A Cross to Bear or Not

In 1934, war veterans put up a white pipe cross on a rock in a very remote area of the Mojave Desert. Nobody had a problem with it. Well, actually once there was a minority that cried about separation of church and state when the rock & cross became part of a national park but it was saved when the federal government declared it a War Memorial. You would think that would be that. The court had spoken.

For years, a humble couple came to the desert to keep the white cross clean and maintained, in memory of a fallen soldier friend. Out of love and loyalty, even when they moved far away, they continued to make the trip to care for it. Suddenly, they were forced to take boards and box the cross. That simple war memorial to honor their friends was offensive. Offensive???? How does a little white cross in the middle of nowhere suddenly become offensive? How does this situation perfectly symbolize the massive downfall in the moral and spiritual compass of a nation that was founded on religious freedom?

That simple little white cross over the past decade has become the subject of four acts of Congress, two district court rulings, three appellate court actions and last Wednesday, is now being argued before nine Supreme Court judges. This is also a perfect example of the fact that even if a court rules on something and you think that it is over, it ain't ever over! What is the point of having a judge rule on something, anything? If the opposition loses, then just move on to another court system until you find the one that will side with you. How's that for the great American justice system?

That's as helpful as adulterers who keep leaving their therapist to a new therapist, bouncing around until they find the one that will tell them that cheating on your marriage vows isn't wrong. In fact, the adulterer is vindicated in the fact that the cheating was actually good for his marriage. Suddenly, the adulterer has found the right therapist and will no longer have to deal with guilt or admit any wrong-doing. Now that's human nature, not truth. But I think I got off the trail. Back to the desert cross.

I read some interesting comments that I'd like to share. A Catholic judge asked, "The cross doesn't honor non-Christians who fought the war?" And Peter Eliasberg of the ACLU replied, " I believe that's actually correct."

"Where does it say that?" the judge demanded.

"It doesn't say that, but a cross is the predominate symbol of Christianity, and it signifies that Jesus is the son of God and died to redeem mankind for our sins."

The judge, Antonin Scalia became angry and declared, "What would you have them erect? Some conglomerate of a cross, a star of David, and you know, a Muslim half-moon and star?" Good response. Can you imagine that simple memorial becoming this huge gnarled piece of white pipe in the form of every religious symbol known to man? I'm sorry but that would just be a mess and frankly, a waste of pipe.

Well, the argument was made that the cross was also a universal symbol used to mark the death of a person. Peter Eliasberg, Jewish did state that you didn't find a cross on a tombstone of a Jew. Correct. So again, we are back to the conglomerate symbol. In order to really honor the war veterans and those who visit the memorial, it should not be a symbol of one religion, right?

Everyone did agree that this waste of the court's time could be solved easily. One judge suggested that the offended individual who started this case could simply not drive near the area in order to prevent his eyes from being offended. There's an idea! And another made a better suggestion. Simply take the cross down, transfer the land to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and then they can put it back up on the newly private land. But no, that is just way too simple and it doesn't satisfy all those groups who want a fight to the death. (but then we would have to argue what memorial would honor them!)

This is no longer a simple matter. Instead, it is a massive decision that could affect war memorials everywhere. This little 8 ft. cross standing 100 yards off a dusty road in the "middle of nowhere" is nothing compared to the 24-foot-tall Cross of Sacrifice in the Arlington National Memorial Cemetery. These groups want to fight and the truth of the matter is far-reaching. This little cross will be the gem for loathing groups like the ACLU, liberal groups like Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation to tear down every memorial everywhere that has a religious imagery.

What about the little crosses that are erected on the sides of highways all over the country to mark the spot of a loved ones death due to an accident? Everyone sees the little symbols and I for one, always seem to slow down alittle and pay attention more keenly when I see one. Though I never know who the little cross is a remembrance of, I tend to always take notice and may even say a quick prayer for the unknown's family and ask God for the protection of others on the road. If they have their way, these liberal do-gooders, then we will have liberal volunteers everywhere spending their weekends, riping out little memorials with victorious glee while simultaineously stabbing the hearts of thousands of grieving family and friends.

So watch out people with mangers and crosses in their own front lawns, you're next! Besides, those things that are lit up at night are just a drain of energy, right? I'm sure that will come up as well. Oh my goodness, don't get me started on this. This will not end until they, those spirit-sucking liberal idiots have their way. When they are done, any religious symbol will be outlawed and people will be criminals for wearing a gold cross around their necks. "This is absurd." and the judges even called it "a very technical, boring issue". With that kind of seriousness, I'm sure that we have nothing to worry about. Get out your nativity scenes, your angels and crosses, people. It's almost Christmas or should I say, Winter Solstice? or Yuletide? or Decembermas? or Holiday Celebration? I don't know anymore.I can't keep up. I better just shut up before the political correctness police some knocking on my door. Happy October Day.