Non-Christians’ Complaints Lead City to Remove Flowerbed Shaped Like a Cross
- Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:15pm by
Billy Hallowell
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In a world ravaged by tragedy, despair and numerous matters of dire importance, it’s sometimes perplexing which issues some activists choose to focus on. Alas, there’s yet another religious drama unfolding in Columbus, Georgia, after non-believers complained over the presence of the cross-shaped flowerbed in a local park. Following their angst, the mayor promptly ordered it be removed from government property.
“We had some complaints from other citizens not of the Christian faith,” Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson said in an interview with Fox News. “They actually physically reformed the Christian cross into the rectangular flower bed.”
Photo Credit: Ledger-Enquirer.com
In April, the city made it clear, based on unsettled proclamations from citizens, that the faith-inspiring flowerbed was no longer welcome on public land. So, the arms of the cross were removed by the Windsor Park Homeowners Association, the group responsible for its upkeep, to form the aforementioned rectangular floral border.
Tomlinson claims that the act was done in order to keep the City of Columbus in compliance with supposed federal laws.
“A Christian cross or a symbol of any particular faith could not permanently rest in a park,” she maintains. “So we had to abide by the applicable law.”
While atheists and secularists are certainly happy with the decision, some residents are demanding that the cross be restored. Based on current comments from the mayor, though, this seems unlikely.
Resident George Wade, for instance, went to a city council meeting where people requested that the flowerbed’s restoration to its former glory.
WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.
“The satisfactory resolution is that the cross is there,” Wade told WTVM. “The councilmen are beginning to understand the urgency that needs to be addressed because the people are concerned about this.”
Adding to the controversy, back in June, the Ledger-Enquirer reported that someone had gone in and restored the cross. “Someone restored the cross shape and added a layer of pine straw,” the outlet reported. When learned of the change, she immediately ordered the flowerbed changed back to a rectangle.
Clearly, Tomlinson isn’t backing off of the stance she claims is directly related to a 1983 court case surrounding a cross on government land.
(H/T: Fox News Radio)
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Comments (134)
JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:12pmYou get and deserve what you elect. and most of them have yellow streaks where their spines should be.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:47pmI’m sorry, but how could any human on earth take a look at this planet, it’s animals, and fish, and flowers and trees and insects and mountains and hot chicks and cold beer and beaches and sunshine and rivers and t bone steaks and your pet dog………..and your children..”.”and not believe in some sort of higher power is beyond me ……….”" it’s all toooo perfect , and I am happy to have gotten a ticket to ride……….thank you GOD….THANK YOU !!!!!!!
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:02amExactly. Solve the problem by voting the cowards out.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:34amJews are the enemy of Christianity. They take their fight to the courts where, as a huge minority, they have power exceeding their numbers.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:11amOh well, everywhere there is a perpendicular bisector there be a crucifix. Every time you come to an intersection at a traffic light – there will be a crucifix; come to a T in the road – there be a crucifix. They are every where they don’t want them to be.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 4:44amThe Jews?
Since when were the Jews involved in this?
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 7:38amHow could anybody look around at this incredible planet, the plants and trees and animals and mountains and beaches and beautiful women and ice cold beer and my dogs and my family …..and NOT believe in GOD ? It’s all way to perfect….this did not crawl out of a swamp…..sometimes I think maybe I did something good somewhere else , to get here……maybe the joke is that we find out we were in heaven all along…….make the most of it folks..”.
Report Post »KENTUCKIANAPATRIOT
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:05pmWell the Christians are to blame. If Christians don’t find a backbone (I contend no CHRISTIAN is without one)…Dear God!!! When it’s gone–it’s GONE. Not conquered–not defeated–just HANDED OVER. What a pity! Thank God, at least no one can take Jesus from us, on an individual basis. The most anyone or ANYTHING can do, is send a Christian TO Christ. It sure looks like too many are not willing to be anything but a doormat.
Report Post »NOTYERHUCKLEBERRY
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:16amYou are wrong! The last thing God wants is the death of one of His children. What good to God is a dead believer? Answer: Absolutely none!
Report Post »Stand up! Fight for what you believe in! Your rewards are in heaven!
Please don‘t fall for the ’door mat’ crap! You are better than that, by a long shot!
Von Romig
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:13amYou think this is bad?
What would you have done if you lived in the age of Nero, when Christians were used as torches or fed to the lions?
Report Post »KingCanon
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:03pmAs a CHRISTIAN I demand that it be re-established!
Immediately!
He>i
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:59amI think a star of David is a lot more decorative as it fits into circle.
Report Post »The cross is really quite a boring shape as far as shapes go.
One could put different types of flowers in every point and the center,
It would just beautiful.
paperpushermj
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:57pmMy God It Was a Flower Bed! Have we reached the level of absurdity that people freak out at the mere shape of a cross, really sometimes a flower bed is just a flower bed.
Report Post ».How about if we call it a T
Verceofreason
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:00amNo it was a religious symbol.
Report Post »Are you playing dumb – i think not.
Bhatcher
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 8:23amPAPERPUSHERMJ you have hit the nail on the head. If you are truly an atheist the cross can mean nothing else to you except the letter T. Atheist by definition do not believe in a higher power so the “cross” cannot mean anything to them. So they are basically mad because there is a letter T on the ground. By the way Atheist has 2 of them in it. Ironic isn’t it. I live in Columbus and I have heard that it is ONE PERSON complaining about this but that person did write multiple letters.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 8:47amVerce, are you a vampire? You sure can’t look at a cross without screaming. Hey Blaze, hang some garlic on your servers and run these monsters out of here!
Report Post »Carlinpa
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:57pmso federal dollars can be used to fund an artist who puts a crucifix in a bowl of urine in the name of art, but creating a flower bed in the shape of a cross is inappropriate.
Why don’t these cities and towns get “creative” and start funding artist to create “art” with the use of the cross…
Report Post »SPOT_OF_TEA
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:56pmWhat is wrong with the world?
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 8:13amNext they‘re going to threaten to sue if we don’t reshape the lowercase ‘t’.
Report Post »V1g1lanteJust1ce052764
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:54pmFrom a CROSS to a GRAVE. How ironic.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:49pmColombus Georgia is a place no decent person would want to live if Christ is not good enough to be there, then no decent person should contribute to the stupidity of the present leadership for they are asking for your city to be at risk of evil.
Report Post »Bhatcher
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:05pmBlackyB your generalization is quite offensive. Just so you know Columbus GA is home to Ft. Benning, Home of the Infantry, Airborne school, Ranger Training Brigade, 75th Ranger Regiment. Many of these heroes call Columbus home. They facilitate the freedom allowed to have this debate. Just because the mayor is bowing to this demand doesn’t make everyone here bad. I would put a lot of my friends and neighbors up against your what have you done for this country. I realize we are on the same side of this argument but please don’t generalize.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:47pmThose people allowed a few people to kick Christ out of their garden? Out of their city? They will pay the price for that. The weather is not always kind to those who do not pray especially.
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:07amOh so you’re one of those nutbag people that believes God sends weather to punish people?
Report Post »pdw
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:31amGod Causes it to rain on the just and the unjust.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:46pmThe wimps took it up? Their flowers in that garden should never grow again. I hope they do like the fig tree Jesus told to wither. Those people need to be voted out of leadership for being wimps. They are not fit to lead in this Republic in any capacity.
Report Post »Carol1955
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:44pmDon’t druids worship trees and nature? What if trees and nature become offensive to someone? It’s going to be an interesting “park”.
Report Post »Soundbyte
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:43pmThis web site continues to post these kind of nutty stories to get everyone all riled up. Why not just run real news stories and not this War on Christianity dribble.
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:59pmUh, ah, ummmm MAYBE BECAUSE IT’S NOT DRIBBLE… unless you haven’t been out from the hole you live in, there is an all-out attack all over the world against Christianity. THANK YOU BLAZE and BILLY HALLOWELL for not letting the MEDIA sweep this all-out attack against Americans by these ghouls go un noticed.
YO! ATHEISTS !!! PROVE TO ME THAT GOD DOES NOT EXIST. YOU CAN’T. You’ve spent BILLIONS for 2000 years trying to prove there is no GOD, Darwin turned out to be a phoney…your multiple science experiments don’t prove anything (BESIDES GOD owns all of it, including Science) But this ATTACK on RELIGION is not just about RELIGION.
THE SOB’S who are trying to turn this nation into a SOCIALIST/COMMUNISTS/MARXIST state and they KNOW they have to destroy our FAITH and our Places of Worship to do this…so NO, I hope BLAZE never stops reporting on these dastardly attempts to thwart our Faith. I hope everyone in Columbus, GA who loves Jesus will find ways on THEIR OWN PROPERTY to establish Crosses! I hope we are the worst nightmare for these Atheists/Socialists/Communists. I would not like to be them if they don‘t repent by their life’s end.
Report Post »wjbtms
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:59pmSimply because it is not dribble, it is an extreme misinterpretation of the first amendment which is quite clear… “Congress shall make no law etc”…..if we read it literally as the founders intended, this cross is not in violation of our constitution nor are the people who placed it there.
Report Post »sfrich
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:47pm*drivel
Report Post »Carol1955
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:42pmThat is why every election is important; this is why we need people who have backbones, values and don’t cave to every demand and foot stamper. Elect people who reflect your values at every level. Learn the truth about the founding fathers and the importance Christianity held in our founding.
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:40pmdoes any one know the shape or symbole of the athiest if not lets give them one. time for a contest reward for the best is still undeturmed.
Report Post »jmcclena
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:45pmNot sure if that was english you were typing but I believe this is what you are looking for: http://www.religioustolerance.org/atheist6.htm
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:46pmmaybe a spear with a head on it, some one mooning. a goofer with the runs. a rat hummping kim just a start
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:51pmthats what i mean blank page time to give them something so we can take it away
Report Post »jmcclena
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:55pm“Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?”
Report Post »-PISSANTNO.10
pissantno.10
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:03pmthanks jm something to work on. english not so good when my blood pressure makes my eye balls spin
Report Post »Female
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:11amSymbol possibilities:
A black hole: symbolizing utter nothingness, total dispair, and a tremendous void.
A deeply pitted fire or inside of a volcano: representing well….hell of course the future eternal home.
Report Post »Snake
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:30pmAAAAhhhhhhh – NOOOOO not that shape!!!
OMG run for your lives….it’s shaped like a cross or possibly some other religious icon – aaaaaaaaa
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:50pmwould a a hammer and sickle be more acceptable ?
Report Post »Zipit
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:09pmLook at the bright side! No Vampires in your cabbage!!!!!
Report Post »SurhanSurhan
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:29pmThey will never learn.
Report Post »JJW
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:29pmLoony lefty bigot
Report Post »stumpy68
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:27pmWhen did it become rule of the minority??
Report Post »jmcclena
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:31pm“In Republics, the great danger is, that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority.”
-James Madison
“Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and the smallest minority on earth is the individual).”
Report Post »-Ayn Rand
Altair
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:35pmStarted in 1956 at North Little Rock High School.
Report Post »oldduffer
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:48pmThat’s the interesting part of the left that truly shows their ignorance. In a Democracy the majority will rule so the different homosexual groups, muslims, greenies will not have much of a voice when the majority vote them down. Should prove interesting if Obama gets in and it should go to a Democracy instead of solid Socialism. You gays better wake up and smell the K Y jelly.
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:27pmSocial cons and so called atheists need to understand the term “live and let live”.
Report Post »Paul
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:27pmYou take it and they’re gonna give it… Wake up and stand for something.
I have a complaint that there is NOT a Cross there, now what ? Doesn’t matter? Wanna bet?
What‘s coming in the near future is a lot worse than what I would do to you and that’s….
Good people read this, others … have a nice day and laugh while you still can.
http://theseason.yolasite.com/
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:03amWhat is the basis of your complaint?
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:25pmSo how will we win our country back if we turn against God? These people who are doing the damage are not the Majority
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:22pmIs ANYBODY awake?
AMERICA is in the mess we are in precisely because we have allowed THE CROSS to be removed from society, from our churches, from our lives.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN.
Report Post »jmcclena
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:28pmWhat mess do you speak of? You have every right to put up any religious symbol you want on your own, privately owned church property. No one has taken that right away, nor will they ever take that right away.
Report Post »Soundbyte
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:28pmNobody is removing crosses from churches. Only a public park where it is not allowed. Sorry.
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:30pmWe are awake, We are not organized enough to make our voices heard.
Report Post »Paul
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:28pmHang in there Grandma…
We’re getting there and their doing most of the work….
Report Post »jmcclena
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:20pmWay to go! Public land is no place for any religious symbol, Christian or otherwise.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:45pmYour post proves the gift of God. He is allowing his children to identify satans minions which allows us to avoid them. Such as yourself. Thanks for exposing yourself.
Report Post »jmcclena
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:52pmAnd god said: “Let there be an message board buried within the deepest recesses of the internet, so that my followers may identify which anonymous posters are minions of Satan!”
Report Post »chips1
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:09pmIf you need the Internet to hear God, you failed to listen. EMP‘s won’t even stop his messages. It’s that good.
Report Post »DeavonReye
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 8:14amChips. . . . “satan’s minions”? Really??? You just said that, huh? LOL
As for “the message”, . . . . studied it. Not at all one of love, but of control. Actual love would not look like the biblical message.
Report Post »DeavonReye
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 9:33amI will qualify that with the following:
I‘m not saying that there aren’t some good things in the bible. . . . some good advice on how to live. In fact, I still comport myself similarly to some of the biblical principles. However, the main message of “the cross” [if you really look at the whole] isn’t one of “love” at all. You have an ultimatum of obedience or death, . . . a sacrificial blood system that ultimately wasn’t perfect, needing a “final sacrifice” [which was, of course, violent and bloody again], . . . all in order for a god being to be satisfied that he could now FINALLY forgive people who believe something that leaves no evidence, . . . the god being vanishing, never to be seen again, . . . and torturing people for all eternity when they honestly and sincerely are unable to “worship what can only be described as a concept”.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:19pmSo the systematic attack on Christianity continues; and I will not be suprised if its with the blessings of the god-king Obama.
Report Post »jmcclena
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:25pmRight, Obama weighed in on a first amendment issue in Columbus, Georgia… Man oh man you guys are paranoid.
Anyways, you have the right to put up whatever you want on your own, privately owned home or church property, not on public, taxpayer funded land!
Report Post »Soundbyte
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:26pmThis is not an attack on Christianity. If you put up a giant Buddah or Jewish star or any other religious symbol in the public park, it will be subject to removal. If you are unhappy with that, take it to the supreme court and loose your fight.
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:27pmObama is the absence of God
Report Post »burnteye86
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 2:27amThis is just another case of Crucifixaphobia.
Report Post »burnteye86
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 2:29amanother case of crucifixaphobia
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:19pmGet real folks – it never should have been planted in a public park in the first place.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:09pmSo in your opinion Intent of those who made the flower bed is irrelevant. It’s just the shape that has you
Report Post »disturbed. t…. I don’t think t has upset you, why is a FLOWER BED pulling you over the top.
Verceofreason
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:06amIt’s a park. not a christian cemetery.
Report Post »It has no place there.
On a purely graphic design level, a swastika
is handsomer than a cross.
Both American Indians and Scandiavians used it
in their pottery before the Nazi‘s tainted it’s imagery.
Accept it, or not, this is NOT a christian nation.
Never was and never will be.
pdw
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:42amIt only bothers those with self esteem problems. Life is too short to let fools bother you. We as a people can show our respect for our God by putting displays in our own yards as PC people love to show how brilliant they are so they can get re-elected again and again. These are the same people that believe they have the right to move a complete community of families to another neighborhood so they can re-build that neighborhood so it will bring in more taxes for their city.
Report Post »iwillnotbequiet
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:49amThis is still America…RIGHT?? You folks need to understand most of us don’t care what you do or do not believe so why are you so afraid of a cross? I have a feeling we are about through with bending to you folks and will be fighting back. Oh I get it your muslim…humm could be. One more thing to keep in mind even without the cross we are still Christians and we do out number you.
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