Posted by Tina
I’m sure you will remember photos of the steel beam that formed a cross that was found in the rubble after 911. The cross became a hopeful symbol and provided comfort to firefighters, police officers, and clean-up crews as they performed the difficult work to find survivors, carefully recover human remains and finally clear the area. Many came to the cross in the days and weeks following 911 to pray and leave flowers. There is no question that the cross should be included in the memorial but that hasn’t stopped a group of atheist from bringing a petty and contentious lawsuit. A case has been filed to keep a cross from being displayed at the 911 Memorial Museum.
But, miracle of miracles, a NY federal judge has finally taken a strong stand and is demanding answers to a few questions before he will allow the case to proceed:
“Taking personal offense is not an injury that warrants invoking the power of the courts to shut down everything you disagree with,” Baxter also said. “The Constitution is not a personal tool for censoring everyone’s beliefs but your own.”
The key questions:
…how the offensiveness of the cross, which the plaintiffs view as a Christian symbol for all 9-11 victims, becomes a “constitutional injury” and “if the plaintiffs indeed feel displaying the cross “marginalizes them as American citizens” — then how is that a “particular and concrete injury” compared to just “the abstract stigmatization of atheists generally.”
This represents a monumental shift…and it’s about time!
I don’t even understand this atheist group’s objection. It’s a museum. How could displaying this particular cross, which has historical significance, possibly be perceived as a government endorsement of religion? It very clearly is not. This shouldn’t be an issue.
Let’s appreciate this rare moment of agreement; this particular atheist group is trying to shut out religious expression they disagree with, not standing up for the separation of church and state.
Glad to see Jon Stewart agrees as well:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2011/08/05/jon-stewart-defends-ground-zero-cross-asks-atheists-why-do-you-give-a-sht/
Interesting 20/20
Re: “Let’s appreciate this rare moment of agreement”
Chris, what makes you think anyone cares if you agree or not? What makes you think it is of any importance to anyone BUT YOU?
Sheesh. Talk about self absorption. This is friggin’ hilarious.
Off topic, sorry. And I know this is old news but was new news to me….
Anyway, an unbelievable and inspiring story about how a homeless guy became lead singer for a mega band.
And they are coming to the amphitheatre in Wheatland next month!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAtlWL2qFSo
Bob, that’s a great to hear. We are always heartened by such stories. I wish more homeless could find their way back to being productive people, but the odds don’t favor it. Once they are down there for an extended period there’s almost no coming back. Being a transient is dangerously debilitating in America and the road back is rough!
Don’t Stop Believing, the theme song for Jefferson? 🙂
Bob, I watched the video and it’s a great success story. However, there are many things that makes this homeless person very different from our typical American homeless. He wasn’t crazy or lazy, he wasn’t a drug addict or an alcoholic. He also had two good parents that instilled work ethics and morals in him until his Moms death when he was 13. And… he had a rare God given talent! By the time his Dad was broke his character had been launched, and yes, it was tested too, no doubt about it! And he became homeless when his dad couldn’t afford to keep him. Really bad, very tough for a kid, but at least he had a good start in life and he had values that served him well.
The fact he came from the Philippines might have something to do with his success too. Because culturally they have set a pretty high bar, even for the poor and homeless among them. There are many good people trapped there because gov. can’t keep them fed and sheltered and they are poor and desperate. It’s often a case of work, do something, be something, try hard or you will starve and die. That’s motivation that most of our homeless don’t have. But, if they did I betcha we wouldn’t have so many of them looking for free stuff here in Chico and elsewhere and/or expecting free stuff.
Yes, he is nothing like a typical American homeless…very sad.
And he collected scrap metal in the day and sang at night just to survive, with no home and sleeping on park benches.
Clearly, he never stopped believing.
Off subject again …
Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) answers the business elite and political proponents of amnesty for illegal aliens with the clarity of reason, truth, and common sense —
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/06/22/Exclusive-Sen-Jeff-Session-Pro-Amnesty-Elites-Treat-People-as-Commodities
Pie won’t be friends, even for a minute. That’s so sad.
But I’m with the judge too. How can you be “constitutionally injured” by an artifact in a museum?
The only case they might be able to make is if the museum “contrived” an artifact to “color” the way 9/11 is remembered, which plainly isn’t the case here.
“It’s often a case of work, do something, be something, try hard or you will starve and die. That’s motivation that most of our homeless don’t have.”
That’s right. And it’s going to stay that way. Geez.
As always, you guys cannot make a distinction between what I like to call “the poor in spirit” and people who are simply “without funds”.
Most of those without funds who fall into our social safety net (such as it is), climb out again in a year or to. Spiffy-doodle.
The poor in spirit never do, but we support them nonetheless, because we are not savages (well, most of us aren’t, anyway), and because maybe their children will climb out.
This is how it is. This is how it is going to stay. I don’t know why you persist in aggravating yourselves over it.
Re #11 Libby: “Pie won’t be friends, even for a minute. That’s so sad.”
Why would I ever befriend a couple of hate filled, toxic, extreme left wing lunatics like you and Chris? Get real or drop dead. Take your pick.
If Chris, who like you, spends 99.99% of his time launching specious attacks on Post Scripts wants Post Scripts and us other participants to bathe in the magnificent light of his approval, well, try this on for size — the only one, now two evidently, who care if he agrees or not is … the magnificent Chris and his hapless sidekick, lacky Libby.
These twin toxic twits now suddenly expect people they both treat like ***t to be “friendly.” Oh brother! What have you been smoking today, Libby? Have another toke on that pipe and chill.
Try this on for size: Why should anyone care if the toxic toad Chris agrees on anything? I suppose I could care less, if I worked at it, but it seems my lack of enthusiasm for the magnificence of his “agreement” can not be lowered.
Pie, I’m sorry that you mistake me correcting the blatant lies told by you and others here as “treating you like shit,” but that’s not going to stop me from correcting said lies.
The solution, as usual, is to stop telling lies.
Pie, you’re foaming at the mouth. Wipe yer chin.
Hey Bob great story about the lead singer for Journey…love that band!