Campaign Begins to Protect Memorial Crosses

The Liberty Institute launched a campaign called “Don’t Tear Me Down” aimed at protecting military memorials.  (While the push is new, the effort has been ongoing for some time.) The effort is initially focused on the Mount Soledad cross, but they accurately note the attacks on memorials could have a far wider impact:

“The ACLU is so driven to purge religious displays from the public square that they are continuing their attack against the unlikeliest of victims – the veterans and the memorials they built to honor their own,” said Liberty Institute President and CEO Kelly Shackelford. “We believe, if the Supreme Court grants our appeal and agrees to hear the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross case, they will rule once and for all that these veterans memorials should be exempt from the ongoing culture war over religious imagery in public displays.”

They’ve launched a video of the song “Don’t Tear Me Down” by Jon Christopher Davis.  Filmed largely at Mount Soledad, it also includes references to the Canadian and Argonne crosses in Arlington National Cemetery, the Washington Monument (which has a Laus Deo inscription at its peak), and the “Known but to God” of the Tomb of the Unknown.

The Liberty Institute and the Obama administration have both appealed to the US Supreme Court to allow the Mount Soledad cross to stand.

While the Liberty Institute is focused on the ACLU, atheist Jason Torpy has been fairly focused on the public images of Christianity as well.  After “needling” about his inconsistent stand, Torpy finally admitted he’d like to see the Argonne cross torn down as well, something even the ACLU publicly claims it wouldn’t touch.

Torpy also celebrated his influence of the Air Force’s decision to remove the Latin word for “god” from a unit patch.

Think Jason Torpy objects to the “known but to God” of the Tomb of the Unknown?  He’d probably be first in line with a hammer and chisel if the Honor Guard would let him at it.

2 comments

  • Memorial crosses must stand for all,the fallen and the families that need to honor their fallen ones. It is time for the Christians to stand up for what is right and do not waiver. They took prayer out of schools,now kids bring guns to school. Honor your loved ones with a memorial cross on your property or in your yard. MyGardenCross.com has wood or vinyl memorial crosses that are simple and bold. Put one in your yard today. Supreme Court can not say anything about that. Let the ACLU defend themselves in battle.

  • @Phil Kuhn
    Spoken like a true Christian Supremacist Phil. True religious freedom provides protection from religious practitioners who would dominate the public square in addition to those sites which have been approved for religious display. Under Lemon Vs. Kurzman (1971) the US Supreme Court held that the government, including public education and the armed forces may not favor, promote or proselytize one religion over another or religion over non-religion.

    To feature a Christian symbol of major proportions to the exclusions of other religious symbols on government property is unconstitutional. Not all that perished in the service of their country were Christians. To use the Christian symbol to cover all military deaths is just conversion after death.

    For too long has the Christian majority taken it upon themselves to dominate other faiths both in civil and military contexts.

    Christianity, despite its majority, is only one of many religions practiced in America where all religions and non-beliefs may flourish but none dominate. There is no more power, influence or position in Christianity than any other faith practiced here.