Here is a cute little story from the front page of the Detroit News about a little town in Michigan called Frankenmuth that was founded in 1845 by a bunch of newly arrived German Lutherans. Today it is known for its Bavarian architecture, famous all year Christmas store (Bronners) and famous chicken dinners served by people dressed in traditional German attire.
The gist of the current story is that an atheist that lives in Frankenmuth objected to the town’s use of the Luther Rose in its city seal and the positioning of crosses at covered bridge sites and in town parks. The town removed the crosses from bridges when asked by the atheist (Lloyd Clarke) but balked at changing the seal and the crosses in the park – battle alert; man your stations!
The Thomas Moore Law Center (founded by Tom Monahan / Domino’s Pizza fame) and Catholic as hell, has taken up the challenge and the Americans United for the Separation of Church & State organization (which I support generously) has been asked to take the opposite side.
Now my usual position on religious symbols on public property is either have them all or none, otherwise it comes across like the town government is sponsoring a specific religion and that is unconstitutional BUT…
The town seal with the Luther Rose (which has a cross inside it) symbolizes the religion of the founders of the town (1845) and is now considered a “historic symbol” and not a religious symbol so I do not see any problem there.
The huge (70 foot) crosses in the public parks I see as problematic because they do not contribute to the uniquely German flavor of the historic town; there just big ass crosses proclaiming Christianity as the favored religion of the town government.
I waited for the response in the “Letters to the Editor” section the next day and they came…
As you usual, you got letters from the extremes to the moderates. I am happy to see that there were some letters defending the Constitution and the rights of the minority. Then there is always the guy that says there is “No freedom from religion” in the Constitution – a product of our great educational system.
All in all I was pleased to read a variety of views and not a preponderance of just from the Christian side.
But I am also for history and tradition and if the town is 99.9% Lutheran and German then it needs to be left alone and appreciated as a historical place that entertains and amazes us by continuing a tradition from long, long ago.
I think the “atheist” was a wee bit too sensitive but after all, it is his right. Let us see what happens…
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