Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jewel · 04-16-2003, 01:11 PM

(I posted about this in crasyfingers' Pentagon thread but I thought I would start a thread of my own).

When I was on my way to work yesterday I saw a crucifix on the lawn at City Hall near where I work. I took a picture of it this morning. The image can be found in my first post in crazyfingers' thread linked above.

Phone calls are completely not my thing, but I am writing a letter to the mayor which I will fax tomorrow.

Here's what I have so far:

Quote:

Dear Mayor,

I am writing to express my profound disappointment in the City of Fairfax for the crucifix display on the lawn at City Hall. The display is surely in direct violation of the First Amendment and should never have been put there. Fairfax is a wonderfully diverse city and it should be celebrated as such. Putting up such an overtly Christian display serves only to alienate people of non Christian faiths and those with no faith at all.

I urge you to have the crucifix removed immediately and to please consider the inappropriateness of such displays in the future.

Thank you,

Jewel Cardwell

Since I don't actually write letters like this very often I would like some input. I'd like the letter to be effective.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks,
Jewel

Feather · 04-16-2003, 01:14 PM

It's a good letter, in my opinion. It's to the point. It identifies a problem and requests a remedy to said problem. It isn't hostile or demanding or pedantic.

I say send it off. And maybe write an accompanying letter for the biggest local paper and have it ready just in case the Mayor ignores your suggestion.

Vashtarah · 04-16-2003, 01:45 PM

I definitely agree with your wanting to send a letter. What you have written looks very good...except for one nit-picky point. A crucifix is, specifically, a cross with christ crucified on it. The cross in the picture in the other thread doesn't appear to have christ on it, but I might not be seeing it correctly. If it doesn't have christ, I would change the word "crucifix" in your letter to the word "cross."

This distinction is important to many protestants who like to think of christ being risen as opposed to him being in the throes of an agonizing death.

Just a thought.

beejay · 04-16-2003, 01:55 PM

Jewel-

Good letter. I agree with Vashtarah's distinction between crucifix and cross.

Do you know any history of this display? Done every year? Who puts it up? Surely if it were new this year there would have been some discussion?

Jewel · 04-16-2003, 02:04 PM

Thanks for the input! I will change 'crucifix' to 'cross' as suggested.

I'm not sure if this has been put up anually or not. We moved a couple months ago and started taking a different route to work - otherwise I may not have noticed it at all.

I'll definately be keeping an eye on that section of lawn around other holiday's to see if anything else goes up.

Thanks!

-Jewel

BioBeing · 04-16-2003, 02:14 PM

I'd say not only is it inappropriate, its pretty damn tacky too! If they don't take it down, dowse it with gasoline and .... ok, maybe not

Your letter looks fine.

GaryP · 04-16-2003, 02:30 PM

Jewel--

I think it's a great letter and I'm glad you are speaking up.

If the city of Fairfax researches court decisions regarding Nativity scenes and applies those rulings to your situation, they may try to put up some Easter baskets and bunnies and claim that the cross has been "secularized"! :banghead:

Good luck!

SLD · 04-16-2003, 02:41 PM

I think the letter is quite good. You shouldn't threaten legal action unless the polite way does not work. I would point out though that this is more than just a cross. The religious message on this cross clearly crosses the line (pardon the pun) of church state separation. If they fail to remove the cross, I would threaten legal action and contact the ACLU who would be delighted to have the city fund their legal salaries.

SLD

(sure wish something like this would happen in our county so I could get such a suit

)

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04-16-2003, 01:14 PM	#2
Feather Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,827	It's a good letter, in my opinion. It's to the point. It identifies a problem and requests a remedy to said problem. It isn't hostile or demanding or pedantic. I say send it off. And maybe write an accompanying letter for the biggest local paper and have it ready just in case the Mayor ignores your suggestion.

04-16-2003, 01:45 PM	#3
Vashtarah Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: KW, ON, Canada Posts: 307	I definitely agree with your wanting to send a letter. What you have written looks very good...except for one nit-picky point. A crucifix is, specifically, a cross with christ crucified on it. The cross in the picture in the other thread doesn't appear to have christ on it, but I might not be seeing it correctly. If it doesn't have christ, I would change the word "crucifix" in your letter to the word "cross." This distinction is important to many protestants who like to think of christ being risen as opposed to him being in the throes of an agonizing death. Just a thought.

04-16-2003, 01:55 PM	#4
beejay Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Richmond IN Posts: 375	Jewel- Good letter. I agree with Vashtarah's distinction between crucifix and cross. Do you know any history of this display? Done every year? Who puts it up? Surely if it were new this year there would have been some discussion?

04-16-2003, 02:04 PM	#5
Jewel Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 1,112	Thanks for the input! I will change 'crucifix' to 'cross' as suggested. I'm not sure if this has been put up anually or not. We moved a couple months ago and started taking a different route to work - otherwise I may not have noticed it at all. I'll definately be keeping an eye on that section of lawn around other holiday's to see if anything else goes up. Thanks! -Jewel

04-16-2003, 02:14 PM	#6
BioBeing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 6,004	I'd say not only is it inappropriate, its pretty damn tacky too! If they don't take it down, dowse it with gasoline and .... ok, maybe not Your letter looks fine.

04-16-2003, 02:30 PM	#7
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	Jewel-- I think it's a great letter and I'm glad you are speaking up. If the city of Fairfax researches court decisions regarding Nativity scenes and applies those rulings to your situation, they may try to put up some Easter baskets and bunnies and claim that the cross has been "secularized"! :banghead: Good luck!

04-16-2003, 02:41 PM	#8
SLD Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 4,109	I think the letter is quite good. You shouldn't threaten legal action unless the polite way does not work. I would point out though that this is more than just a cross. The religious message on this cross clearly crosses the line (pardon the pun) of church state separation. If they fail to remove the cross, I would threaten legal action and contact the ACLU who would be delighted to have the city fund their legal salaries. SLD (sure wish something like this would happen in our county so I could get such a suit )

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