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If it comforts victims, the cross doesn't bother me so much. But at the same time, if it's getting public money and doesn't represent the other muslims, jews, atheists, etc. who died on 9/11, then why give special treatment?
Also, does this action just make us Atheists come off as insensitive and ultimately destroy our public image? Does it matter if we maintain a public image? If so, maybe we should "pick our battles" a little better.
Well, I had mixed feeling, too. While the atheist in me grinds its teeth when the men waving crosses turn up at tragedies looking to bolster church - numbers (this is of course the sour irreligionist view) I can see that people do this knee-jerk religious stuff as an expression of their deep feelings about such things and it does strike me that lobbying to stop people putting up crosses at mining disasters and the like makes us look like a rather O hairy lot.
I feel our case will be made with reason not by bricking stained -glass windows.
“It is important that it not be displayed to the exclusion of everyone else,” said David Silverman, president of the American Atheists, which first filed suit in July 2011. “This case is about inclusion, it is not about the elimination of religion, it is about the inclusion of everyone.”
There were Jewish and Muslim workers who died in the twin towers, put up their religious emblems as well.
Maybe a space could be set up for religious expression (religious groups free to erect expresive monuments), and another space set up for non-religious expression.
Would this be splitting hairs? I'm an atheist and would be ok with this.
Maybe a space could be set up for religious expression (religious groups free to erect expresive monuments), and another space set up for non-religious expression.
Would this be splitting hairs? I'm an atheist and would be ok with this.
I like the idea of this. A space where anyone can express their feelings about what happened in terms of any religion or none - Not excluding a cross, but not excluding anything else. I imagine an 'A' a twisted 'w' and even, with a bit of welding, a star could be extracted from the wreckage. We can't have the RSJ's in the form of a cross indicating anything other than a random pattern in the wreckage.
Why not just a quiet, silent place/building or open space where people can personally reflect on their/our loss. Possibly a wall of names similar to the Viet Nam memorial. A small symbol of cross or other next to the name if the family desires it. Most believers don't need any huge, stand out, image to remind them of their faith and I doubt the Atheists need an image to remind them of their unbelief.
Personally I do not see any "sign" from God in a steel crossbar found amidst any wreckage. A flag at perpetual half mast would probably be a symbol everyone would respect.
As an Atheist, I don't really care if symbols that comfort others with different beliefs or desire something representing my lack of belief in religious things.
If symbols are put up, excluding some sects, there will be enough bickering to be entertaining by just watching the groups.
I wonder if any Christians would be offended if somebody tried to have a symbol of Islam within view of Ground Zero, to remember the Muslims who died in the WTC?
My point being if a group feels justified in denying any religion the right to place a symbol. They have to acknowledge the Atheist right to oppose a Christian symbol. I am speaking as a person who supports neither Atheism nor Christianity. But fair is fair. All people need to be treated fairly, none of us can put up a public symbol that recognizes just one select group.
If a public memorial is put up, it must represent all of us.
Last edited by Woodrow LI; 09-11-2012 at 12:00 PM..
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