Atheist Group Wants 911 Cross Removed

[Gallstones]

IMO, so fucking what. Let them put it in the museum, it is an artifact of the event. Calling for it's removal is petty, intolerant and selfish.

[devogue]

I agree. Twats.

[Animavore]

Why are American atheist groups so petty about things like this? If they're not whining over a nativity scene they're crying about Jesus licence plates.

[Atheist-Lite]

Why are American atheist groups so petty about things like this? If they're not whining over a nativity scene they're crying about Jesus licence plates.

I've heard they take religion seriously over that way. I guess atheism is a serious business too, over there? Unlike here where most people don't have any concrete ideas about religion either way, something might be out there but it might be the drink I had last night kind of thing.

[MiM]

Pretty childish stuff. On the other hand that news clip wasn't very specific. "A group of atheists" could be almost anything.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Why are American atheist groups so petty about things like this? If they're not whining over a nativity scene they're crying about Jesus licence plates.

You now have the option to have "In God We Trust" on Indiana license plates. Most people don't ask for it.

[charlou]

Why are American atheist groups so petty about things like this? If they're not whining over a nativity scene they're crying about Jesus licence plates.

I've heard they take religion seriously over that way. I guess atheism is a serious business too, over there? Unlike here where most people don't have any concrete ideas about religion either way, something might be out there but it might be the drink I had last night kind of thing.

I think American atheist organisations like the one in the article are keen to promote separation of church and state, and part of that includes raising awareness about it with campaigns like the one in the article. I agree that it seems petty in this instance, but I may feel differently about it if I were living in a culture that has religion encroaching on the state to the degree it does in America.

In a way, the relative apathy about religion in politics and education in some UK countries, is more of a concern. In Australia, it has led to the sneaking encroachment of religion into our state school system, with most objections arising after the fact.

As an aside, finding "symbolism" in that piece of junk is just as silly as finding the face of Jesus on a piece of toast, yet, even though I'm not a believer, I'm inclined to better empathise with the desire of some of those who were tragically touched by the events of 911 to have that "symbol" for whatever way it helps them to cope, however misguided that may be.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Pretty childish stuff. On the other hand that news clip wasn't very specific. "A group of atheists" could be almost anything.

A maternity ward, for instance...

[FBM]

It's clearly a religious symbol and I wouldn't want my gummit spending my tax dollars on it. Maybe I'm being insensitive to the survivors and families, but if you put up a huge religious symbol to commemorate an atrocity some extremists from a competing religion did, you're just waving a red flag in their faces. It'll become an icon of America that yells out to everyone, "America is a Christian nation!" It will most likely serve to spark more conflict and more deaths.

If the families and survivors want to have a religious commemoration, they should do it on private land on their own dime. Like, it's a guaranteed thing that all the survivors and families are xtian? I doubt it. I'm sure there are people from other religions among them, along with some irreligious people. They would be insulted by an xtian-themed memorial.

And I hate to use a slippery slope argument, but if the religious right wingnuts get their way this time, it will set a precedent they can use do do more of the same later. The memorial should focus on the first-responders and their sacrifices, instead, IMNSHO.

It's childish only if you live in a country where the religious right is not trying to take control of your gummit to force a theocracy on the citizens.

[Gallstones]

It is an object.
What one associates with it is one's privilege.

I, being a tax payer, am completely unconcerned with what symbolism others associate it with.

I don't think opposing this chunk of I-beam will do the cause of skepticism any good. It will just make atheists look like petty assholes and widen the divide.

Even in xtianity, crosses have different configurations. Also, the perpendicular arrangement of linear components is not trademarked by xtianity, even if they think so.

It is an object, a piece of a building. The building itself was secular in purpose and symbolism.

[Robert_S]

I think if this was publicized as much as possible internationally, especially in Islamic nations, it would be a good thing for the US image. Especially if it were juxtaposed with the Florida Koran burning and "Ground Zero Mosque" controversies.

[Gallstones]

Pretty childish stuff. On the other hand that news clip wasn't very specific. "A group of atheists" could be almost anything.

Blair Scott, American Atheists.

[Seabass]

Jumpin' Jehosaphat. Let them have their cross for crying out loud. Don't these people have bigger fish to fry?

[Robert_S]

Jumpin' Jehosaphat. Let them have their cross for crying out loud. Don't these people have bigger fish to fry?

Keeping the nation from reverting into fucking relic veneration?

[Gallstones]

It is a memorial as well as a museum
Donations are solicited so some portion of the money that keeps it up and running will be private funds.

There are many memorials and many of them have some religious symbolism somewhere. Are they all to be sanitized of religious reference and symbolism in this way? If so the American Atheists are going to be way too busy to fry the big fish.

Also, this object is totally appropriate to a museum.