# ACLU: Arlington National Cemetery Crosses and Cross Images? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 6, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009 "2004-06-06T23:06:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/41 "2004-06-08T14:46:01Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > The simple fact is, there were far fewer open atheists in the '40s. The assumption that an unknown soldier should be buried under a cross was probably a pretty correct one, especially at the time. Right. At the time, the “default” was to be considered at least _culturally_ “christian” even if you were non-practicing. Even in officially “laicist” France, there was a certain level of _cultural_ assumption for these kinds of things. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/42 "2004-06-08T14:48:15Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > . . . Eventually, of course, the ACLU will go after Arlington. It’s in their nature to be the biggest assholes possible. Thanks, B, for not forcing me to change my judgment of you with this typical hollowheaded remark. I WISH–I wish I wish I wish–that you lived in a country without the benefits that you owe to the ACLU. Unfortunately, unless you emigrate, I’d have to live there too. If you knew anything at all about the religious symbols at Arlington, or the ACLU, you’d consider your above statement to one of those embarrassing things that always make you cringe to remember. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/43 "2004-06-08T16:11:25Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > ‘Silly’ does spring to mind. > > If you read the OP, you will note they are asking why the ACLU doesn’t go after the crosses displayed in _Arlington National Cemetary_. You know, government property. Not ‘all crosses in any cemetary’. > > Eventually, of course, the ACLU will go after Arlington. It’s in their nature to be the biggest assholes possible. No, the ACLU will not go after Arlington Cemet_e_ry. The religious symbols aren’t government endorsement of religion. They are personal expressions of religion. Why would you have a hard-on with an organization that protects your civil liberties? Do you have any idea what some people would have done with your liberties if it wasn’t for the ACLU looking out for YOUR best interests? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/44 "2004-06-08T17:55:31Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Why would you have a hard-on with an organization that protects your civil liberties? The voices in his radio tell him to? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/45 "2004-06-08T19:25:14Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > The voices in his radio tell him to? 😉 I KNEW it! I fucking KNEW it! ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/46 "2004-06-08T19:25:41Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > No, the ACLU will not go after Arlington Cemet_e_ry. The religious symbols aren’t government endorsement of religion. They are personal expressions of religion. Sure they won’t. The ACLU has been around since 1920; Why not go after various religious symbols before? Because they didn’t think they could get away with it. The minute the ACLU thinks they can get away with getting rid of _all_ crosses on all public property, they will. If only the 9th Circuit handled Virginia! > [@rjung](#): > > The voices in his radio tell him to? 😉 The smiley doesn’t make your remark any less assholish or snarky, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/47 "2004-06-08T19:30:28Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > The minute the ACLU thinks they can get away with getting rid of _all_ crosses on all public property, they will. If only the 9th Circuit handled Virginia! Now you’re just not paying attention. Please (re)read **Apos** ’ post at post #12, read his link, and come back and tell us if you stand by this statement. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/48 "2004-06-08T19:35:01Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Sure they won’t. The ACLU has been around since 1920; Why not go after various religious symbols before? Because they didn’t think they could get away with it. The minute the ACLU thinks they can get away with getting rid of _all_ crosses on all public property, they will. If only the 9th Circuit handled Virginia! Brutus, you don’t know what you’re talking about (as per usual). They are not anti-religion. They’re anti-government sponsored religion. If you can’t see the difference, then maybe this thread is over your head. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/49 "2004-06-08T20:35:19Z")
Where SallyStar died, Brutus shall live: in her apartment! ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/50 "2004-06-08T20:42:03Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Brutus, you don’t know what you’re talking about (as per usual). They are not anti-religion. They’re anti-government sponsored religion. If you can’t see the difference, then maybe this thread is over your head. You’re forgetting how Republicans see the world: Comic book black + white. There is no middle ground. They’re either with you, or they are evil demonic forces seeking to destroy your good Christian way of life. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/51 "2004-06-08T22:23:57Z")
And they generalize, too! The bastards! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/52 "2004-06-09T05:35:27Z")
> [@Gest](#): > > Shit. I didn’t bother to slow down and read Apos’ post including the link to the article about the case I was blathering about. :smack: > > Just goes to show that Free Republic is good for something other than an opportunity to troll a little. 😃 Uhhhh, **Apos’s** link is to the _Detroit Free Press_, not _Free Republic_. ---
**Author:** ![Gest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Gest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gest)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009/53 "2004-06-09T05:50:33Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Uhhhh, **Apos’s** link is to the _Detroit Free Press_, not _Free Republic_. I was thinking about [this](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1134931/posts). Same story, different source. Sorry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aclu-arlington-national-cemetery-crosses-and-cross-images/249009.md?page=2)