tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post113366228626584782..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: Utah Agent Memorial CrossesAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-59981003490581060632008-08-10T09:53:00.000-06:002008-08-10T09:53:00.000-06:00I'm having trouble buying into the idea that all (...I'm having trouble buying into the idea that all (even a majority) of the fallen UHP were "Christian" in the sense of "accepting the cross as a symbol of their religious devotion" since some 60% of Utah is Mormon, and Mormonism REBUKES the cross as a symbol of the faith.<BR/><BR/>I'm curious why Utah's Mormons aren't upset by this at all.XI - XXVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06363047869589019446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1134250232374180452005-12-10T14:30:00.000-07:002005-12-10T14:30:00.000-07:00bluesky: I agree with you -- this is what they sho...bluesky: I agree with you -- this is what they should have done at the start. But, they did not. So, I think that a reasonable way to correct this mistake would be to simply offer alternative memorials to those who request it. I see no reason to demand anything more drastic than this.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1133918557688228522005-12-06T18:22:00.000-07:002005-12-06T18:22:00.000-07:00Why not a memorial stone that can be universally u...Why not a memorial stone that can be universally used for all of their fallen troopers? With the troopers motto and badge design or something along those lines--I mean that was my first thought.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1133901202469027072005-12-06T13:33:00.000-07:002005-12-06T13:33:00.000-07:00First, I agree with Alonzo that "the claim that th...First, I agree with Alonzo that "the claim that the Christian Cross is a universal symbol of memorial is simply false. It may appear to be true for somebody who is surrounded by Christianity...." It *may* be true that some non-Christian cultures have used a similar marker, but the appeal of UHPA to Arlington is definitely wrong.<BR/><BR/>Second, "anonymous" is *close* to correct: MOST families will be very appreciative of the cross-shaped memorial.<BR/><BR/>Finally, the UHPA may have made a mistake - and they may end up offending a fallen trooper's family - but that does not mean that they did anything illegal. Plenty of organizations (including American Atheist) do things that offend me, but that does not mean those actions are illegal.<BR/><BR/>It would have been good if UHPA had come up with a truly universal memorial so that no trooper's family would have to face the difficult choice to compromise or be left out. So for future efforts, I ask "bluesky": What suggestion would you make for something that would be an appropriate memorial? Note that I consider it important that it be somewhat eye-catching, not a bland non-entity that would be virtually invisible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1133811176654947652005-12-05T12:32:00.000-07:002005-12-05T12:32:00.000-07:00anonymous: Arlington Cemetary offers 38 different ...anonymous: Arlington Cemetary offers 38 different "faith symbols" (including, by the way, an Atheist symbol). Obviously, it is NOT the case that all people choose the Christian Cross as their symbol of choice. Nor should they be required to do so.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1133802831763858652005-12-05T10:13:00.000-07:002005-12-05T10:13:00.000-07:00Anonymous,Is EVERY trooper a Christian? If so, why...Anonymous,<BR/>Is EVERY trooper a Christian? If so, why?soihgior44https://www.blogger.com/profile/02430377855074114516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1133801466302313902005-12-05T09:51:00.000-07:002005-12-05T09:51:00.000-07:00What if this? What if that? The families of those ...What if this? What if that? The families of those fallen troopers have no offense to the memorials, so why should you? If, in the future, a trooper in Utah is killed while acting in the capacity of official duty and that trooper is an adamant (place whatever here) the UHPA will honor the desire of the family. However, we all know that there will never be a family that will choose anything but a cross. You can speculate on hypothetical circumstances until you die, but the truth is a cross will be chosen by every family as the memorial to their trooper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1133726080221351742005-12-04T12:54:00.000-07:002005-12-04T12:54:00.000-07:00I heard about this on another board-- and my first...I heard about this on another board-- and my first thought was "What are they going to use to memorialize an atheist trooper? A pagan? Anybody else?" It would have made a lot more sense to design a "Utah State Trooper" memorial that could be used for ALL troopers. And, if all of them were the same, whenever anyone drove by they would know "A State Trooper died here in the line of duty." Isnt that the point of a memorial like this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com