Public takes up cross battle

[CShine]

A large crowd is expected Tuesday to express its views as the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors considers new motions to reject a "back room" deal reached with the American Civil Liberties Union last week to replace a cross on the county seal.

Spokesmen for Republican Supervisors Michael D. Antonovich and Don Knabe said their offices have been bombarded with more than 5,000 phone calls, e-mails and letters from people who are passionately opposed to the removal of the cross. Veteran workers for various county supervisors say the public outcry is the largest ever seen regarding any county government issue.

"I understand we're going to have a full house Tuesday," said Antonovich spokesman Tony Bell. "The people are going to demand that this go to a vote of the people. A (television reporter) saw a pickup truck in Santa Clarita with a big sign in the back that read, 'Save our Seal.'

"I understand a group in the Antelope Valley has been formed called the Alliance to Save the Cross. We've had five different legal foundations volunteer their research, casework and their services to represent the county pro bono. They said we can be successful, and I think we should explore it."

http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2196864,00.html

[leftyandproud]

1. personally, I think the ACLU is going too far on this stuff

Isn't the symbol more than 50 years old? And it was designed by a black man I heard...it is part of their history. The tiny cross is not the focus of the sign anyway...it is less significant than the "in god we trust" on our currency. I'm sure there are REAL civil liberties violations going on under the shrub administration and the aclu should focus on those.

[jukes]

3. i have to disagree.

wrong is wrong. ANY intrusion of mythology in government is a violation of the constitution, & it's very clear that the fundies intend a theocracy, & will chip away @ our right to be free of religious domination.

also, the ACLU is fighting many battles to protect our rights; this may seem less important than other battles, but we're being forced into a religious war. every skirmish is important to preserving our country & constitution.

[gatlingforme]

4. I agree. The ACLU is very important in protecting people's

rights, "going too far" is not something the ACLU should be concerned about right now.

[Tellurian]

6. We should call it, what it is...Bush's Crusade..nt

[nuxvomica]

7. The Goddess Pomona is also on the seal

So much for mythology.



The cross is supposed to honor the significant contributions of the Spanish missions to LA county's history. I think the ACLU is wrong on this one but now that the fundies are fighting so hard to keep it, the historic symbolism has been buried by the politics.

[mulethree]

10. hmm aside from the ship, just about everything on there

the masons symbols at the top left, The greek godess at the center, obelisks at the top right, the cow at bottom right , the Fish at bottom left. So given the religious/mythical significance of everything else on there, I suspect the ship has some significance as well.

Not to mention the big bold LOS ANGELES (The Angels) up top.

[Justice]

5. I Agree, With All That is Going On

this does not seem to me to be a absolutely necessity of resources.

[thebigidea]

2. as if any of these people had ever even SEEN the damn seal before

or if they did, cared one bit about it.

[henslee]

8. Spanish Missions = Genocide. Let's axe that cross RIGHT NOW...

The Spainish came to CA and in the name of God, totally shafted the native Indians which at the time was a culturally evolved and loosely connected group of tribes that stretched across the state.

Indians were rounded up, forced to live in mission dormitories (men and women separated) and do forced labor for the church and for Mexican land grant-ranchers. 2/3 of all California Indians were killed off in less than 100 years of this, from European diseases and hard labor. Their culture was ripped from them. It was the beginning of the end of a noble, complex race.

[bemildred]

9. ACLU frequently picks stupid fights.

They have this "the rules are the rules" attitude.
They will haggle over silly shit like this when real
atrocities are being committed and ignored. Sometimes
I think they are a Government PsyOp intended to discredit
real Constitutional rights advocates.

It's one reason I refuse to give them money even though I
support the cause they claim to fight for.