It is officially known as “The Cross at Ground Zero.” The 17-foot high column and cross-beam retrieved from the World Trade Center is included in the September 11 Memorial and Museum. Most Americans, regardless of what religion they belong to, or don’t belong to, are happy with this decision. The Christian cross symbolizes hope, and this particular one is a poignant reminder of 9/11.
“Most” means not all. Among the few who disapprove, none has been more vocal—and vicious—than American Atheists.
In 2002, it publicly declared its opposition to this religious memorial. It cited the usual “church and state” argument, saying it constituted government endorsement of religion. But its opposition was not motivated by First Amendment concerns. Its opposition was based on hatred of Christianity.
American Atheists filed a lawsuit on July 27, 2011, seeking to prevent the cross from being displayed. In 2013, U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts ruled against them, concluding that the cross “did not amount to an endorsement of Christianity.”
The atheists appealed, and its president, David Silverman, blamed God for the Islamist attack on America. “The WTC [World Trade Center] cross has become a Christian icon. It has been blessed by so-called holy men and presented as a reminder that their god, who couldn’t be bothered to stop the Muslim terrorists or prevent 3,000 people from being killed in his name, cared only enough to bestow upon us some rubble that resembles a cross.” (My emphasis.)
In July 2014, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals denied the American Atheists their wish, ruling that “there is no evidence that the static display of this genuine historical artifact excessively entangles the government with religion.”
As indicated, American Atheists was never motivated by fidelity to the Constitution. Here’s the proof: It argued before the courts that The Cross at Ground Zero was “offensive” and “repugnant.” That is the voice of anti-Christian hate speech—it is not the voice of reason.
The appeals court noted as such. It said “the stated purpose of displaying The Cross at Ground Zero [was done] to tell the story of how some people used faith to cope with the tragedy” and that it was “genuine.”
It then demolished the American Atheists argument that it was “offensive” and “repugnant.”
It concluded that “an objective observer would understand the purpose of the display to be secular.” It further stated that “an objective observer would not view the display as endorsing religion generally, or Christianity specifically.” It cited its inclusion in an exhibit that “includes various nonreligious as well as religious artifacts that people at Ground Zero used for solace.”
American Atheists is a lousy example of what constitutes an “objective observer.” There is nothing “objective” about hate speech. They gave away the store when they branded The Cross at Ground Zero “offensive” and “repugnant.” Only those who think this way are deserving of such an appellation.
