The cross is a symbol of the Inquisition

By Keith R. Taylor

Here we go again. The Mount Soledad cross case is back in court. San Diego, already deep in debt, spent millions of dollars litigating and losing the original suit. Then the federal government, even further in debt, took possession of the mountaintop, the cross and its problems.

Now, a panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has heard new arguments. Whatever the decision, it looks as if it will be pursued up to the Supreme Court.

The reasons given for keeping the cross are endless: It’s an inspiration. It honors all our veterans. It is a cherished landmark.

Sometimes the reasons contradict one another. It either is a symbol of faith or it isn’t even a religious symbol.

I agree with those who insist it is not only unconstitutional but dangerous. Our Founding Founders adopted the First Amendment and its establishment clause. Many court decisions based on the that clause have followed. The writings of Thomas Jefferson gave us the notion of a wall of separation between church and state. We are better off for all of it.

But despite this wall, most Americans act as if ours is an officially religious nation. Those who insist we need to maintain yet another cross in a city with tens of thousands of them on display – most on private or church property – are ready with their favorite argument: This is a Christian (sometimes Judeo-Christian) nation. For proof they cite “In God we trust” on our money, “under God” in the pledge, God Bless America in the seventh inning and whatever our local radio talk show hosts dreams up.

And our representatives try to make it so. The constitutions of seven states require a belief in a supreme being as a requisite for holding office. Of course that is unconstitutional, but it reminds us of what folks in those mostly southern states think of us nonbelievers.

We elect believers, or those who claim to be, and they pass laws supported by a majority of those who also believe. Of all the rationales for laws, religious belief is the worst. Meanwhile, one person’s abhorrence of abortion is another person’s death warrant. One person’s abhorrence of embryonic stem cell research denies knowledge that can open doors undreamed of a few decades ago. Unfortunately, knowledge plays second fiddle to belief in today’s America.

The death penalty is often supported on religious grounds. So was slavery. And many religions still relegate women to second-class citizenship. But we must have that symbol on the mountain because a cross that was the justification for the Inquisition is believed to represent the good things about America.

This believing business gets to be silly sometimes. When it’s politically advantageous, supporters of the cross believe that it is not even a cross. It is simply a memorial to our veterans. This despite the fact that on Easter Sunday 1954 it was dedicated to “our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.” What utter nonsense. The first plaque was not placed there until Phil Paulson filed a lawsuit to have the cross removed.

The Jewish War Veterans of the United States have joined the suit to remove it. Surely they don’t get much inspiration from a symbol towering over a part of America where they couldn’t buy a home until the founding of UCSD forced the elimination of covenants keeping Jews out of La Jolla.

Let’s leave false claims aside and do what is right. Let’s move that symbol off public property.

Taylor, a Chula Vista resident, is a retired Navy officer and freelance writer.
http://www.signonsandiego.com