From the Caspar Star-Tribune comes the story of American Atheists, Inc., fearless defenders of the First Amendment, suing the state of Utah to remove replicas of ancient Roman torture devices from the Beehive State's roadsides. Apparently the things used to have some religious significance for somebody.
An atheist advocacy group sued the Utah Highway Patrol and Utah Department of Transportation last week, seeking the removal of large steel cross memorials from state property that honor troopers killed in the line of duty.
American Atheists Inc. contends placement of the crosses, which carry the Highway Patrol's beehive logo, in state rights of way is an unconstitutional promotion of Christianity.
These people are sick, twisted little perverts in open revolt against God. They are the ones trying to impose their closed-minded view of the world on everyone else. Remember how to spot a leftist, kiddies? It's Fyodor’s Rule #5: You can always spot a totalitarian because he’s the one doing that which he accuses others of doing. Only worse.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, seeks $1 in damages, a court determination that the use of the UHP logo on the crosses is unconstitutional, a court order that the logo be removed and that the crosses be removed from government property. The Utah Department of Administrative Services is also named in the lawsuit.
This is the first lawsuit of its kind American Atheists has filed and, if successful, may result in others being filed in other states, said Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists, in a telephone interview from Parsippany, N.J.
"We'll see how this case goes, but these crosses are going up everywhere," Johnson said. "We end up with little shrines everywhere."
Heavens! How awful!
The 12-foot crosses are often found on the side of state highways and rest stops. They bear the names and badge numbers of state troopers killed in the line of duty on the horizontal section of the cross, with the year the individual died and the Highway Patrol logo beneath that on the vertical section.
"It gives the impression that government is endorsing a religion here," said Michael Rivers, Utah state director of American Atheists. Rivers is listed as a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
The Transportation Department had not seen the lawsuit Thursday and could not comment on it, said spokesman Brent Wilhite. The Highway Patrol is signaling its intent to keep the memorials up.
"Our statement right now without seeing (the lawsuit) is we stand behind our troopers and the sacrifice they made, which is the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of Utah. Obviously we're going to try to keep those crosses there in their memory," said trooper Jeff Nigbur, Utah Highway Patrol spokesman.
May God have mercy on their brave souls and may He give their survivors the strength they need to combat this evil.
Johnson said she believes the troopers should be honored, but that it should be done in a secular way that doesn't promote religion.
"Highways are not the way to do it, not with religious symbols," Johnson said.
Congratulations, Miss Ellen Johnson of Parsippany, NJ! You are the Shilpit Wee Nyaff * of the Week!
And may God have mercy on your immortal soul, you ignorant cow. You're going to need it.
* 'a misshapen little good-for-nothing'
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