Appeals Court rules against UT memorial crosses

[pam]

ksl.com - Appeals court rules against UT memorial crosses

Just seems like all rights concerning the way we honor someone are being taken away. All for the sake of being politically correct.

These men gave their lives in service to others.

[Wingnut]

The 14 crosses erected along Utah roads to commemorate fallen state Highway Patrol troopers convey a state preference for Christianity and are a violation of the U.S. Constitution, a federal appeals court said Wednesday.

First of all, they're complaining about 14? In the whole state?

Second of all, I'm pretty sure it's not the crosses that "convey a state preference for Christianity."

But American Atheists, Inc., the Texas-based group that sued to have the crosses removed from state property, argued that the crosses could imply that the trooper who died there was a Christian.

Why do Texans care?

Furthermore, why is the court system wasting its time with such frivolous suits?

[deseretgov]

We should have just let them stay the Republic of Texas.

[mightynancy]

Second of all, I'm pretty sure it's not the crosses that "convey a state preference for Christianity."

That's the truth!

Would y'all be okay with other symbols going up for troopers of other faiths? Crescents, Hindu gods/goddesses, etc?

[pam]

If they were another religion and the family requested some kind of a marker to represent their faith, I'd be just fine with it.

[Maureen]

When there is a fatality on our city street here in Edmonton, the city puts up a "coffin-shaped" fatality sign where the fatality occurred. I guess it serves two purposes; honoring the dead and as a awareness for drivers and pedestrians to be more careful.

M.

[Moksha]

The Utah court was up in the night, if they thought they could rule the Cross as a non-religious symbol.

This is not an issue of being politically correct, but rather one of separation of Church and State. It is this same important principle which will protect Churches from ever being forced to perform gay marriages. Best to keep this in mind.

[Wingnut]

When there is a fatality on our city street here in Edmonton, the city puts up a "coffin-shaped" fatality sign where the fatality occurred. I guess it serves two purposes; honoring the dead and as a awareness for drivers and pedestrians to be more careful.

M.

The cross is a peaceful and celebratory symbol, though, whereas the coffin is just plain morbid.

[HoosierGuy]

Most on public land and paid for with private money. So private citizens are behind this?

I don't see too much wrong with it.

[pam]

The thing is..it is on public land. I suppose if they were on private lands they couldn't do much about it.

[HoosierGuy]

The thing is..it is on public land. I suppose if they were on private lands they couldn't do much about it.

I read it wrong. My mind read "private" when it said "public." This changes things. Remove the crosses. Here in Indiana I see little crosses on the roads all the time, I guess people have been in accidents and died there. I don't really see a problem with that. It reminds me to watch my driving speed. Plus the families/friends want to honor the victims. People grieve in different ways.

Hmm, how would I feel if this happened in Indiana? If the crosses look "official" then remove them. You can't have the police force appearing to represent one religion over the other. They shouldn't be representing a religion at all.

[Maureen]

The cross is a peaceful and celebratory symbol, though, whereas the coffin is just plain morbid.

[Wingnut]

I read it wrong. My mind read "private" when it said "public." This changes things. Remove the crosses. Here in Indiana I see little crosses on the roads all the time, I guess people have been in accidents and died there. I don't really see a problem with that. It reminds me to watch my driving speed. Plus the families/friends want to honor the victims. People grieve in different ways.

Hmm, how would I feel if this happened in Indiana? If the crosses look "official" then remove them. You can't have the police force appearing to represent one religion over the other. They shouldn't be representing a religion at all.

Small roadside crosses with flower wreaths on them tend to be memorials placed by family or friends of victims. The ones in question in Utah are (according to the article in the OP) 12 feet high, with six-foot cross bars. They seem to be uniform enough that they aren't individual memorials erected by loved ones. They are state-sanctioned. That becomes a problem.

I don't agree with the ruling, but it does have a point.

See, and I don't even think that looks like a coffin. It's distorted enough to where you look at it, and you kind-of think "what's that?"

[bytor2112]

Maybe a replica of the fallen officers badge with his service years and name on it instead.

[Moksha]

Maybe a replica of the fallen officers badge with his service years and name on it instead.

How about a 200 foot tall cross on Ensign Peak, with all the officers emblems on it? That would truly be a memorial monument!

[mightynancy]

How about a 200 foot tall cross on Ensign Peak, with all the officers emblems on it? That would truly be a memorial monument!

*throws hands in the air* 1916 all over again!