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Memorial Day: "More Than a Three Day Weekend"
You may recall that the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of Frank Buono, a former National Park Service employee back in 2001, because he was offended by a cross that had been erected in the California desert to honor those who had given their lives in service to our country.
The suit has worked its way through the court system and will now be heard by the Supreme Court---probably this fall.
The cross remains standing, but is encased in a plywood box, hidden from view in the desert, awaiting a verdict.
Ironically, this may symbolize more than a single case before the high Court.
It may also reflect a nation who is forgetting the Judeo-Christian principles upon which we were founded and is conflicted as to who we are and what we believe.
Joe Davis, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), wondered how someone who is offended by a single cross in the desert can drive by Arlington Cemetery.
Or, I might add, wander around the Capitol campus reading the inscriptions.
Davis also said, "This Memorial Day is more than just a three-day weekend at the beach, this is a time about remembrance."
As we move on toward Independence Day, I sincerely hope we remember those who gave their lives for the principles upon which this great country was founded.
It would serve us well to also remember the principles and their origin.
_______________
The suit has worked its way through the court system and will now be heard by the Supreme Court---probably this fall.
The cross remains standing, but is encased in a plywood box, hidden from view in the desert, awaiting a verdict.
Ironically, this may symbolize more than a single case before the high Court.
It may also reflect a nation who is forgetting the Judeo-Christian principles upon which we were founded and is conflicted as to who we are and what we believe.
Joe Davis, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), wondered how someone who is offended by a single cross in the desert can drive by Arlington Cemetery.
Or, I might add, wander around the Capitol campus reading the inscriptions.
Davis also said, "This Memorial Day is more than just a three-day weekend at the beach, this is a time about remembrance."
As we move on toward Independence Day, I sincerely hope we remember those who gave their lives for the principles upon which this great country was founded.
It would serve us well to also remember the principles and their origin.
_______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
12 Comments:
Gary, I agree that it's no big deal if a cross is put up "in the California desert". However, this particular one is in a national park, which is federal land. Since the park denied a request to allow a Buddhist step to be built next to it, it sure sounds like an endorsement of Christianity over other religions.
How about we just move this cross out "in the California desert" and off public land. Since you failed to mention the national park aspect anywhere is your blog, it's not a big deal to you, so this solution should work fine.
Fantastic. Thank you.
Anon12:27. The cross was orginally built in 1934 on land that was not government land. It later became the federally protected Mojave Desert Preserve.
It is quite strange what has happened to the First Amendment understanding over the years .
In our school district for instance they have a written rule that will not tolerate the use of a scripture quoted from a religious text in a class for any kind of instructional purpose . So if your teaching on Civilization , the use of a scripture would be forbidden even to use in a context of teaching about Iraq , Israel or whatever in reference to their culture and why they support certain cultural norms.
But you can quote say George Washington or Thomas Jefferson that includes a scripture that he is stating, Since the quote is not from the religious text , but a political past figure trhat is including the scripture .
We went from using requirements to hold office requiring religious tenets in this nation and stopping that just as absurd at times . We have so much historical context and Historical indicators in this nation when the First Amendment was used differently as today , so if a religious symbol say is already on the Washington monument for instance that is OK , but if we were going to build another monument the reference to scripture could not be allowed . Its OK to put it on money , but not in a park .
Confusing . Martin Luther King would be exempt from speaking at Public High Schools today I bet, or told to keep his Social Justice to a minimum and watch what he said .
Yes, the offence of the cross.
That phrase appears in Galations.
Galatians 5:11
And I, brethren, if I yet preach
circumcision, why do I yet suffer
persecution? then is the offence
of the cross ceased.
Galatians 5:10
........but he that troubleth you
shall bear his judgment, whosoever
he be.
And why does the cross offend people so? It's message brings hope for us because of what it reminds us of, our sins, God justice, his mercy, his patience,
his provision for sins, etc.
In a different America, what might
a believeing judge say?
In Galatians 5 there is a list of things. I see one thing that I will pray for. Those who practice
those things that are of the flesh
will not inherit the kingdom. Though we don't know who they are
which shall inherit eternal life
let's pray for them anyway. The thing I see produces other things.
Intercessors, let's pray. Pray for
what you see and the souls such as
should be saved, in Jesus' name.
God will restore America.
Since the cross in question stands
as a memorial to honor those who
gave their lives to this nation, and since the trendy thing to do
these days about the things that are because of hatred, and as the present cross may be in need of some repair and may stand x (an unknown quantiy) in height, I wish
a judge would order that the cross
should stand unobstructed with a recommendation that it be restored
to a new conditon and that it's height be x times 2, and that such
recommendation be sent to the proper authority.
I like the 4:27 PM post. May I comment?
Yes I do see a double standard as you suggest by your mention of confussion.
Doesn't this come as a result of
hatred?
May we see the Lord reward double
for all their sins. God is able to
take the people by their own devices, isn't he?
God is able to give us twice for
our sins. He did it to Job. Anyone who repents will be used by
him. He will take anybody who comes to Jesus for refuge. All who come to God by him will find
safety, rest and quiet. May God give us repentance and whatever we
need to stand in this day. His grace is more than enough for our foolishness. All our wicked ways will perish. God gave his people
double in the past and delivered them from all their sins, whatever it was they repented of
was replaced by some gift of his grace. For every wrong we have done and turned away from, he has
given more than one blessing in return. Let the wicked forsake his ways for Jesus' sake.
Not all those that gave their lives for this country were Christians.
The cross is a christian symbol.
Maybe there should be a different symbol that covers all beliefs
to memorialize their sacrifice.
You don't have to be a Christian to be a first class patriotic American citizen.
Ralph, on memorial day tv specials, it showed among the crosses in the many cemetaries around the world, of jewish symbols, the star of David.
"We went from using requirements to hold office requiring religious tenets in this nation...."
You are woefully misinformed:
from the United States Consititution Article VI, section 3: "...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
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