Of note on Sunday, from the Salt Lake Tribune:
The Utah Highway Patrol Association has signed a settlement agreement that sets a time frame for removing 12-foot-high crosses intended to memorialize state troopers killed in the line of duty.
The association is still reeling from an October decision by U.S. Supreme Court justices, who declined to hear the contentious First Amendment case over the appropriateness of the memorials on public land. The decision means that 10 of the 14 white crosses that currently sit on public land, either outside UHP offices or alongside a highway, must come down or be moved to private property.
All 14 of the crosses, whether on public or private lands, must have the UHP insignia removed. The state also has agreed to pay $388,000 in attorney’s fees.
Yes, those contentious and highly-offensive memorial crosses honoring fallen Utah Highway Patrol troopers who died in service, thank God they’re being removed.
Reminds me of this e-mail I recently received:
After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said: “Let me see if I’ve got this right.
You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirts and instill in them a love for learning.
You want me to check their backpacks for weapons because they can no longer have lockers, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self-esteem and personal pride.
You want me to teach them how to register to vote, how to recognize inequality, be kind to the environment, love animals and hate capitalism.
You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of anti-social behavior and make sure they pass all their final exams.
You also want me to provide them with the highest education and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish, Vietnamese or Chinese, by letter, telephone, newsletter and report card.
You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.
You want me to do all this and then you tell me: I can’t pray.”
Correct.
BZ
I don’t think you can blame atheists. The ones to blame are anti-theists. It is these jerks that are trying to rid the world of all things religion. Atheists don’t really care that crosses are present and honoring others. Atheists don’t mind seeing nativity scenes. Atheists have no problem with god or religion at all. Atheists respect that others love religion and understand fully that it is an essential part of life. Atheists do not try to rid the world of religious symbols and want others to enjoy it. It is the anti-theists that are trying to screw it up for everyone.
Just my two cents.
There is a wound expressed by Simon and Garfunkel in “I Am A Rock” that these atheists carry. “If I’d never loved I never would have cried.”
This is their fuel: revenge.
“I have my books and by poetry to protect me.”
I, me, my, mine. Not much reaching out to others or allowing the charity or mercy of others to approach them.
And this, the behavior in your post, is the bitter fruit of isolation.
Thanks, Homes!
sdkar: you may have an excellent point. But if so, then the anti-theists are taking the name of Atheists — as Michael Newdow does in my area and nationally — and doing their anti-theist work under your aegis.
DM: I believe you’re absolutely correct. It’s not enough to just take a stand of indifference: we don’t believe and that’s the end of it.
It’s: we don’t believe and therefore we must do all we can to DEMOLISH any expression of religion extant. Yes. Revenge for any presence of religion.
Using the “law.”
We have, here, freedom OF religion. The state does not mandate an individual to belong to any church or religion. We do not, here, however, have freedom FROM religion. People may worship as they please.
Don’t bring up Islam. That’s a post for another lengthy series of days. In that case it would be, Islam: 2-billion; Atheists: 0. It’s difficult for an atheist to sue a Muslim if the atheist is dead.
BZ
This is just plain sad…
Such Bullshit!
We had them at our Henrerson County Seat in Athens, TX. complaining about the “nativity scene” on OUR Court House lawn.
I was raised with this nativity scene.
I like it.
Atheist or others of the same ilk take notice:
Stay The Fark Away From Me and Mine!
You hear me,,,,, STAY AWAY!!!
You have no business or rights doing what you do.
Go somewhere else where someone will like what you are and do.
MrC: I think sdkar had a pretty good point above — maybe we’re dealing not with atheists — as in one of the definitions of “asexual” being a “lack of interest in sex,” one can define atheism as a lack of interest in religion.
This is a FAR cry from sdkar’s ANTI-theist, who wants to rid the world of all things religious. A passive stance – atheist – as opposed to a virulent active stance: anti-theist.
BZ
Interesting.