The fate of the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross has been in contention, as the ACLU wants it to be dismantled. The ACLU lost a battle in squeezing out a San Diego based veterans organization as a party in the case, as ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Larry Burns.
Although common sense would dictate that the veterans should have a say in the fate of the Memorial, the ACLU disagrees. ABC News reports that "The American Civil Liberties Union said the veterans' organization does not own the property and should not be an intervening party in the case." The veteran's memorial cross was erected in 1954 to honor veterans from the Korean War and is somehow offensive to the Department of Justice and the ACLU, which does not seem to care much for historic symbols treasured by citizens, and particularly veterans.
It seems that the ACLU could do a lot of good in America by defending the rights of her citizens in ways other than bashing a veteran's monument. This year, the ACLU cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars for legal fees in various cases, such as in the case of a banner that was hung at a public high school in Rhode Island (and had been since the 1960s), or the case of dismantling the long held tradition of father/daughter dances due to "gender stereotyping," which, according to the ACLU, "only perpetuates outdated notions of 'girl' and 'boy' activities and is contrary to federal law." Puhleez. Citizens need to start standing up to these bullies, who could do a ton of good in the area of privacy concerns for United States citizens, for example. This author finds it difficult to believe that a father/daughter dance is anything other than an opportunity for fathers and daughters to bond.
The SacBee reports that Jeff Mateer, General Counsel for Liberty Institute, was happy with the court's decision. He stated:
"We are pleased with the Court's decision today allowing the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association to continue as a party in this case, regardless of the ACLU's tactics to silence the MSMA and exclude the veterans from discussions that will determine the fate of this historic Veterans Memorial. Through the years, the Association has tirelessly fought to preserve this longstanding memorial. We look forward to continuing to defend and work alongside the other parties to achieve a resolution that will preserve this memorial cross and continue to honor the selfless sacrifice and service of our nation's veterans."
The fate of the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross is still in question, but at least for now, veterans will still be able to have a stake in defending it.
Image Source: SoledadMemorial.com
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Comments: 20
I respect people of all faiths, including those without faith. To me, it is the individual that matters.
And I disagree with your premise. I believe that the founders believed in God. If Jefferson meant that literally there should be no semblance of religion on government property, why did he attend services in the executive branch buildings from 1801 to 1809? Literally two days after the letter to the Baptists was written, Jefferson began attending church services in the House of Representatives.
The founders were also against slavery, by the way - including Jefferson. The founding documents were used to discredit slavery.
Thomas Jefferson incorporated this line in the Declaration of Independence: "He (meaning King George) has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. . ." sadly, it was removed from the draft of the declaration. He also stated, "The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other."
Intent.
Read "your" Constitution. Then, have a go at the State Constitutions of:
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin
Michigan
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
California
Connecticut
Vermont
New York
Florida
New Jersey
Washington
Wisconsin
Colorado
Maryland
New Mexico
....and every last other.
Then, come. And Tell what YOU know of the intent of the Founders of this Great Nation.
I believe that within each person there is a common decency, and it is there without any help from religion. And common decency would dictate to oneself that holding another human being for ones own satisfaction or profit would inevitably be deemed harmful to humanity. It was only a matter of time that slavery would be abolished.
It was only a matter of time that persons using religion for purposes of gaining power over others, Catholic against Protestant, Jew over both, Hindu against Muslim and on and on, would be restricted and that the separation of religion from government would occur and has occurred in our society already and I'm glad I live in a country where it has. I'd like to keep it that way.
I can tell you this much that I know"about the Christ", as you put it: I can tell you that the Ten Commandments monuments on public property people are defending all across the country don't even have the second most important commandment according to Jesus. He mentioned it in Leviticus 19:18, Mathews 19:19 and 22:39. In Mark 12:33 and Luke 10:27. In Galations 5:14 and James 2:8. Read what it is and then see if you can find the second most important Commandment according to Jesus on any of the monuments around the country. If you've misplaced your Bible or don't want to spend the time looking it up I will tell you what it is: "Love thy neighbor as thyself". Could it be that the monument designers had no intention of obeying this Commandment and their intention was to keep insiders in and the outsiders out? Or is the message: "This is they way we live and we expect you to live the same way"?
Of course you do. In Blindness, you could believe nothing else.
...I've said nothing about "religion."