Atheists’ misguided fight over the 9/11 memorial

[Ms. Toad]

199. You are being disingenuous

Unless you live in New York, your tax dollars aren't being spent on it. The project is funded primarily by donations, with a small (15% of the total) grant from New York State.

The picture of "Jesus on a dog's ass" is not something which provided comfort to a substantial number of people in the wake of 9/11 (nor is it, in any way, associated with the event).

As to your picture, neither of those are protruding through the rubble having the appearance of a cross - those look like building remnants. They would actually have to be cut to form a cross, unlike the cross in dispute. Nor were either the two beam intersections in your picture the one which actually was found and actually did bring comfort to a substantial number of people. The comfort that symbol provided (regardless of whether you think it should provide comfort) was real and is a part of the 9/11 story. There is a difference between deliberately creating something which might theoretically be comforting to one who holds certain beliefs and including it in the museum, and recognizing the role an object actually did provide - which is why it belongs in the museum.

I would have no objection (nor should anyone else) to including a similar item associated with 9/11 which gained a similar status. (Such as - if they exist - other religious or secular symbols which were

For example - I happen to find the image below mildly offensive because of the way in which our flag is often used as part of the war machine/extreme patriotism/exclusion of those who are not citizens. In the same way the cross is often used against non-Christians.



That image certainly did not bring me comfort - but I acknowledge that it brought many comfort and it would be petty of me to demand that it be omitted because I, personally, find it an image of intolerance.