Do the non-religious people support this?

Question

http://www.newsweek.com/id/71092

Answer 1

I could not have said it better than Belzebot.

Answer 2

While all for remembering these fallen men and women, the AAI's position is the placement of religious memorabilia on
public land. It isn't about which religion, it is about religion in general.

This land is supported, likely, by taxes which are collected
and paid by all walks of life. Many, instead of seeing the
statement for what it is, take the offensive approach of "If you don't like it, don't look. What is it hurting? You're picking
on the christians."

Ask yourself this. Would you appreciate a shrine featuring
Allah for all the people who lost their lives? Would you
object to paying taxes to support the land on which the shrines were placed?

Could you just 'look the other way' or smile when you saw
Buddahs popping up all over the highway?

Would you mind if a voodoo head was hung on a stick
at the site of every accident victim's last place of standing?
By the way, you're paying taxes to support these things.

Contrary to popular belief, atheists are not against memory or recognition. Why not build a memorial free of controversy? Why not build a nice respectable wall of names without reference to one particular cult, religion, sect or otherwise?

Answer 3

By "support" do you mean the crosses or the lawsuit?

I don't support the lawsuit, although I can understand the principle that led to it. It would be nice if they could come up with a non-religious memorial, but I don't think the existing ones should be a problem either.

Answer 4

As an atheist it does not bother me. I think sometimes people nit pick to nit pick. I mean, somebody died and I think it's in poor taste to point out nit picky stuff. If I were killed by the side of the road I would personally not want a cross but a more appropriate marker like a big Atom symbol or something. Even though, if the people put something else up for me I would not care considering I'm dead and it was done out of concern and respect anyways. I think the symbol of whoever died should be put up. I am not going to get nit picky over something that's going to cause others grief over their loved one dying.

Answer 5

No.

If people want giant crosses they can put them on their own land.
I am OK with the idea of a small memorial at the site of a slain officer, but not a religious one. In California we have them but it is like an officers shield (badge) and their name and a date.

Answer 6

i think troopers can have a memorial that does not take up roadside or the view, which is my opinion about anything that goes up along a highway. i'm there for the trip and the scenery, not counting memorials per square mile. second, the crosses are a religious expression more suited for the cemetary. our nation does not have to have a memorial for every person killed on the highway. people are killed, people are murdered, sorry but save for the cemetary.

Answer 7

Technically they are correct. It is public land and should not be displayed. Do I support this, not really. If those troopers were that religion I personally don't see why it is wrong displaying their monuments how they would want them. BUT! would that city be ok with displaying a huge Star of David or giant Flying Spaghetti Monster? If they have an issue with that then they are DEFINITELY in the wrong.

But legally they are not supposed to be displayed.

Answer 8

It seems an overy large memorial and sided to a single religion. But we don't know what the officer's religions were so that is tough to judge.

I would have preferred to see a memorial for law officials to use their insignia or state symbol.

Answer 9

I am an atheist, and I do not support what American Atheists are doing in this particular case. I would prefer it though, if this non-profit organization honoring fallen state troopers allow the families to choose which type of memorial to be erected. Not all of them are christian.

Answer 10

Yes, I support it. Most Atheists do not, but I do.

Why? Because it's a public memorial to fallen police officers, who we can assume were of the Christian faith. If the cross is the symbol of the faith of the departed, then they have the right, in death, to be memorialized by a symbol representing who they were.

It doesn't offend me. It doesn't hurt me or my children in any way. As long as it doesn't hurt anyone, then what's the harm?

Answer 11

I have said this 9000 times here, it is the fact that they are TWELVE FEET HIGH that is pissing some people off. If they were the same size as the usual roadside memorials I am sure no one would have said a thing.