If a national atheist association has its way, memorial crosses that adorn Utah's highways in honor of fallen state troopers may be taken down. The cross displayed in the above photo memorializes the life and service of Utah State Trooper John Antoniewicz, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in 1974.American Atheists Inc. has filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that the 13 white crosses violate the First Amendment, which prohibits government establishment of religion. The key word here is "government." See, the thing is, these 13 memorial crosses were not erected by "the government." They were paid for entirely by private funds donated by co-workers and family members of fallen Utah State Troopers.
The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." So it would appear to me that American Atheists Inc. has a very weak case here when one considers that the mere presence of privately constructed crosses on a state highway has absolutely NOTHING to do with government establishing a religion. In fact, if government did NOT permit the presence of these memorials, it would seem to me that in fact it were acting to prohibit "the free exercise thereof."
American Atheists will likely lose this case, but what is most bothersome is that this small group of leftist heathens is abusing the Bill of Rights, particularly the First Amendment, to denigrate the memories of fallen law enforcement officers and their families and further their secularist agenda.
The First Amendment was written by our Founding Fathers to protect the people from tyranny in government, not to protect people from being offended!! All too often, liberals cite the First Amendment as some sort of "catch-all" in the Bill of Rights when they find something objectionable. If the incredibly small minority of atheists in this country find crosses, memorials or other religious symbols offensive, then perhaps they should just look the other damn way! I'm offended on a daily basis by things people do and say, but I don't run off to the courthouse to file a lawsuit. Why? Because I'm a damn adult and even if I don't agree with something I see or hear, I respect that person's right to be different than me. I am sick and tired of the cry-baby lawsuits taking place in this country because certain groups or individuals had their feelings hurt. Frankly, if you can't handle the simple task of learning to live with being offended every now and then, your life is going to be one long, sad, pathetic existence!
-- Skyboss
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