thanks for your reply.

Anonymous (not verified) / Wed, 01/18/2012 - 22:54

Is eliminating all religious references or icons in the public space the preeminent objective of American athiests? Really? Really? What about the acceptance of athiests as American citizens worthy of respect and inclusion? Or the ability of American athiests to openly declare themselves and run for public office? Or the capacity to send children to public schools without exposure to religious indoctrination? Unfortunately, in prioritizing the first objective and filing a lawsuit against the Ground Zero cross, we set back the cause of these other, more worthwhile initiatives.

The lawsuit against the Ground Zero cross strengthened the hand of the religious right: it contributed to its sense of persecution, engorged its resources and resolve, and made athiests look ridiculous.

It's been said on this thread before, but needs to be said again: you have to pick your battles. Battles that ultimately only serve to make your opponent stronger are unwise.