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Old 07-19-2012, 04:27 PM
 
28,107 posts, read 63,481,229 times
Reputation: 23225

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reap View Post
The monument is a religious symbol that supports thinking that is dangerous. Does anyone realize a record number of bills attempted to put creationism back into public schools in 2011? I guess no one has noticed the attempts to take away women's rights? It's simple- It's public land, a religious symbol is there and it doesn't belong. Joey has offered to move it to any church that wants it. It belongs in a church.Simple. I'm not saying you should care, if you don't then go on about your lives. I'm not comfortable with the way religion is forced on people continuously and the only way to make sure it is stopped is by small gestures over time. I realize many people have a live and let live attitude especially here where people are more tolerant. That's fine. But gays don't have equal rights here do they? You know why? Religion. Stem cell research has been slowed despite what it is going to do to better people's lives. You know why? Religion. I assume many of you just "yawn" at all of this but it makes some of us uncomfortable. We've spent 2000 years waiting for people to wake the hell up and live in the real world. Now it's time to make a statement and that is going to happen whether anyone likes it or not.
You have undertaken a monumental task as references to god and the bible permeate American Society... everything from money, to the justice system and even inscriptions on public buildings...

I guess if someone has the time they are more than welcome to express their opinions...

My thinking is Oakland has enough real issues not to be concerned about decades old tablet behind the building a few minutes from my home...

A common mistake is to categorize items of historical significance as solely religious...

Live and let live so we can all get along....
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Old 07-19-2012, 05:50 PM
 
Location: Boulder Creek, CA
9,197 posts, read 16,793,105 times
Reputation: 6373
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pureatheist View Post
In this day and age where men disrespect women and domestic violence is at an all time high, where homosexuals are allowed to walk around naked in the Castro district (so what if you have a bunch of 5 yr olds with you, their rights are higher than yours, stupid), where teens swear at their teachers and assault them, where underaged prostitution is all over the place in Oakland, especially on International Blvd, where teen pregnancy is at an all time high, I THINK WE NEED SOME WORDS TO COUNTERACT THE DOWNWARD SLIDE OF CIVILIZATION. Jeez, those words are so hard to read that nobody will read them anyway. What are we going to do, spend 100 Billion dollars to erase "In god we trust" from every penny in America just to prove a point?
You sure you're a "Pure Atheist?" Doesn't sound like it.
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Old 07-19-2012, 08:22 PM
 
Location: East Bay
179 posts, read 411,237 times
Reputation: 135
If the zoo is publicly owned and payed for? Then the sign needs to go! There is more than enough land owned by churches and religious organizations to display it. Religious artifacts just do not belong in a public owned zoo. Now a public museum maybe. If the museum displayed other historical artifacts. But what do the ten commandments have to do with a display of exotic animals/plants? Of course. If the stone said say.. Thalt shalt not Litter. Or thalt shalt not feed the animals? Sure. That would be in context with the purpose of the facility where the sign is located.
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Old 07-19-2012, 11:01 PM
 
28,107 posts, read 63,481,229 times
Reputation: 23225
Quote:
Originally Posted by dlyoung123 View Post
If the zoo is publicly owned and payed for? Then the sign needs to go! There is more than enough land owned by churches and religious organizations to display it. Religious artifacts just do not belong in a public owned zoo. Now a public museum maybe. If the museum displayed other historical artifacts. But what do the ten commandments have to do with a display of exotic animals/plants? Of course. If the stone said say.. Thalt shalt not Litter. Or thalt shalt not feed the animals? Sure. That would be in context with the purpose of the facility where the sign is located.
I take it you have never visited the site?

The ownership of the property changed hands... it would have seemed something as offensive as some make this out to be would have been addressed at the time of transfer???

No taxpayer money paid for the tablet 50 years ago... some, at least here, would seem to have no problem using tax payer money to remove it...

For the record... the person complaining is not even a citizen of Oakland or Alameda County...

My family and I sponsor Oakland Zoo exhibits going back to the 1960's... My Grandmother was very active and "Adopted" care and feeding for some of the animals.

My Grandfather's name is on a plaque of donors...

It would seem plenty of non-taxpayer money flows to the zoo and the zoo does good with it...
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Old 07-19-2012, 11:55 PM
 
Location: East Bay
179 posts, read 411,237 times
Reputation: 135
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultrarunner View Post
I take it you have never visited the site?

The ownership of the property changed hands... it would have seemed something as offensive as some make this out to be would have been addressed at the time of transfer???

No taxpayer money paid for the tablet 50 years ago... some, at least here, would seem to have no problem using tax payer money to remove it...

For the record... the person complaining is not even a citizen of Oakland or Alameda County...

My family and I sponsor Oakland Zoo exhibits going back to the 1960's... My Grandmother was very active and "Adopted" care and feeding for some of the animals.

My Grandfather's name is on a plaque of donors...

It would seem plenty of non-taxpayer money flows to the zoo and the zoo does good with it...
Oh it changed hands. And the original owner erected it. I did not know that. If its being payed for by the church. That I feel is ok. No I have not been to the zoo yet. I have only lived here in Oakland for just over a year. Having moved here to get away from all the religious craziness in the Midwest. I just do not believe it is right for the government to fund or other wise promote religion. Unless religion gives up tax exempt status. In which case it could be treated like any other business. Other wise we just become another Iran or Arabia.

Frankly this is really not a majure problem one way or the other. And I sure would not like to see tax money used to remove the sign. (Maybe just put a disclaimer next to it. Explaining the history of how it got there etc.)
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Old 07-20-2012, 12:34 AM
 
28,107 posts, read 63,481,229 times
Reputation: 23225
Quote:
Originally Posted by dlyoung123 View Post
Oh it changed hands. And the original owner erected it. I did not know that. If its being payed for by the church. That I feel is ok. No I have not been to the zoo yet. I have only lived here in Oakland for just over a year. Having moved here to get away from all the religious craziness in the Midwest. I just do not believe it is right for the government to fund or other wise promote religion. Unless religion gives up tax exempt status. In which case it could be treated like any other business. Other wise we just become another Iran or Arabia.

Frankly this is really not a majure problem one way or the other. And I sure would not like to see tax money used to remove the sign. (Maybe just put a disclaimer next to it. Explaining the history of how it got there etc.)
I think you will like a visit to the zoo... just avoid any holiday or nice weekends if you don't want to be part of the crowd...

During the week it can seem like you are the only ones there plus a few groups of school kids...

My nieces visit regularly and really enjoy it...

It's not a San Diego Zoo or similar... it is a nice destination in the East Bay... especially if you have little ones.

The Snow family is credited with founding the zoo and later the city budgeted an amount to purchase feed... gradually, over the years, public funding increased... although, there would be no zoo if it was not for the Snow family and many generous individuals and business donations over the decades....

I wish my Grandparents were to ask about the tablet... I'm sure they were there at the dedication so many years ago...

The Snow Building is used for weddings, bar mitzvahs, class reunions... etc.

Last edited by Ultrarunner; 07-20-2012 at 12:47 AM..
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Old 07-20-2012, 12:54 AM
 
Location: Boulder Creek, CA
9,197 posts, read 16,793,105 times
Reputation: 6373
Maybe we can get a new Chik-fil-A or In-n-Out to pick it up, and we'll call it a day on this debate.
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Old 07-20-2012, 11:10 AM
 
Location: SF Bay Area
13,520 posts, read 22,042,530 times
Reputation: 20234
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigdumbgod View Post
Maybe we can get a new Chik-fil-A or In-n-Out to pick it up, and we'll call it a day on this debate.

But In-n-Out burgers are really overrated.
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Old 07-20-2012, 12:44 PM
 
Location: Oakland, CA
28,226 posts, read 36,754,073 times
Reputation: 28561
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultrarunner View Post
You have undertaken a monumental task as references to god and the bible permeate American Society... everything from money, to the justice system and even inscriptions on public buildings...

I guess if someone has the time they are more than welcome to express their opinions...

My thinking is Oakland has enough real issues not to be concerned about decades old tablet behind the building a few minutes from my home...

A common mistake is to categorize items of historical significance as solely religious...

Live and let live so we can all get along....
Exactly. It is art in this case. There is no agreement that say when entering the zoo you need to follow the commandments. Look at it when you pass or ignore it. But it isn't a symbol of any religious beliefs of the government or implicit sanction of christianity by the city.
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Old 07-21-2012, 10:53 AM
 
Location: HWD, CA
1 posts, read 1,042 times
Reputation: 10
Default Tolerance (isn't always bad)

I think many people here fail to realize where this tablet is located. The snow building is on the opposite end of the parking lot than the zoo entrance is and it is off of the walkway in to the snow building. If memory serves, you MIGHT be able to see it if you look to the side when walking into the building. But, to read it you have to walk off of the pavement, duck under some trees, and go up to it. Yes there is a nice view over there but, it isn't really all that publicly displayed. When I saw it, a few months ago I was a little alarmed at it's presence there but, I had to actually go out of my way to read it.

Not a big deal. Really.
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