In Coos Bay, Oregon, a veteran’s
memorial cross was bombed by an atheist group known as the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). The violent atheist organization had sent
letters demanding they take the cross down. The monument is small in comparison to many;
but big enough for this bunch of atheist bullies. The very sight of a cross is offensive to these
atheists … and for that matter to Muslims, homosexuals, and others for whom the
sight of a cross is an offense. The FFRF in their hate attempted to destroy
the cross in Oregon, but they didn’t completely destroy the memorial … they merely
damaged the cement structure.
Now some atheists are outraged over a
9/11 Memorial Cross in Princeton, New Jersey. Deputy Fire Chief Roy James wants to put up a
9/11 memorial using a Christian cross … which he says is a proper and loving
tribute to the people who lost their lives on 9/11 … Those who died so
senselessly at the hands of Muslim terrorists determined to destroy the
infrastructure of our country. “It is
the only fitting tribute for a memorial that happened on the soil of a
Christian nation. At least, we used to
be a Christian nation.” The cross-shaped
hole was cut by welders into a 10-foot length of twisted steel beam salvaged
from the ruins of the World Trade Center (WTC) during the recovery efforts
following the attack.
The American Atheists are up in arms about the 9/11 Memorial Cross calling
this religious image “grossly offensive.” Thought the cross seems an appropriate tribute
(a symbol of life in the face of death), the atheists see it as an affront. “This particular beam has a religious symbol
on it,” American Atheists president
David Silverman told Fox News. “They have a beam with a religious symbol and
that makes it a religious icon.” Silverman said placing the beam on public land would be a
“clear violation of the separation of church and state.” He also said the cross symbol would send a
terrible message to non-Christians. He
said the city would be giving the “appearance that all of the people who
suffered and died on 9/11 and their families are being memorialized by a
Christian symbol.” “That is wrong,”
Silverman told Fox News. “That is un-American.” American
Atheists attorney Bruce Afran sent a letter to the city leaders warning that
they may file a lawsuit to stop the memorial.
But Princeton Deputy Fire Chief Roy
James said the cross symbol has nothing to do with religion. “I’m a Jew,” he told Fox News. “Ironically, I’m
fighting to have this cross there because I believe that someone’s story is
behind that. That story needs to be
told. It has nothing to do with
religious faith. It has something to do
with telling history.” James came up
with the idea for a memorial several years ago. Last year, he got permission from the New York Port Authority to acquire a
beam from the WTC. “We had to sign a
paper saying we would take care of it and respect it,” he said. The cross had already been cut out of the beam
before it arrived in Princeton. James
explained that in the days after the terrorist attacks, symbols like the cross
and the Star of David were routinely cut out of the beams and given to family
members. “We got a historic piece,”
James said. “There’s so much behind
that. If we do not show the cross, we are leaving out someone’s story. We are basically saying someone’s emotions
that day didn’t matter.”
Silverman said a way for the city to
avoid a lawsuit is to create a free speech zone where plaques representing all
religions could be posted. “I think that
makes the monument better and it also makes the monument legal,” he said. One suggestion involved putting a plaque next
to the beam explaining the cross symbol in its context. However, the American Atheists objected to the compromise. “The problem is you can’t allow a city to
obviously endorse one religion and then put up a disclaimer saying they are not
doing it,” he said. “Anyone driving by
the memorial would not see the disclaimer.”
Last March, the American Atheists lost a battle to have a giant cross made from WTC
beams removed from a memorial museum in New York City. The atheists argued the cross was a
“government enshrinement of the cross.” A
Judge disagreed and threw out the case. And
in 2011, a group of New York City atheists objected to a street sign that
honored seven firefighters killed in the terrorist attacks. They alleged the street sign – “Seven in
Heaven Way” – was insulting to atheists. The city refused to change the name of the
street.
Princeton Deputy Fire Chief James
said he’s been frustrated by the threats from American Atheists and stressed that the Princeton memorial is about
“trying to remember those that died that day.” “I’m not forcing people to go and visit the
memorial,” he told Fox News. “If people get offended by it, they don’t have
to go.” The beam is being stored at a
Princeton fire station while city leaders determine their next step.
As Christians we should not be
surprised. The apostle Paul spoke of
“the offense of the cross” in Galatians 5:11.
He argues that criticism is to be expected. He preached that persons can only be saved
through the Cross of Christ … a message the world finds offensive. People may be able to deal with the fact of
Christ's suffering; they may be willing to concede their sinfulness; but they
recoil at the idea that there is nothing they can do to gain salvation. They hate the idea that we are at the mercy of
God. The cross reminds them that there
is only ONE way for us to be reconciled to God. God (Himself) had to take up human residence; live
a holy life despite constant temptation from Satan; and then give His life to
unimaginable suffering – all to pay for our sin. It is the only way. His glorious resurrection was the exclamation
point to His sacrifice. The world
considers this whole idea to be foolishness; the idea of God becoming man; the
notion that a perfect God would reach out in such a way to rebellious humanity.
The notion seems fanciful. The world laughs. And the world dies.
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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