On May 28, 2012, the Mayor of Woonsocket, Leo Fontaine, held a wreath laying ceremony at Place Jolicoeur, the site of the now controversial Woonsocket Cross, in honor of the veterans, William Jolicoeur and the three Gagne Brothers the monument honors, and also in honor of the mother of the Gagne brothers. All was going ell with a terrific speech by the mayor, and a very somber, secular dedication, until Mayor Fontaine introduced veteran Thomas Paine to deliver a benediction.
This is what not separating church and state looks like. It looks like government officials endorsing one particular religious point of view (in this case, Christianity) over all other religions and non-religion.
Well let's say it had a Star of David on it instead of a cross and it was dedicated to six million Jews who were murdered in cold blood by the Nazis in the Holocaust. Would you still want it removed. I wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteI think the establishment clause means that the government can't tell everyone what religion they must follow. Dose it look like they are telling you which religion you must follow or can't follow? No! The monument was dedicated to the Gagne brothers who were christian. If they were muslin it would have crescent on it. if they were Jewish it would have a star of David on it. They are not showing any favoritism.