Letter to the Editor

Sent to the Salt Lake Trib

Recently the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that 12-foot-high crosses honoring fallen members of the Utah Highway Patrol effectively endorse Christianity and violate the separation of church and state by going beyond the “more humble spirit of small roadside crosses.” The court basically said these crosses sent an unconstitutional religious message to motorists on the state’s highways. What has this Nation been reduced to? Why don’t we just slap the wives and children of the fallen officer’s right in the face? It would hurt less. Has the Appeals Court forgotten what is printed on our Nations money? It states, “In God We Trust.” Does the Nations flag fly in its court? You know the one we require new citizens to pledge their allegiance to and say the, “One Nation under God” part. Or is that left out because it sends an unconstitutional religious message? I’d be interested to hear how the Appeals court justifies the existence of Arlington National Cemetery. Or maybe the word “cemetery” makes it alright to honor those who died for us. Whether the Appeals Court likes it or not these fallen officers were in the act of protecting people, regardless of their religious beliefs, when they were killed. The thought that the cross as the court states, “may lead the reasonable observer to fear that Christians are likely to receive preferential treatment from the UHP – both in their hiring practices and , more generally, in the treatment that people may expect to receive on Utah’s highways” is flat out absurd. It is well within the purview of the state of Utah to put a cross on the highway where a Christian officer fell. As it is proper to put a Star of David where a Jewish officer fell. Or a Crescent Moon where a Muslim officer fell AND to put up NOTHING where an Athiest officer fell. I’m proud to be an American but this sure does tarnish the shine. On behalf of this state, I want to say thanks to the Utah Highway Patrol for protecting me and my family while this nonsense takes place. God bless the fallen UHP officers and their families… yeah I said, “God.”